Using tap water…..?

[Uroplatus]

Hello,

I have a question. Just how bad is tap water? I’ve been using it for almost a year and a half. I’ve been doing reefs myself off and on since 2009. I’m not being lazy or cheap, I have two reasons for not using RODI. First, I’m 25 and use a power chair so I can’t carry heavy jugs of water and second I feel really bad about the waste water. I’m looking for opinions or ideas. If there’s a RODI unit that produces very little waste water I’d be willing to purchase it. Thank you all for your time and consideration.

 

[J1a]

I think this really depends on the tap water at your area; the experience from one reefer can be wildly different from another. You could probably send your tap water to ICP to find out how good/bad it is.

For rodi, it's always viable to use the waste water for laundry, do the dishes, or water the plants. Perhaps you can plumb it to your yard?


Anyway, if you have no issue with tap water for 1.5 years. Perhaps it's not a pressing issue?

 

[Tamberav]

Hello,

I have a question. Just how bad is tap water? I’ve been using it for almost a year and a half. I’ve been doing reefs myself off and on since 2009. I’m not being lazy or cheap, I have two reasons for not using RODI. First, I’m 25 and use a power chair so I can’t carry heavy jugs of water and second I feel really bad about the waste water. I’m looking for opinions or ideas. If there’s a RODI unit that produces very little waste water I’d be willing to purchase it. Thank you all for your time and consideration.

Everyone’s tap is different. If your tank is doing well then I would not sweat it. Don’t fix what isn’t broken.

 

[KrisReef]

I looked for Omaha water info and found this site (which I can't swear is valid, but it was fun)

Omaha Water Quality Problems | Omaha Tap Water | Hydroviv

Omaha residents may be drinking tap water contaminated with arsenic, lead, chromium 6 and more. Read our Omaha water quality problems report to learn more!

www.hydroviv.com

 

[Uroplatus]

I looked for Omaha water info and found this site (which I can't swear is valid, but it was fun)

Omaha Water Quality Problems | Omaha Tap Water | Hydroviv

Omaha residents may be drinking tap water contaminated with arsenic, lead, chromium 6 and more. Read our Omaha water quality problems report to learn more!

www.hydroviv.com

WONDERFUL

 

[Uroplatus]

This is my reef….(please forgive the yellow tang)

 

[ProxyAquarist]

KrisReef's suggestion on checking your local water was an excellent one.

I would add to sign up for notifications if your town water has it. I get emails with the recent reports, but more importantly I get notifications of planed "flushing," repairs, and construction. Depending on the town and time of year these processes could entail high ammonia, nitrates, chlorine, chloramine, .... etc. At these times, I definitely buy distilled water.

Best wishes,
Jim

 

[dk2nt9]

For reducing waste water, I have seen posts about using newer models and the second membrane. BRS (Bulk Reef Supply) could have some information about this.

 

[G Santana]

Many many years ago in the dark ages before the internet, I used tap water and did so for a few years with success but I didn't have SPS just LPS and some softies.
One big factor to the success of that tank IMO was the fact that I had A LOT of live rock. I had no issues with cycling, GHA or any pest algae. Now I learned of Reverse Osmosis through FAMA a hobby magazine and quickly got a setup, but the tank was already established and I saw no additional benefits.
Now fast forward to today and starting tanks with dry rock and really bad ugly phases, I wouldn't dream of Not using it.
But folks can and do get away with tap water and have success, but that really depends on the quality of your tap water.
Good luck

 

[Uroplatus]

Many many years ago in the dark ages before the internet, I used tap water and did so for a few years with success but I didn't have SPS just LPS and some softies.
One big factor to the success of that tank IMO was the fact that I had A LOT of live rock. I had no issues with cycling, GHA or any pest algae. Now I learned of Reverse Osmosis through FAMA a hobby magazine and quickly got a setup, but the tank was already established and I saw no additional benefits.
Now fast forward to today and starting tanks with dry rock and really bad ugly phases, I wouldn't dream of Not using it.
But folks can and do get away with tap water and have success, but that really depends on the quality of your tap water.
Good luck

I’ve used rodi water for every other tank I had but they were never really stable and I had hair algae bad in them… When I got back into reefing my brother didn’t want to carry jugs so tap water it was… really sort of odd I never had coralline algae in the tanks that used Rodi but when I got reefs again a used tap water the stuff grows like crazy.

 

[jda]

There are things that people do that are a lot worse than using tap water. I nearly always use it for tank fill ups.

If you are constantly just topping off and never changing water, then it could matter a lot. If you run some GAC or other filter media, then most things in it can get filtered out. The rock and the sand can bind a lot of metals and other nasty things, but these cannot do this forever. A lot of this depends on your local water, of course. In my town in Colorado, we have like 25-30 TDS and no chloramines and the water is better here than RO water than when I lived in Missouri (had to use fresh DI there).

