Water

[UsRealm]

What kind of water do you all use? RO, DI, other? Where do you buy it? Is it best to mix at home? What type of container is best to use to transport. I have seen people that keep garbages full of water on hand in there garage? This seems a little extreme.
Cullen

[h20poloman2]

I do water changes by mixing my own salt water. I use an RO/DI filter to make about 50G of water and then mix in coral marine salt by aquacraft. Since I have a 240g tank with about 300g of total water volume that is close to a 15% change. I've only been doing one water change about every month but may bump that up a bit to every 2-3 weeks since my tank is still maturing.

I do have two 55g drums in my garage and one I just fill with RO/DI water that I use for top off so that my salinity doesn't go through the roof. That was one of my first lessons learned, don't use saltwater as top off.

Your other option is to use Scripps water but you will have to transport it in whatever size containers you can manage. This all depends on how much water you have to use for water changes too. If you only have a 55g tank, you obviously don't need to change as much water and can use smaller jugs (5 or 7g) to hold water. HTH

[UsRealm]

I heard that it is a bad idea to use scripps water because of all the minerals and nutrients in the water that would aid microalgae growth. I guess I could go to a water store to get water. Does anyone know what the cost is per gallon to purchase RO or DI water. What about the water they sell at the LFS? If a only have a 50 gallon tank, would it make sense to invest in a home water purifier?
Thanks, Cullen

[Jessy]

I've got a 90 and I use RO/DI water that I buy from AW because I don't have a RO/DI unit. I used scripps to fill up my tank initially, but I personally have too much slime growth on the glass when I use scripps. So now every weekend I go to AW and fill up 3 five gal jugs with RO/DI water, mix ten gal with Instant Ocean Salt and do a quick 10 gal water change and save the other 5 gals for top off water. It works out well for me this way. If I went any bigger than a 90, and had more space, I'd do exactly what H20poloman is doing with the garbage cans.

to answer your question about water for the QT tank, I'd do a water change with whatever you have on hand....if you are going to use mixed tap water, make sure you declor it first with Prime. but if you are going to use RO/DI for your tank, you might as well mix an extra 2 gallons for your QT tank water change.

[Jessy]

I heard that it is a bad idea to use scripps water because of all the minerals and nutrients in the water that would aid microalgae growth. I guess I could go to a water store to get water. Does anyone know what the cost is per gallon to purchase RO or DI water. What about the water they sell at the LFS? If a only have a 50 gallon tank, would it make sense to invest in a home water purifier?
Thanks, Cullen

The truth about scripps is it is fine. You should set it in a dark place for about a week to let all the nutrients die off before you put it in your tank... some people don't. Like I didn't because I don't have the storage place. And I never had too much of a problem with algae just that it SEEMED I had to scrape my glass more often. There are plenty of great tanks in SD that use scripps.

Like I said I use RO/DI water for my 90g that I buy from Aquatic Warehouse for $.30 a gallon. You can get it from Pet Kingdom too, but they only have RO water. And the last time I asked the TDS (total dissolved solids <---the measurement of crap in the water) wasn't 0...it was like 10 or something. I find my system works for me. And friend that has a 55gal does the same as me without trouble.

[UsRealm]

Cool. Thanks guys. Now, of course, I have another question. What brands of salt should I stay away from, and which brands work well. Is there ever an expiration date on salt?

[Jessy]

Cool. Thanks guys. Now, of course, I have another question. What brands of salt should I stay away from, and which brands work well. Is there ever an expiration date on salt?

DUDE STAY AWAY FROM OCEANIC... I almost crashed my tank on it. Instant Ocean's never done me wrong.

[SuperDragon]

Someone has to disagree... :)
I have used Oceanic and have used it for 2.5 years without probs.
Majority of my friends in the Bay area use it as do LFS.

For myself after switching to scripps I've noticed a major impact on corals as far as response, polyps opening longer, and feeding for starters.
Algae is prob, but I don't see more algae than I did before using it. (my eyes must be bad)

when it all boils down to it, I think all salt mixes are inferior and
nothing is better than real ocean water.

All synthetic salts have their own formulations, in reality none of
them can support larve life really well. If you have time this
article explains it well. (sea urchin larve to be specific)
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2005/3/aafeature/view?searchterm=salt%20mix

whatever you use, don't change it back and forth... it causes the corals to reacclimate to new mixes and prob stunts their growth for awhile.
Kinda like switching jobs :p

Godspeed

[Jessy]

Algae is prob, but I don't see more algae than I did before using it. (my eyes must be bad)

Godspeed

Maybe because you've been using Oceanic :p:p:p ;) I'm just teasing.