Are you in the DC area? I live on the eastern shore now but I remember tropical lagoon being decent. Blue ribbon koi is in VA near DC and it’s pretty nice too
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Thanks! I will checkout tropical lagoon, they aren't terribly far from me. I'm between Frederick & Baltimore, but work close enough to where they are. There's also a relatively new place in Frederick I might try.Are you in the DC area? I live on the eastern shore now but I remember tropical lagoon being decent. Blue ribbon koi is in VA near DC and it’s pretty nice too
Given your tank size, you can just use a HOB or even just have powerheads in the tank for circulation and that'd be fine. The advantage of a HOB is you can hide filter floss and stuff in there.I'm still on the fence about the canister, I don't want to drill into my tank (this seems beyond my skill set tbh), so it might be the best option but I'm looking into other options before I unbox it and can't return it.
If you use an RODI system, you don't need Prime.
Prime is still good to have on hand though in case there's ammonia or whatever.
Tap water varies from region to region. I am in Chicago, and run tap water through a simple Pur filter, and that's good enough to have a reef tank with corals.
Canister is definitely possible, but is way more of a hassle than its worth imo. Personally, I'd rather anything than a canister. Including putting a powerhead in my tank and wrapping it with filtration media. There's so many easier routes than canisters.
Again, it's not that it is impossible, just something I'd never go for ever.
tangent: I’m in Chicago as well. LFS told me tap was fine for a fowlr tank as well. Shocked me given all the info on reefs. Looks like my planned fowlr is its own beast in that regard. Thoughts?If you use an RODI system, you don't need Prime.
Prime is still good to have on hand though in case there's ammonia or whatever.
Tap water varies from region to region. I am in Chicago, and run tap water through a simple Pur filter, and that's good enough to have a reef tank with corals.
Canister is definitely possible, but is way more of a hassle than its worth imo. Personally, I'd rather anything than a canister. Including putting a powerhead in my tank and wrapping it with filtration media. There's so many easier routes than canisters.
Again, it's not that it is impossible, just something I'd never go for ever.
Tap water can be made "safe". It is not optimal to use this as previously noted because even with a fish only system, there will be a myriad of nutrients in tap water you don't want in your system. These could range from heavy metals which could harm fish to phosphates and silicate which will increase algae growth. If you are able to, I highly recommend using RODI water to get the best start possible.tangent: I’m in Chicago as well. LFS told me tap was fine for a fowlr tank as well. Shocked me given all the info on reefs. Looks like my planned fowlr is its own beast in that regard. Thoughts?
What fish do you keep with your macro algae? It’s something I’m looking at given some are a calciferous species—shaving brush and mermaid’s tail. (I’d have to find the right video to quote that correctly.)Just to let you know I use tap water for my FOWLR, and my fish are doing well. My oldest fish is about 12, and the younger ones are 3. But my guess is it also depends of where you live and the quality of the water provided by your city.
I really wonder, why tap water works for freshwater fish and not for saltwater ones.
I do not have a skimmer nor any fancy equipment.
I also have macro algae, but no corals. You may need better water for corals.
At least they did not sell you too many unnecessary things, which is good. I have the feeling a lot of the equipment people buy are not necessary. I think that LFS was very reasonable and it is a good starter point.
I'll speak from a scientist's perspective first. There is certainly evidence that certain contaminants can cause harm to corals, for sure, and they can be quite sensitive at times.tangent: I’m in Chicago as well. LFS told me tap was fine for a fowlr tank as well. Shocked me given all the info on reefs. Looks like my planned fowlr is its own beast in that regard. Thoughts?
“I don't use tap water in my reef aquariums. Not once have any issues re: corals could be attributed to the usage of tap water.”I'll speak from a scientist's perspective first. There is certainly evidence that certain contaminants can cause harm to corals, for sure, and they can be quite sensitive at times.
However, too much of anything can kill anything, including us. Too much oxygen can kill us. Same with food and honestly anything that we take into our body.
Now, I have not seen a study where the effect of salt water made from tap water on corals and fish have been conducted. Given the vast number of studies on corals produced constantly, if there was a study I may have just missed it though. But then again, interest in answering such a question specifically by scientists is probably pretty low.
I have not seen robust experiment done by an aquarist to investigate something like that. Again, could have just miss it.
So as far as I am aware, there is no concrete, clear idea of what in tap water harms marine organisms, and how. Except copper + inverts, which was pretty clear. But other things, like using tap water + corals, honestly I am seeing less and less evidence that there is generally (i.e. not the uncommon case where one's tap water just has so much contaminant) harm caused by using tap water. Honestly, a lot of the toxicity attributed to using tap water could be due to coincidence or secondary, indirect effects. For example - an aquarist using tap water may also be less 'careful' overall at taking care of their reef, hence it's less the tapwater and more their husbandry practices than anything.
Anyways, whatever. I'll just speak from my experience.
I don't use tap water in my reef aquariums. Not once have any issues re: corals could be attributed to the usage of tap water.
I had corals grow plenty well. Same with fish.
I am not saying tap water is always safe, just that the dangers of it may be overblown. I really do want to stress this is just from my experience, and hey, I may just be lucky. The tap water of the six or seven or so places I lived in may just happen to be safe enough, for example.
Sorry, I meant to say 'I don't use RO water'. XD“I don't use tap water in my reef aquariums. Not once have any issues re: corals could be attributed to the usage of tap water.”
To be clear, you do or don’t use tap water? May have confused myself. It’s also going to be a FOWLR tank which I was told makes all the difference in the use of tap water.
Got itSorry, I meant to say 'I don't use RO water'. XD