I used tap water now what?

[Danasfish]

I 've had my 55 gallon going for a few weeks. I used tap water. I now wish that i used RO water. Should I completely change the water or is it ok to just start doing my water changes with the RO water?

 

[Meloco14]

It depends. Is your tank still cycling? Is there any livestock in it yet? I started my first tank with tap water and had no problems. My most recent one I started with about 25% tap and the rest RO. For all my changes since I used RO. I haven't had any problems. But I test for phosphate and silicate, and both are 0. If your tap water has high concentrations of either of these it will give you algae problems. If you don't have anything in your tank yet, aside from live rock and sand, I would say change as much as you can, down to sand level. Just make sure your water is already mixed with salt, heated, and has a similar pH to avoid any shock to the LR organisms. If you already have fish or corals, I would do about a 50% water change with RO and just use RO from now on. If you had any phosphate or silicate from the tap water the algae will bloom but eventually die when they deplete the levels, and you shouldnt have a problem after that.

 

[Mikef1]

Well considering it is already cycling I would just do large water changes with RO water.

 

[psiico]

Just do your changes with it. Swapping all the water could cause problems.

 

[Anonymous]

right, just do the water changes..shoot i still use tap water..have for over a year....no real problems, however, i plan on going to RO one day, so if you have an RO unit..please, use it....

 

[Kevin1000]

Using tap water for cycling won't harm anything in your tank so just let it be until you are through with the cycle. If you want to switch to RO then do it as oart of your normal water changes after the cycle has completed.

Hope this helps.

 

[psiico]

I'm using tap water, too. But I run my tap water through a homemade carbon filter to remove ammonia and chlorine. I buy RO for top offs, though. I get a small diatom bloom for about 2 days after each change, but those are getting smaller every month. Tap water isn't good, but it isn't the devil either, depends on your water quality, really.

 

[silly34]

Problem with some Tap is phosphates. I know a guy who used it a few time and now has the bubbly slime in his tank. There is a good treatment to get rid of the mess but can't think of the name at the moment. I reckon if you had to use Tap then use the carbon, zeolite, and some phosphate sponge.

Maybe just spit in the tank??



B.

 

[Carpentersreef]

Water tests, water tests, water tests....
Have you done any water tests?
:wink:

"Tap water" can vary greatly, Danasfish. RO or RO/DI is safest.
What makes you think you shouldn't have used tap water?

Mitch