RO water

[jemanser]

I'm curious, how many of you use some fraction of RO water in your planted tank? If you use a mixture of tap and RO what is your typical ratio in order to acheive your desired KH/gh? Which micro nutrient additives do you prefer (i.e. flourish comp. or Kent's add.) to add to the RO water if used exclusively (ie. no tap water added) or not?

[Mgamer20o0]

i would mix some tap water so you dont have to do any additives. if you want to add more trace elements pick up some dry ferts cost the same lasts many times longer.

[reiverix]

I wouldn't use RO water in a planted tank. All you will do is add back most of the stuff that the RO unit took out. When I had a SW tank, I actually used the waste RO water for my planted tank water changes.

[jemanser]

Thanks Mgamer and Reiverix....why is it that we always try to make things more complicated than necessary? When a water conditioner for tap water states on the label that it will neutralize heavy metals(like Fe, Cu, Zn etc.) does it renders these trace elements unavailable for plant metabolism?

[The Zigman]

I mix RO and tap in all my tanks.
my tap Ph is off the scale, like 9+
I mix about 50:50 to get ideal conditions.

My tap water is also so hard that cutting it with RO still leaves enough nutrients for all my plants to grow well.

[jpappy789]

Thanks Mgamer and Reiverix....why is it that we always try to make things more complicated than necessary? When a water conditioner for tap water states on the label that it will neutralize heavy metals(like Fe, Cu, Zn etc.) does it renders these trace elements unavailable for plant metabolism?

"heavy metals" is such a blanket term that I dont know if anyone really knows exactly what those conditioners neutralize if they do that at all...all I know is that you can certainly get by without adding any extra nutrients in specific setups.

[Mgamer20o0]

I wouldn't use RO water in a planted tank. All you will do is add back most of the stuff that the RO unit took out. When I had a SW tank, I actually used the waste RO water for my planted tank water changes.
great to see you here again.

[reiverix]

great to see you here again.
Thanks. I got all burned out with so many tanks. Trying to get back into the swing.

[reiverix]

jemanser (http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/member.php?u=33279), what is your tapwater pH/KH/GH ?

[jones57742]

I'm curious, how many of you use some fraction of RO water in your planted tank?
I do.



If you use a mixture of tap and RO what is your typical ratio in order to acheive your desired KH/gh?
I use RO/DI exclusively and my Gh is typically 5 or less,



Which micro nutrient additives do you prefer (i.e. flourish comp. or Kent's add.) to add to the RO water if used exclusively (ie. no tap water added) or not?
I use CSM+B for fertilization and not for Gh boosting.

TR

[Nue]

I would use Ro/tap water if it was more readily available for me. I don't trust the water from the fish store anymore. Plan to get my own ro filter soon.

[Riiz]

I mix RO with tap at a ratio of 50/50. It makes a difference, since SoCal water is full of minerals. But only my highlight-Co2 tanks get this treatment.