chaserdogg01
Community Member
- Joined
- May 19, 2025
- Messages
- 92
- Reaction score
- 31
- Location
- Tri Cities
- What state or country do you live in
- Washington
Hi everybody, noob reefer (currently only FOWLR) with a couple of questions regarding my transition from Tap water to RODI and whether or not I should transition my salt mix before hosting LPS/beginner coral.
Firstly, out of impatience and trying to avoid RODI water, I initially filled my 75g with tap water. After I did a couple of water changes and the nitrates didn't go down, I realized there were nitrates in the tap water I was replenishing the tank with. As such, I bought a RODI system and have started to transition. Over the past two weeks, I have began removing ~8 gallons of water from the system and replenishing with RODI. How long do you expect it would take for all the excess nutrients and tap garbage water to be out of the system? Probably a hard thing to gauge, but wanted to get a second opinion from someone more experienced.
Regarding transitioning salts (currently IO and thinking about changing to Reef Crystals), is this necessary to host some beginner coral? I have seen threads saying no need to change and it's more dangerous than it is worth. I have also seen someone recommend dosing Kalk through their ATO and having success with that. If you would suggest that, should I dose the recommended Kalk for a 75g system in the ATO initially then a lower dose to maintain moving forward?
Sorry for the monster first post, but just wanted to get some second opinions! Thanks everyone :)
Stocking (2 black clownfish, 3 bangaii cardinals and a sailfin tang), pH - 8.0, Nitrates 10-20 (down from 40-80 following tap to RODI transition).
Firstly, out of impatience and trying to avoid RODI water, I initially filled my 75g with tap water. After I did a couple of water changes and the nitrates didn't go down, I realized there were nitrates in the tap water I was replenishing the tank with. As such, I bought a RODI system and have started to transition. Over the past two weeks, I have began removing ~8 gallons of water from the system and replenishing with RODI. How long do you expect it would take for all the excess nutrients and tap garbage water to be out of the system? Probably a hard thing to gauge, but wanted to get a second opinion from someone more experienced.
Regarding transitioning salts (currently IO and thinking about changing to Reef Crystals), is this necessary to host some beginner coral? I have seen threads saying no need to change and it's more dangerous than it is worth. I have also seen someone recommend dosing Kalk through their ATO and having success with that. If you would suggest that, should I dose the recommended Kalk for a 75g system in the ATO initially then a lower dose to maintain moving forward?
Sorry for the monster first post, but just wanted to get some second opinions! Thanks everyone :)
Stocking (2 black clownfish, 3 bangaii cardinals and a sailfin tang), pH - 8.0, Nitrates 10-20 (down from 40-80 following tap to RODI transition).
