First H2O Fill Info

[cmacld]

I was thinking of filling my new 180 with tap water and using a bunch of Prime (chlorine remover). Has anyone done this before? i was planning on mixing the salt in the tank for the first time. it would sure be nice to use a hose to fill this up instead of my ro unit. alot quicker and less waste water. any thoughts would be great. Cheers

[95accord]

i have.....

tap water also has silicates, phospahtes and metals which are only rendered inert. all these things can affect your environment. these things can cause massive algae .....

i have a FOWLR set up for the moment.....first started with treated tap water......i had the same mentality.....algae seemed normal and dissapeared with time....water chages were done with RO water till this day......everything seems fine.......

i wouldnt recomend it but hey, if it works for you...... if i could do it all over again id probably try and get a better water source to start off.
less things to worry about.

my 0.02

[JediReefer]

There is a lot more than chlorine in tap water hehe.

[tspors]

I filled my 150g with 30g of RO and the rest from the hose. I treated the water and mixed with salt. Let it run for 1 week. I removed 60g to then add LR. I used what I could of the 60g to fill tank. Everything went fine. I did the same years ago when I set an 80g. Just make sure ALL water changes from that point are RO. Sometimes we get to carried away with the start water. Just do eveything in moderation. Wait another 3 weeks to add clean up crew. My 150g has been running now 2 1/2 months and I just recently added some fish and 1 stoney coral. Many water changes have taken place in period of time. So, use the hose pipe and moderation. If you are going to make the investment in saltwater, take the investment in moderation. Good luck let me know how it goes.

[IHOP]

I used all RO water on my reef. It may take a few days but why chance it?

[mspad]

Home depot sells RO systems for about $150.00 Well worth it. There are so many variables in having a successful tank, like IHOP said, why chance it.

[cmacld]

i have a RO unit, i just was looking to save time and waste water =)

[rustynutzz]

Wally world usually has 5 gallon jugs you can buy and make trips with. IMO I would take the extra steps to start out right with RO wataaaa.

[uncleant]

when i first set up my 125 i used tap and ran a hob filter with alot of water conditioner for about a week then i removed the hob filter set up my sump... added salt... then some live rock and waited for it to cycle. And everything turned out great

[uncleant]

o yeah forgot to mention.. i do use RO/DI now form everything from toping off to waterchanges

[demonsp]

I would not use tap. With all the problems you could run into ruling out the source is really nice. Besides the ill affects of tap are not seen for months or even yrs and by then the source isnt thought to be the trouble.

http://saltaquarium.about.com/od/sta...opmistakes.htm

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/water4maruse.htm

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/pic/ar...id=421&aid=842

[reefergeorge]

I have originally filled all my tanks with tap. Then did my wcs with rodi. I never had a problem, but all areas of the country are different.
I'm just to impatient to wait for it to fill at 75 gallons a day.

[AZDesertRat]

Do it right from the very beginning. Don't be impatient or you will pay for it down the road. If you use RO/DI from the start you will eliminate any possibility of introducing bad things from the water.
Leak testing and levelling can be done with tap water but do not use it for a reef system. Just because tap water may meet federal standards for drinking does not mean it is suitable to support a reef system.
I am a treatment plant operator and supervisor by profession and I won't do it, that should tell you something.

[cmacld]

Everybody, thanks for the input. I have been reefing for a few years now, with lots of research before that, its nice to get the opinions of others! AZDesertRat..... you have me sold, Very good point there!! Cheers, Chad