TAP TAP TAP: Come on be honest....TAP Water?

[sbash]

I'm thinking about using tap water for my clownfish stock tanks. I'm on a well, which is part of a large underground river, so I might just try it, after a few water tests...

 

[Dash]

Thats great! Do you know the tds of Vancouvers tap water? Do you have copper pipes?

I don’t have a TDS meter but other hobbyists in Vancouver have measured it to be around 6-7. I’m actually in New Westminster and someone measured it at 1-2. So yes, very low. And I’ve never had algae issues associated with tap water but I started my tank with very mature live rock from someone who was shutting down his tank.
I live in an older home but most of the pipes have been replaced.

 

[Vladec]

Part of the 'tap water' issue may also be related to the levels of fluorine in the water - in the past the standard used to be higher than the current .7ppm - in the ocean the level is around 1.2 ppm - higher levels can damage coral - and cause them to expel zooxanthellae - especially certain corals. So - in this age where people are doing less water changes - and using tap H2O FOR ATO - This could be a problem. Likewise if you're using salt with added fluorine - using tap water could be a problem...Which echos what a lot of others have said - it all depends on your underlying water quality, how many water changes you do and what livestock is in your tank. For example - if I had fish only tank - I would consider tap water.

I have tap water TDS 500-700.
102 gallon marine aquarium.
for more than 7 years, I did not make a water change and did not add any additives other than lamellar fish food.

 

[MnFish1]

I have tap water TDS 500-700.
102 gallon marine aquarium.
for more than 7 years, I did not make a water change and did not add any additives other than lamellar fish food.

Curious - what did you use for top off water - and how often/how much?

 

[Vladec]

Curious - what did you use for top off water - and how often/how much?

1,5g every two days I add tap water without filtration with TDS 500-700

 

[MnFish1]

I have tap water TDS 500-700.
102 gallon marine aquarium.
for more than 7 years, I did not make a water change and did not add any additives other than lamellar fish food.

PS - here is a nice article - explaining why some people have no problems - and others do...

Aquarium Chemistry: Tap Water in Reef Aquaria

As will become clear in this article, using tap water is risky business. Short of testing your own water, there is no way to be certain that your water is acceptable.

reefs.com

 

[MnFish1]

1,5g every two days I add tap water without filtration with TDS 500-700

So - I calculated this this way -
1. 1.5 gallons = Approx 6 liters
2. You add 6 liters every 2 days (not sure if that means every other day or ever y third say) but lets assume 3
3. 365 days/year / 3 = 122 days you add water/year
4. 122 x 6 = 854 liters of water evaporate and is replaced by tap water.
5. 854 liters x 600 mg./l (TDS) = 512400 mg of solids/year added
6. 512400 x 7 years = 3, 586,800 mg
7. 3, 586,800 mg /400 liters (your aquarium) = 8967 mg/l.

Seawater is 10,000 TDS - so - without raising your Specific gravity a considerable amount over the years - I dont see how this is possible - UNLESS - most of the TDS in your tap water is ca, mg, alkalinity (as it is in some cities) - and the TDS is being used by - organisms (much like adding Kalkwasser as ATO. Of course my calculations might be off

 

[Vladec]

So - I calculated this this way -
1. 1.5 gallons = Approx 6 liters
2. You add 6 liters every 2 days (not sure if that means every other day or ever y third say) but lets assume 3
3. 365 days/year / 3 = 122 days you add water/year
4. 122 x 6 = 854 liters of water evaporate and is replaced by tap water.
5. 854 liters x 600 mg./l (TDS) = 512400 mg of solids/year added
6. 512400 x 7 years = 3, 586,800 mg
7. 3, 586,800 mg /400 liters (your aquarium) = 8967 mg/l.

Seawater is 10,000 TDS - so - without raising your Specific gravity a considerable amount over the years - I dont see how this is possible - UNLESS - most of the TDS in your tap water is ca, mg, alkalinity (as it is in some cities) - and the TDS is being used by - organisms (much like adding Kalkwasser as ATO. Of course my calculations might be off

Yes, something like that.
Corals grow from what is added with tap water.

Here's another similar option -

 

[Vladec]

So - I calculated this this way -
1. 1.5 gallons = Approx 6 liters
2. You add 6 liters every 2 days (not sure if that means every other day or ever y third say) but lets assume 3
3. 365 days/year / 3 = 122 days you add water/year
4. 122 x 6 = 854 liters of water evaporate and is replaced by tap water.
5. 854 liters x 600 mg./l (TDS) = 512400 mg of solids/year added
6. 512400 x 7 years = 3, 586,800 mg
7. 3, 586,800 mg /400 liters (your aquarium) = 8967 mg/l.

Seawater is 10,000 TDS - so - without raising your Specific gravity a considerable amount over the years - I dont see how this is possible - UNLESS - most of the TDS in your tap water is ca, mg, alkalinity (as it is in some cities) - and the TDS is being used by - organisms (much like adding Kalkwasser as ATO. Of course my calculations might be off

Here is a coral grown in this aquarium from frags (grown for 5 years).

