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tommy818

tommy818
Location
bronx ny
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i do read besides i been keeping reef tanks for 15 years i think i know a thing or two post pics soon of my 180 sps.not here to debate with anyone just here to give good advice.
 

Sean

Advanced Reefer
Location
Brooklyn
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I had a 350 gallon display in my old shop it was up and running for a year and a half. Ask the people here that have seen it.

A few facts
Tap water only
no skimmer
over 500 gallons total system
kept SPS, Clams, Zoanthids, softies, LPS and fish in the system.


now I don't recommend anyone to do this unless you understand what you're doing. I did a lot of thing to compensate but I did it for a short while and it would still be up and running if...
 

BZOFIQ

Advanced Reefer
Location
NYC
Rating - 100%
46   0   0
I had a 350 gallon display in my old shop it was up and running for a year and a half. Ask the people here that have seen it.

A few facts
Tap water only
no skimmer
over 500 gallons total system
kept SPS, Clams, Zoanthids, softies, LPS and fish in the system.


now I don't recommend anyone to do this unless you understand what you're doing. I did a lot of thing to compensate but I did it for a short while and it would still be up and running if...

I have "bolded" the keypoints here.

Once again, if you know what you're doing, even tap water will suffice. If you have no clue as to what does what and the consequences of your actions than even the purest RO water won't help.
 

fali

need tank crash insurance
Location
queens
Rating - 100%
70   0   0
I am also guilty of using tap and not skimming. No problems yet. Been doing this for over one year. Do water changes every 2-3 months. All my sps, lps and softies are growing well. I do have slime algae but thats due to low flow. An issue i must take care of. My opinion skimming and using R/O is a pain in the rear.
 
Rating - 99.1%
225   2   0
I am also guilty of using tap and not skimming. No problems yet. Been doing this for over one year. Do water changes every 2-3 months. All my sps, lps and softies are growing well. I do have slime algae but thats due to low flow. An issue i must take care of. My opinion skimming and using R/O is a pain in the rear.

What problems you experienced in skimming besides possibility of flooding, causing the salinity to swing, and smell like some fake cologne...?
 
Rating - 99.1%
225   2   0
I had a 350 gallon display in my old shop it was up and running for a year and a half. Ask the people here that have seen it.

A few facts
Tap water only
no skimmer
over 500 gallons total system
kept SPS, Clams, Zoanthids, softies, LPS and fish in the system.


now I don't recommend anyone to do this unless you understand what you're doing. I did a lot of thing to compensate but I did it for a short while and it would still be up and running if...

What method do you use to maintain the nitrate level?
 

fali

need tank crash insurance
Location
queens
Rating - 100%
70   0   0
Skimmers overflow eventually with me. I think they also take out trace elements too. Not too sure but i hear people who skim add calcium to their tanks daily to maintain the calcium and i only dose 2 times a week and my levels are always 500+. Not to mention their tanks are smaller than mine. I also read other people who don't skim not needing to dose calcium so frequently too. Just a theory. I could be wrong. But *knock on wood* nothing happenned to my tank yet. Its been up since july 2006. I wouldn't mind using R/O and skimmers but its just too annoying to use. I have like 20+ mangroves in my sump and alot of chaeto, so i'm hoping that helps too. But don't get me wrong if you skim and use R/O, thats great. Keep it up.
 
C

Chiefmcfuz

Guest
Rating - 100%
70   0   0
Just a question for you tap water users. Do you also test for copper in your tank? It would be interesting if you did and posted your results. For the rest of us to see.
 

fali

need tank crash insurance
Location
queens
Rating - 100%
70   0   0
I once boiled my tap water to be more concentrated and tested it with a copper test kit it showed 0. THat thought did occur to me. But after a year my inverts are still alive like the mini stars, snails, clams, pods and hermit crabs. If it did hypothetically have small traces of copper wouldn't the carbon absorb it? Not that i would still use the tap if i discovered copper in the water. To be safe i will test my tank water.
 

fali

need tank crash insurance
Location
queens
Rating - 100%
70   0   0
My copper is 0 right now. Its a good idea for everyone to do this cause every water source is different.
 
C

Chiefmcfuz

Guest
Rating - 100%
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Also for those who use tap, does your water municipality use Chlorine? Chloramine? Fluoride? Or any other chemical additives? How do you compensate for them and what is your tds?
 
Rating - 99.1%
225   2   0
I cannot remember my TDS.
Mixed brands of carbon can absorb different sized chemicals from the water even though it's not as effective with RO/DI in addition to the carbon and sediment filter.

I must rephase a bit, I actually used carbon, DI with a tape water filter by DR Smith and foster, to filter tap water in the beginning. For a very a long time I did not change any media. I did not see issues in my tank so I let it be.
 

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