R/0 For Fowlr

[adamo]

Is r/o really necessary for a fowlr tank?
Thanks

 

[monizb]

I would use it no matter what less stress Down the rd

 

[adamo]

I do agree i have a r/o system hooked up in my kitchen but i have no where to store the water. Will the fish be ok with tap?

 

[heath]

I have used tap water in my FOWLR for 3 yrs, I have never had ich or any other diseases. there is a lot of tank cleaning tho.
I don't have the option of hooking up a ro/di unit, I am in the process of upgrading from a 90 gal to a 125 gal tank and Iam going to start using Prime. there seems to be a small issue lately with ammonia lately .

 

[harleymike]

I would use rodi if possible. Most can be hooked up to your sink tap and taken off once you make enough water.
Tap water has a lot of crap in it that you don't want in your tank.
Mike

 

[adamo]

Okay thanks
My r/o system is rated for 100gallons a day so if i store the water in a rubbermaid garbage bin when do i add the salt?

 

[harleymike]

I store mine in a brute container. 40 gallon. Then have a smaller 20 gallon brute container that i fill and mix the salt in. I use a spare pump and heater in the 20 gallon for mixing it. Let the salt mix circulate and heat up for a at least a few hours before using it.
This is my system, but you can use what ever size containers you need to. OR just the one container. The mixed salt can sit in the container for days before you use it.

 

[adamo]

Okay thats good to know appreciate it.
Thanks

 

[adamo]

I checked my tap water and the tds meter is reading 154 and my r/o is reading 12. Is 154 low for tap water?

 

[harleymike]

154 is pretty high. My ro/di water reads 0.
But 12 is ok. Way better than 154.

 

[unibob]

154 is pretty high. My ro/di water reads 0.
But 12 is ok. Way better than 154.

Most likely 12 will be ok, but are we certain? No, because we don't know what those 12 are. That being said, my best suggestion is to add a DI stage, and if this isn't an option, just keep your filters replaced whenever TDS starts creeping up quickly.

How old are the filters you are getting the 12 TDS?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[adamo]

The filters are about 7 to 8 months old. My tank is tap right now but i will probably slowly be converting it to r/o. How often are you guys doing water changes and what percent?
Thanks

 

[harleymike]

I try to do a weekly water change, but it is probably more like every 10 to 14 days.
I do 15% on one tank and 20% on the other. (20 gallon water change on each)

 

[Poseidon]

My damn tap water is 300+ TDS

All brand new filters in my ro and I still can't get a zero read on my inline meter, ive decided my inline meter is a piece of shit lol

 

[adamo]

Okay thanks i guess i don't feel that bad anymore with 154 tds lol

 

[Jewel]

I know what you're thinking, No Corals then why do I have to have RO water. Well, you have Live Rock in there. If you want to keep it live and cut down on nuisance Algea then it's nessary to have better water. People say I Use Tap water and I'm fine but really what does your tank really look like? The only aspect that changes for a FOWLR is your lighting. You can use a normal light no problem, T-5s are better to bring out fish colours but you could use a Home Depot T-8 for 40 bucks. But in the end it really comes down to you. If you want a Sub par system then fine but if you want the nicest FOWLR then the possibilities are there.