Tap water adjusting for reef tank

[Pinakonnada]

Hello. I'm new to this.
So as very first step i would like to adjust my tap water.
Tap water: ph 7,0 / gh 14 / kh 3,5 /fe 0/co2 20/no2 0/no3 0
Target ph 8,2 / kh 10

I got already aquamedic kh buffer. I think KH goes to heaven with only using this.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I generally don't recommend using tap water out of concern for problematic issues such as copper, but if you do use it, you DEFINITELY should not add buffer to it unless the aquarium is low in alkalinity and you are just using the water to deliver the alkalinity. Otherwise, you will just be raising alkalinity excessively high.

 

[NY_Caveman]

Hello. I'm new to this.
So as very first step i would like to adjust my tap water.
Tap water: ph 7,0 / gh 14 / kh 3,5 /fe 0/co2 20/no2 0/no3 0
Target ph 8,2 / kh 10

I got already aquamedic kh buffer. I think KH goes to heaven with only using this.

Welcome to R2R!

I would strongly recommend RO/DI water or even distilled over tap. Not sure of your tank size, but many local fish stores (LFS) and grocery stores sell RO/DI. Drug stores are good for bottled distilled water (NOT spring water). An RO/DI kit pays for itself in the long run.

If you still consider using tap, then I would check two additional parameters. First is Phosphate (PO4). Public water systems commonly add phosphates to the drinking water to inhibit the corrosion of metals from the pipes. My tap has PO4 at 2 ppm which is way too high for a reef tank. It caused me years of algae issues in my freshwater tanks.

Second is check the TDS (total dissolved solids). Optimally your water should be 0 TDS. My tap is 38-ish so I use RO/DI. In some places TDS measures in the hundreds. A TDS meter is about $20.

Saltwater aquariums are expensive and it all starts with water quality. A good value RO/DI unit can be had for around $130.

Good luck!

 

[jimbau]

Adding salt is all you should have to do for the water parameters to be correct. Unless you have pristine tap water an RO/DI unit is a must have.

 

[Pinakonnada]

Yeah i figured it out and ordered RI/DO unit. I think it makes easier and cheaper in the end.
My Tap water PO4 is 0 but dont have TDS meter.

Ill ask water from the local shop til unit arrives