Who doesn't use RO water

Private Posts : 10

So I was just wondering who doesn't use RO water and if not are your tanks okay? How do u prepare the water for a water change? THANKS!!!!!

Subject: Re: Who doesn't use RO water 8/27/2010, 1:37 pm

somtimes when im lazy (wensdays lol) wen i do water changes i just poor regular Ol tap water back into the tank!
my fish are awsome! i even had them spawn right after a WC with tap water!

and when i do go all the way with WC's i prepare the water like i would for a SW tank
i have water in buckets with powerheads running in them to mix the dechlorinator and salt mix for bout 1-2 hours (all this is beeing done as i skim the sand surface for poop and un-eaten food, wipe the glass from the inside of the tank, change filter cartiges, adjust any plants or rocks the fish flip over over time, fix lights etc........by the time im done with ll that i poor the good new water in !!! :)

Subject: Re: Who doesn't use RO water 8/27/2010, 1:37 pm

In case of using tap water, just filling up buckets and adding water conditioner following the right directions from the bottle, wait a couple of seconds and it shoul be good to go, when using well water like me, you dont have to add any conditioners because the water doesnt not have chlorine.

BTW you can test the house water before putting on the tank to make sure all the levels are fine..

Subject: Re: Who doesn't use RO water 8/27/2010, 1:45 pm

I don't use RO for my freshwater tanks. I mix tap water and my dechlorinator in a 55 gal drum, get my water temp right and do my water changes. I am thinking about setting up a saltwater tank in the near future and will most probably use RO water for it.

Subject: Re: Who doesn't use RO water 8/27/2010, 1:55 pm

I might be sort of lazy about my tank but I make water a day or two in advance with salt mix for the saltwater tank I have. I make it by the gallon and just shake it up a few times over the course of a day or so to make sure all the mix is disolved. Then suction out the old water after scraping my glass. While suctioning I go lightly over my sand and then pull off all hair algae I can get to and suck it out too. I only rinse my filter cartridges in old tank water though. I haven't replaced them since I set the tank up in October 2009.

Everyone & everything in my tank is happy & healthy. Since my start I have lost one royal gramma and it took a firefish with it. And I lost a lawnmower blenny. I just think my tank wasn't the right place for the gramma & blenny. I replaced the firefish and he is so happy!! :)

Subject: Re: Who doesn't use RO water 8/27/2010, 1:57 pm

I just use tap water with dechlor for my three freshwater Cichlid tanks.
I fill five gallon buckets from my bathtub faucet and add dechlor to it then pour it in the tanks.
Usually takes five buckets per tank.
Always have and always will.
(I'm a suck'r for doin hard manual labor)

Subject: Re: Who doesn't use RO water 8/27/2010, 2:02 pm

I use distilled in my 180G SW, and have never had a problem. My water is crystal clear, and all fish are happy.

Subject: Re: Who doesn't use RO water 8/27/2010, 2:02 pm

Just good ole' tap water and dechlor for all FW and SW tanks

Subject: Re: Who doesn't use RO water 8/27/2010, 2:13 pm

As many have said it just depends on the mood and timing of doing the water changes. Normally my 135g, i just vacuum siphon the rocks into buckets and dump into toilet. When i have about 25 gallons down, i start direct flow of tap water into to the tank while i continue siphoning the rocks until i get 50 gallons out. Continue the tap water flow until it fills to top. At this time, i put Prime into the water and start agitating the water to mix the Prime. I usually use almost double recommended dosage for the water change. My smaller tanks, 29 to 10g i use half RO water and half tap water for the water changes with Prime also. Clean the buckets, pickup the water hose and I am done.. Normally takes about 3hrs for all my tanks! This is done Weekly! Then beer time! (note always wait til complete, so you dont forget the water running! hahahahahahah.... )

Subject: Re: Who doesn't use RO water 8/27/2010, 2:22 pm

when i posted my post all that i listed was for my freshwater tanks!!!
the salt mix i mentioned was for treating wounds and stress coat, u know the stuff they sell at the pet shops
when i do a WC on my SW tank i use stritcly RO water and reef crystals salt mix nothing else!!!! NO TAP WATER WITH CHEMICLAS!!!!!! ITS BAD!!!!!!!
or when im lazy i buy fresh salt water stright from the osean at my LFS for 69cents a gallon:)

Subject: Re: Who doesn't use RO water 8/27/2010, 2:25 pm

I havent had any problems with my tanks with just Tap Water, Salt, & Dechlor. All my SW fish and Invertebrates are Happy, Fat, & Shinning

Subject: Re: Who doesn't use RO water 8/27/2010, 2:57 pm

what is "RO"?

Subject: Re: Who doesn't use RO water 8/27/2010, 3:02 pm

it is Reverse osmosis water that has been thru a system that removes all the impurities out of the water...

take a look: check out this link...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_osmosis

some like these are made specifically made for aquariums:

http://www.aquacon.com/rosystems.html

and since i dont have my own RO water system i go to one of these in most shopping mall parking lots. it normally runs $ 1.25 per five gallons...

Who doesn't use RO water Rowater

Subject: Re: Who doesn't use RO water 8/27/2010, 3:16 pm

tap water!!! prime!!!! thats it!!! anything more and i would probably not be in the hobby. crystal clear water, healthy spawning fish, and oder free. i keep it simple.

Subject: Re: Who doesn't use RO water 8/27/2010, 3:31 pm

I always use tap water and prime as well. sometimes I put in something to balance the ph, sometimes I don't. Never any disease or other problems. Fresh water tanks only.

Is RO water considered soft? I'd only look at it for discus or for fish with special needs.

Subject: Re: Who doesn't use RO water 8/27/2010, 4:03 pm

I have a filtration system in my house which takes out the chlorine and other contaminants, so I just put the water hose from outside into my tanks to fill the up.

Thanks Gator!

Subject: Re: Who doesn't use RO water 8/27/2010, 4:21 pm

I use tap water and aquaclear or prime.Sometimes when I top off the tanks I just add tap water and thats it nothing else.

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