Initial fill up: Tap or RO water?

[AZDesertRat]

Filtered how? Do you have any idea at all? Drinking water quality and reef quality are two entirely different levels of treatment. A water utility is not going to treat to reef quality when it is not needed and costs much much more. They would go broke.

 

[Jasso]

I used drinking water from my local grocery store . @ $.37 per gallon for my 53g .

 

[jayjigga]

I used drinking water from my local grocery store . @ $.37 per gallon for my 53g .

You'd be surprised how high the TDS still is with that water...

I can't recommend anything but RODI to start a tank. Too much at stake to skimp on one of the most important initial aspects. Save up for a RODI and watch an empty tank for a month or 2. I know I'd rather wait 2 months than tear down because of a bubble algae infestation 6 months down the road.

 

[zLaEcEh]

I used tap water treated with prime when I was doing fish only for the first 6 to 8 months of my saltwater life. Since I started with a reef I filled my tank with rodi (that a carried home from the lfs in 5 gal buckets. 100 gallons. ) and then ordered a rodi reef water drinking water combo from airwaterice.com
I live in the country so I was luck enough to be able to install my system on my porch. I fill 5 gal buckets and mix salt in them as I only do 15 gal water changes. I filter water as needed. I will keep 5 gal on hand just in case.

 

[_Conway]

Filtered how? Do you have any idea at all? Drinking water quality and reef quality are two entirely different levels of treatment. A water utility is not going to treat to reef quality when it is not needed and costs much much more. They would go broke.

I've been carrying home jugs of ro for a year now. Just started adding coral to my tank. After reading through your posts I realized I shouldn't trust anyone with my water quality. I ordered a rodi unit last night. And remineralization chamber.
Thank you for sharing your time and knowledge.

This investment will pay for itself in less than 6months.

 

[Scottsquatch]

I totally understand that everybody has there own way of doing stuff and that things may have worked out great for you tap water guys...so far. I just think it is crazy not to get an RO/DI unit when they are so affordable and offer so much piece of mind and insurance. What really blows my mind is the info AZDesertRat is giving us. He is a professional in the municipal water industry. After hearing his real life accounts and seeing the pictures, I think anyone not using RO/DI is just playing with fire. That said, I am gonna order the drinking water kit for my RO/DI system later this week. If I cant, I'll be drinking bottled until I can!

 

[Tautog]

I drink tap water, my district is in the top 10 on Long Island, and I don't need a flashlight anymore...............enough said.

 

[zLaEcEh]

Great, I'm looking for RODI units now. So many to pick from. Can't decide [emoji28]

Look at airwaterice.com
Nice units and good prices. Good customer service too.

 

[zLaEcEh]

I don't think you need a reason to buy one other than its the best thing for you reef but if you are like me and have a wife and kids with limited budget u can buy a combo like I did and you will always have safe water for you family and tank. It totally worth it and pays for itself pretty quick.

 

[zLaEcEh]

I don't think you need a reason to buy one other than its the best thing for you reef but if you are like me and have a wife and kids with limited budget u can buy a combo like I did and you will always have safe water for you family and tank. It totally worth it and pays for itself pretty quick.

In other words tell the wife it's an investment in the health of your children. She can argue with that. Lol

 

[timfountain]

RODI all the time. You're starting off with a lot of unknown parameters if you just fill it with tap water.

 

[jgvergo]

I tested for leaks with tap, but once it came to the point of actually starting up the tank, I used RO/DI water. For me, it's about sticking to a discipline of using the best practices I can discern from reading about the hobby.

 

[LIreefguy106]

Thanks for all your input fellow reefers, I picked up an RODI today for a fraction of the cost from another reefer. I appreciate everyone's help and shout out to AZDesertRat for the in depth rationale on RODI > Tap. I'll have some questions once I get it up and running. R2R coming through in the clutch!