Tap water Question...

[Rhegaana]

Hi all, just moved to NYC, and I am getting excited to be back in the hobby. I want to start a FOWLR tank and wondered if the tap water in NYC (queens) is passable. The tank will be a minimalist tank with just frequent water changes, a BIG skimmer, and mostly natural lighting. Will this affect the fish's health if I use tap water. I know its a NO-NO for reefs, but since I sold most of my equipment, I don't want to go all out if this is just a passing whim!

 

[DEEPWATER]

Hi all, just moved to NYC, and I am getting excited to be back in the hobby. I want to start a FOWLR tank and wondered if the tap water in NYC (queens) is passable. The tank will be a minimalist tank with just frequent water changes, a BIG skimmer, and mostly natural lighting. Will this affect the fish's health if I use tap water. I know its a NO-NO for reefs, but since I sold most of my equipment, I don't want to go all out if this is just a passing whim!

Tap water and saltwater fish or corals dont mix

Being a plumber ,i can tell you 1st hand what craps come out of nyc waters ,,not to mention the rust ,copper ,flux and otr crap

 

[digitalreefer]

This same thread came up about a week ago... this should answer your question:

http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/reefs-beginners/19394-new-member-here-question.html


Bottom line is DO NOT USE TAP WATER

 

[House of Laughter]

R,

All good advice, BUT, you should consider getting a TDS meter and checking what your water is coming out of the tap - I have heard wild stories of the water coming out of the tap in queens at 35ppm, which, IMO is fine for a fish only, BUT I would highly recommend NOT using tap water at all if you can help it.

House

 

[inline6]

FWIW - I live in Queens and my tap water is @ 25 - 35 ppm

 

[Rhegaana]

Thank you all for the replies. I will probably get a tds meter and go from there.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Some RO/DI units come with free TDS meters

 

[Craig]

i second chief's notion. for about $100 you can get an aquasafe rodi off ebay with a pressure guage and tds meter.

if you're going to have a reef tank eventually you will switch to rodi. might as well save some algae fighting time, and go straight for the proper equipment from the start

 

[nyumpa]

the TDS meters are good i own two, one on the unit and small hand held.
they are good for checking the quality of water production but if
are going to use it to check tap water and say..my tap is reading
35 ppm and use in a tank, you have no clue what is included in that number. you would be better off checking PO4 and NO3 if you are using tap water

 

[DEEPWATER]

Just remember just because your tds readings are 25 or lower out of the pipes ,doesnt mean you dont have other build up ,such as rusting pipes ,galvinized pipe ,lead pipes and what ever NYC has in their pipes ,ive seen plenty of rust color water come out off ppls faucets ,JMO as a plumber :scratchch

heres 2 tests you should try ..1st on the tip of your faucet there is a strainer that you can screw off ,take that off see what you find ,,2nd ,try an old tee shrit (white ) tie it around your faucet out put for let say what it would take to fill up 50 gals ,see what color the t-shrit turns :scratchch

Ronen

 

[R32Brightliner]

In such a hobby as this where equipment and livestock are expensive, why skimp on the water??? Just invest in an RO/DI unit. Best to be safe and start off poroperly...

 

[marrone]

If you're going to do a Fowlr tank there is no reason why you can't use NYC water.


Don't apply Reef tank principals to keep a FO or Fowlr tank.

 

[Rhegaana]

heres 2 tests you should try ..1st on the tip of your faucet there is a strainer that you can screw off ,take that off see what you find ,,2nd ,try an old tee shrit (white ) tie it around your faucet out put for let say what it would take to fill up 50 gals ,see what color the t-shrit turns :scratchch

Ronen

Im afraid to try this test, as somethings are better left unknown!!
Ron

 

[DEEPWATER]

Im afraid to try this test, as somethings are better left unknown!!
Ron

:lol2:

 

[DEEPWATER]

Best thing to do is what Chris288 aka loismustdie did ,is take off the membrane and just use the DI resin ,this way you are still getting filtered water just just thru the membrane ,you can add an extra DI resin chamber if you like

 

[HAVIC]

As a general rule the source of NYC water is very clean compared to well water and other cities in the world. But I agree with DeepWater when he talks about the pipes. I just recently helped my Brother-in-law cut some pipes and the water that came out was rust colored and did not look very tasty.

Also even though the TDS is low, all municipal water supplies add Fluoride and Chlorine to the water supply which is not only bad for your fishes it is also bad for your health as well.