what do you use RO/DI OR Tap water...... POLL ~VOTE~

[PEVINE11]

Inverts will consume iodine, corals will consume magnesium, calcium, trace, strontium, etc etc.

Stated earlier most keep FOWLR.......

predotaty tanks dont typically have much inverts......
and no coarls........

im not sure fish Consume any of this.....

what about nitrates?

 

[Ashlee]

So actually by topping off with ro water your adding soft water with no trace elements back into the water. So in reality I am doing more good than you are by using ro water. My tap has an abundant amount of trace minerals that your missing out on. So unless you buffering your top off water to balance ph and trace minerals your actually not doing your tank any good. Especially a coral tank.

Most tap water is ammonia nitrite and nitrate free. Phosphates can be controlled by a refugium. As well as the other issues above. Like said before, your opinion is what the lfs sold you on. Product of the sales person.

 

[geronimo69]

So actually by topping off with ro water your adding soft water with no trace elements back into the water. So in reality I am doing more good than you are by using ro water. My tap has an abundant amount of trace minerals that your missing out on. So unless you buffering your top off water to balance ph and trace minerals your actually not doing your tank any good. Especially a coral tank.

This doesn't make any sense... People top off their water because of evaporation. Minerals/salt and such don't evaporate... When you do a water change, your new saltwater that is added has all the elements needed. RODI or distilled water is perfect, as it is a clean slate for you to work with. I use distilled and my tank thrives. I have many types of corals growing at great rates.

 

[Heathd]

Stated earlier most keep FOWLR.......

predotaty tanks dont typically have much inverts......
and no coarls........

im not sure fish Consume any of this.....

what about nitrates?

Fish have skeletal structures to maintain, some inverts have shells to keep up, etc....

And what about nitrates? Not all tap water has it. I said good water qaulity, not bad.

 

[Ashlee]

This doesn't make any sense... People top off their water because of evaporation. Minerals/salt and such don't evaporate... When you do a water change, your new saltwater that is added has all the elements needed. RODI or distilled water is perfect, as it is a clean slate for you to work with. I use distilled and my tank thrives. I have many types of corals growing at great rates.

They are consumed.... And if your not topping off with a replenishing source it's lacking minerals... Thriving is only your opinion. Pictures?

This stuff is above the average persons head...

 

[Heathd]

This doesn't make any sense... People top off their water because of evaporation. Minerals/salt and such don't evaporate... When you do a water change, your new saltwater that is added has all the elements needed. RODI or distilled water is perfect, as it is a clean slate for you to work with. I use distilled and my tank thrives. I have many types of corals growing at great rates.

I believe Ashlee is referencing to minerals being absorbed by the living organisms, and then inherently buffering with tap.
Ro/di water isnt perfect, as it can be too soft. Its not always the case that it comes out too soft, but neither is the case that tap is bad.





Saying a that Ro/di water is 100% neccesary is like saying a skimmer is 100% neccesary. Not true, what so ever. I have two reef tanks that have run on tap and rodi, and I havent noted any discernable differences in health or growth rates.


*got ninja'd"

 

[geronimo69]

I believe Ashlee is referencing to minerals being absorbed by the living organisms, and then inherently buffering with tap.
Ro/di water isnt perfect, as it can be too soft. Its not always the case that it comes out too soft, but neither is the case that tap is bad.





Saying a that Ro/di water is 100% neccesary is like saying a skimmer is 100% neccesary. Not true, what so ever. I have two reef tanks that have run on tap and rodi, and I havent noted any discernable differences in health or growth rates.


*got ninja'd"

Guys, I never once said it's necessary. I know a guy that does it with tap... he has a gorgeous 160 gal reef. As for your nutrients being consumed, etc, you are correct, but that is why we do weekly water changes.

Ashlee, what makes you above the average person? Educate me, please.

 

[Heathd]

Guys, I never once said it's necessary. I know a guy that does it with tap... he has a gorgeous 160 gal reef. As for your nutrients being consumed, etc, you are correct, but that is why we do weekly water changes.

Ashlee, what makes you above the average person? Educate me, please.

That last part really wasnt meant to be in response to your qoute. I know you didnt say it was neccesary. It was just a side rant, if you will. Some people beat their chest about ro/di water only because they think tap is awful. Most peoples tap water isnt that bad, but for some, a filtration setup is probably best.

 

[Ashlee]

Guys, I never once said it's necessary. I know a guy that does it with tap... he has a gorgeous 160 gal reef. As for your nutrients being consumed, etc, you are correct, but that is why we do weekly water changes.

Ashlee, what makes you above the average person? Educate me, please.

Anything that isn't directly addressed to someone in a thread usually is pointed towards the OP. (was not towards you)

You can see both sides, and you can have success both ways. I just know with my tap water, and my algae scrubber I don't have to do water changes for months on end. All trace elements stay up until the 3 month period. If my tap water wasn't gold coming from the sink I would probably own an ro/di unit as well. My tap water has high phosphates but I have ways of fixing that, the benefits far out weigh the issues.

Also I do advise using a calcium block and other means of mineral adder to your RO unit. It's healthier to drink tap water for a reason!

 

[geronimo69]

Anything that isn't directly addressed to someone in a thread usually is pointed towards the OP. (was not towards you)

You can see both sides, and you can have success both ways. I just know with my tap water, and my algae scrubber I don't have to do water changes for months on end. All trace elements stay up until the 3 month period. If my tap water wasn't gold coming from the sink I would probably own an ro/di unit as well. My tap water has high phosphates but I have ways of fixing that, the benefits far out weigh the issues.

Also I do advise using a calcium block and other means of mineral adder to your RO unit. It's healthier to drink tap water for a reason!

I want to know how trace elements are measured. Please explain.

No water changes for months on end???? Explain that as well.

I do 50% on my freshwater tanks and about 20% a week on my saltwater/reef tank. My brackish tank (SG 1.017) gets a 50% change every 10 days.

As for it being healthier to drink tap. That's a matter of opinion. I have done a bunch of reading that support both sides of that argument, not to mention my whole family has grown up drinking distilled water without ever an issue medically. We are all fit and healthy.