I don't think that you can have a top 5% tank without using RODI, but who has those anyway? There might be some really sensitive coral or invert that won't like it, but just stay away from those... so what if your Chitons or Ceriths don't breed?

In the end, if you are changing water regularly and in decent quantity, then it is probably OK in most situations.

 

[Uroplatus]

There are things that people do that are a lot worse than using tap water. I nearly always use it for tank fill ups.

If you are constantly just topping off and never changing water, then it could matter a lot. If you run some GAC or other filter media, then most things in it can get filtered out. The rock and the sand can bind a lot of metals and other nasty things, but these cannot do this forever. A lot of this depends on your local water, of course. In my town in Colorado, we have like 25-30 TDS and no chloramines and the water is better here than RO water than when I lived in Missouri (had to use fresh DI there).

I don't think that you can have a top 5% tank without using RODI, but who has those anyway? There might be some really sensitive coral or invert that won't like it, but just stay away from those... so what if your Chitons or Ceriths don't breed?

In the end, if you are changing water regularly and in decent quantity, then it is probably OK in most situations.

Last time I changed water is July….. my snails breed like crazy

 

[jda]

You need to start changing water, IME. Research aragonite and how it binds stuff. It can mask bad husbandry for a while, but it will likely catch up to you eventually.

Like anything in this hobby, no one thing will make or break you, but if you want to not use RODI to keep metals, organics and other things out on the front end, you have to have something else to take care of this in the middle or back end. You will likely fail if you just ignore it

 

[Uroplatus]

You need to start changing water, IME. Research aragonite and how it binds stuff. It can mask bad husbandry for a while, but it will likely catch up to you eventually.

Like anything in this hobby, no one thing will make or break you, but if you want to not use RODI to keep metals, organics and other things out on the front end, you have to have something else to take care of this in the middle or back end. You will likely fail if you just ignore it

So you’re saying I can use tap water for the water changes? I run carbon

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So you’re saying I can use tap water for the water changes? I run carbon

Many people could use tap water OK, and some cannot. The trick is knowing where you fall (or avoiding the complicated question and not doing it).

It make ZERO difference if someone else online uses tap water and has a great tank. It makes zero difference if you know someone who does. It even makes no difference if your next door neighbor on the same water supply does it successfully.

Some people have water that is unacceptable. Excessive copper is a concern. Some people have enough copper from their own pipes that they could medicate fish with it.

Phosphate, silicate, nitrate, alkalinity, and calcium can all come in with public water supplies in levels that can cause some sort of issues.

Unless you know that your tap water is OK by testing, then you are experimenting.

It might well be worth it for you to experiment on your reef, but recognize that is what it is.

 

[Uroplatus]

Many people could use tap water OK, and some cannot. The trick is knowing where you fall (or avoiding the complicated question and not doing it).

It make ZERO difference if someone else online uses tap water and has a great tank. It makes zero difference if you know someone who does. It even makes no difference if your next door neighbor on the same water supply does it successfully.

Some people have water that is unacceptable. Excessive copper is a concern. Some people have enough copper from their own pipes that they could medicate fish with it.

Phosphate, silicate, nitrate, alkalinity, and calcium can all come in with public water supplies in levels that can cause some sort of issues.

Unless you know that your tap water is OK by testing, then you are experimenting.

It might well be worth it for you to experiment on your reef, but recognize that is what it is.

So icp test?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So icp test?

That could be useful.

If you did that, be sure to run the water for the same period of time before the test, and when you use it. Water sitting in your pipes overnight can accumulate copper.

 

[NoahLikesFish]

Hello,

I have a question. Just how bad is tap water? I’ve been using it for almost a year and a half. I’ve been doing reefs myself off and on since 2009. I’m not being lazy or cheap, I have two reasons for not using RODI. First, I’m 25 and use a power chair so I can’t carry heavy jugs of water and second I feel really bad about the waste water. I’m looking for opinions or ideas. If there’s a RODI unit that produces very little waste water I’d be willing to purchase it. Thank you all for your time and consideration.

you can drink or bathe in the waste water or you can use it for your lawn

 

[Uroplatus]

That could be useful.

If you did that, be sure to run the water for the same period of time before the test, and when you use it. Water sitting in your pipes overnight can accumulate copper.

I run the water for five minutes before using it

 

[WVNed]

I run the water for five minutes before using it

Running your tap water 5 minutes every time is probably as much water down the drain as I use making 80 gallons of RODI.

As for carrying water they make these wonderful things called hoses that can make the water go where ever you want without carrying it. Pumps can make it go up hill even.