What kind of water can I use to start up a 75g reef tank

[ljuhl]

I wonder what kind of water everybody uses when they start up a new tank. I can get 10 of the 1gallon drinking water from walmart home every week for water change, but don't like the idea of getting 75g of these water home at the same time.

 

[Len]

It's always best to start off with very good water. Unfortunately, if you don't have a Reverse Osmosis/Deionization filter for your tapwater, the next best thing is to buy store-bought distilled water. I highly recommend you invest in a 75gpd RO/DI filter since it'll be a huge long-term savings and a huge benefit to your tank's health over the years. It's really one of the best $150 you can spend.

 

[taikonaut]

ditto what Len said. You may want to use a two 5 gal buckets/jugs to hold the water since you are paying quite a bit for 10 plastic containers that you put in recycling bin. Go to water store, they are much cheaper since you are not paying for the packaging.

 

[Anonymous]

I actually have started new tanks with tapwater, figuring that the muck from the fresh live rock would pollute the new water anyway. Many people will say that is absolutely wrong, and clearly it's best to use the best water. At any rate, you are going to have to make considerable water changes etc in the beginning and if you are going to purchase an RO system, it might as well be now.

Watch what you but from the grocery store- bottled drinking water isn't necessarily any better than tap water. Also, pet stores frequently sell RO water by the gallon, and you can bring your own 5-gallon bucket.

 

[Bobzarry]

try this http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2372156321&category=20756 its a 6 stage RO/DI 110gal a day for current bid $102.00 ..I purchased the 85gal a day from them (no bid) and am very happy with it.


Bob

 

[Anonymous]

contact culligan to see if you can buy two or four of the big huge heavy plastic jugs. take them to your LFS and fill 'em on up with prefiltered RO/DI water. most good saltwater LFS' sell filtered water at a pretty low cost.

 

[ljuhl]

Thank you all. I'll get me a RO/DI filter. I think that is the way to go.

 

[Anonymous]

I wonder what kind of water everybody uses when they start up a new tank. I can get 10 of the 1gallon drinking water from walmart home every week for water change, but don't like the idea of getting 75g of these water home at the same time.

I use the wet kind of water. That dehydrated stuff doesn't work so well. I mean, what do you add to it?? ;-)

Kidding, I think the other suggestions in the thread are good...I've got an RO/DI unit for my 125.

 

[Jolieve]

I actually put salt in my wet kind of water too. I think the fish like it. *chuckle*

Yeah.. RO/DI unit. I started my tank with tap. Five months later I find out that I live downstream from a phosphorous mine and I'm battling hair algae. It's a nightmare.

J.