The Tap Water Plus Conditioner Myth Debunked

One of the most detrimental mistakes you can make to a saltwater tank is to use tap water that has been treated with a water conditioner.

I could tell you why this mistake can be costly to you and your tank. Instead,
I put this myth to the test to see how "conditioned" tap water fares out in my test.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• water conditioner
• tap water
• aquarium
• saltwater tank
• saltwater aquarium
• TDS
• rodi
• rodi water
• buckeye field supply
• di water
• deionization
• water purification
• saltwater
• mr saltwater tank
• tank personality
• tank dabbler
• reef enthusiast
• reef
• reef tank
• saltwater fish

[marquis420]

what about well water for us hicks

[mrsaltwatertank]

@marquis420 well water can (and should) be treated with a RODI unit. I've seen plenty of well water with TDS up in the 300-400's which means who knows what is dissolved in that water.

[warlock803]

I need some help mrsaltwatertank, I don't have a basement or a garage to but extra ro water, is it ok to have the water outside?

[mrsaltwatertank]

@warlock803 it isn't ideal, but if you can seal the container the RODI water sits in, it can work. Also make sure your outside temps don't get too hot such that adding RODI from the container would raise your tank water.

[poxcr]

Even though I've heard success stories from tap water (from Robert Fenner, for example), I would still use RODI water. I understand that you might introduce phosphates by feeding your fish, what's your input on this, Mark?

[mrsaltwatertank]

@poxcr food can introduce phosphates. Make sure your food says it contains no phosphates. Also, when food breaks down in a tank, it can produce phosphates so don't over feed and make sure you have a strong clean up crew.

[mrsaltwatertank]

@TheWarOrphan 99.9% of everyone else falls within the "norm" and is not an exception to the rule. Basing an assumption that a rare exception can apply to everyone leads to disappointment.

[gagstr123]

I have a question, the water conditioner neutralizes the trace elements making them safe for the fish/reef right? I don't think that you can ever remove an element from a solution by adding another solution. Unless a precipitate forms in which case the elements are still in the solution but no longer dissolved, only then should you see a change in the TDS measurements. Right? In fact because you are mixing another solution which dissolves in the water your TDS meter should increase, and it did!!

[idkwhyimdoingthis997]

what type of dog do you have?

[draco9277]

what about the good brands of tapwater conditioner such as seachem prime and etc?

[paraplegicgiraffe]

Should you use RODI for freshwater, as well?

[jennifer171986]

if i buy just the filters and not the rodi unit, i wonder if i could just continiously pass water through the filters and get 0 tds water that way.

[wowguynstuff]

What did people use for water before we hade RO/DI? TAP WATER.

Can you explain that?

[MrSManeri]

I have friends here in NY that have been using tap water for years now without any problems. I guess it depends where you live. Another thing I wanted to ask was, lets say you rent and dont have the option of plumbing a RODI system to the main water supply, what are your options?

[ridwanlay]

hi, i have FOWLR.. i used to use RO/DI water, but now im using tap water for about 1 month, and it seems looks fine.

for a fish only system.. do u think is alright to use tap water?

[Mouajimmy]

where can i buy your shirt.... O.o?

[rockinar]

i bought water from my local fish store expecting 1 or 2 TDS. It tested at 410!!!!!! What the hell????

[rockinar]

How well do the Corallife RO units work? Are they "good enough"??