The whole history of the growth of this coral is recorded on my YouTube channel.

 

[MnFish1]

Here is a coral grown in this aquarium from frags (grown for 5 years).

The whole history of the growth of this coral is recorded on my YouTube channel.

Don't worry - I believe you - its just that if your tap water has a lot of other metals, etc - this may not work as well. Nice tank BTW

 

[Nhjmc]

Never use tap in tank do use it to rinse/clean equipment but then final rinse it with RODI water. If I knew exactly how much I've spent on Nutri Sea Water and RODI water from (not local) FS I'd faint, I have to drive an hour each way to get RODI water as the one LFS store sells TAP!!!! EEKKKK are they serious?! Not sure how the heck they have a gorgeous IDK around 200 gallon reef tank but they do. Can't believe they sell/offer "salted tap water" yikes.

 

[Vladec]

Never use tap in tank do use it to rinse/clean equipment but then final rinse it with RODI water. If I knew exactly how much I've spent on Nutri Sea Water and RODI water from (not local) FS I'd faint, I have to drive an hour each way to get RODI water as the one LFS store sells TAP!!!! EEKKKK are they serious?! Not sure how the heck they have a gorgeous IDK around 200 gallon reef tank but they do. Can't believe they sell/offer "salted tap water" yikes.

Here is a video showing the population living in 102 gallons without water changes and with only tap water topping up with TDS 500-700.
Everything you see in the video has grown out of tap water.

In this mode, the aquarium at that time was about 6 years old.
This experiment continues to this day.

 

[Vladec]

I'm not promoting tap water!
I'm doing an experiment.

 

[HaveFishWillTravel]

Oh yes plenty of farm run off chemicals in the water. Of course they only test for a handful but sadly clean water and the environment has become a political issue which is truly sad.

The only thing I have to deal with in my water is low GH and KH for my freshwater fish. In the Pacific Northwest, our water is crystal clear. No Chlorine, no chemicals of any kind. Pristine water. I have to add Calcium and Magnesium to the tanks. No lie.
It is so beautiful here. I just went for a walk in the misty rain. It was so refreshing and absolutely gorgeous. Seattle is one of the most beautiful places on earth. I swear to God. That’s why we try so hard to protect it and everyone thinks we are crazy Liberals or some people call us Socialists which we are not. We just love our environment and want to keep it safe and pure. If you’ve seen it and lived here, you would feel the same way. I don’t eat anything that has been grown using pesticides. I grow a lot of my own food and it’s all organic. I have been eating all organic for 20 years before it came into vogue. I feel so badly for our planet. We really need to take care of Mother Earth. Stay safe and take care. JL

 

[ApoIsland]

It can be done if you’re fortunate enough to live in an area with good tap water (Vancouver, Canada). My mixed reef tank (will be 5 yrs in Dec) uses tap with Prime.

I have been a tap water guy for the last 10 years. While my mixed reef is not quite as nice as this one it’s still nicer than most that i see.

Negative issues are that i always get a little dusting of diatoms after my monthly water change (60g change for 120g tank) and I do have a sump filled with bryopsis. No algae in the display though. I also do not use a skimmer or any mechanical filtration at all though so I’m not sure the algae in the sump can be blamed solely on the tap water.

 

[Vladec]

Today, it has been exactly 8 years since my marine aquariums have been living on tap water. During this time, I did not make water changes and did not make any additions.

 

[ShepherdReefer]

Back in the early '90s, we did not know any better and used tap water.

 

[HaveFishWillTravel]

Today, it has been exactly 8 years since my marine aquariums have been living on tap water. During this time, I did not make water changes and did not make any additions.

What part of the country are you from?

 

[living_tribunal]

Let me start with a disclaimer that RO/DI water for your saltwater reef aquarium is FAR superior to TAP water and you're taking a big risk using water straight from your faucet!

Now that we got that out of the way let's talk about tap water today. What about it? Well are you using tap water for your tank right now and have you ever used it?

Ok so if we're going to be honest then I'll start. A long time ago before R2R ever existed was a saltwater noob who didn't really know any better and was using water straight from his faucet to make water changes and keep his aquarium topped off! Good thing he lived in an area that the water wasn't all that bad. Cool thing is he had a pretty nice reef tank at one time using tap water. I will name no names but he goes by the name rev something or another.

Let's talk about this today!

1. How many of you, at one time, used TAP water for top off and water change water?

2. How many of you are currently using TAP water?

This is a death sentence for everything in your tank, conditioner or not. My RO/DI unit only gets down to 2tds and I'm scared all the time...

 

[MnFish1]

This is a death sentence for everything in your tank, conditioner or not. My RO/DI unit only gets down to 2tds and I'm scared all the time...

It all depends on what comprises the 'TDS' is in your tap water. If its a metal - it could be a problem - If its calcium - or magnesium - it makes no difference. because the concentration is still extremely small. Now - I would not use tap water in a system where I wasn't doing water changes.... Then again - I use RODI - anyway...