faucet parameters
- Thread starter mullinsd2
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cross
Well-known member
have you checked the nitrates?
Phosphates and nitrates in tap water will fluctuate, considerably, throughout the year. All kinds of things effect tap water, including agricultural activity, snow melt, rain run off, water treatment plants treating water on a regular basis....etc. Even if you're on a well, tap water parameters will fluctuate a lot throughout the year.
There's also other elements that you need to consider, if using well water, or even city tap water. Iron is the first that comes to mind, but there's a lot of other trace elements that might or might not be good for your reef.
There's also other elements that you need to consider, if using well water, or even city tap water. Iron is the first that comes to mind, but there's a lot of other trace elements that might or might not be good for your reef.
THanks for the reply. I am doing fowlr, and I listed the iron above (0). I went ahead and used my home water to get it started but will use ro water from now on. I just didnt have a way to get all taht water to my house, and I don't really wanna buy an ro/di unit.
Darthv247
Well-known member
you can order a ro/di unit for less than most of the cost of the fish that typically are put in a fowlr system. id say its a worthwhile investment.
You're right, I missed the iron reading. You can continue to use your tap water, as long as you're treating it for Chlorine and Chloamine and as long as you continue testing. Be aware that nitrate and phosphate spikes generally don't coincide with the time of year that agricultural activity take place. They usually spike a couple of months later, as the agricultural run off percolates through the soil and rock, into the water column. However, I too would recommend you purchase an RO/DI unit. They can be found fairly inexpensively and good quality with online vendors. Well worth the investment. It isn't as critical when running a Fish Only system, but if you ever decide you want corals, they become much less of an option and more of a requirement.
Thanks guys. My tanks is still pretty cloudy, but it is much more clear than it was last night! I would love to go over to corals eventually! My current set up is 45 gallon fowlr. Aqua C remora w/ mj 1200, and regular t5 lighting. Ive got about 49 or 50 lbs of rock (20 is live). About an inch of sand bed mixed with some live sand. I will be ordering a hk 3 tomorrow. The lfs here is absurd (they charge 70 for a hk 3). And I have a marineland stealth heater 200 w in there. No sump and no plan for one. Maybe in a couple of months I will upgrade my lighting. I already decided I am going with t5 High output not mh's. Live stock plan: 2 clowns, 1 fire goby, 1 royal gramma, possibly one pygmy angel (if I dont get two clowns) . What cleaners do you guys recommend (preferrably nothing that will multiply in abundance)?
