If you are using a reverse osmosis system for your tank water, is it still necessary to use Prime? If not, is it advisable?
Would you add Prime to RO water?
- Thread starter oscaremmy
- Start date
Because we have well water here, which although it is perfectly drinkable, my wife wanted an RO system installed for our drinking water. Since I have that, I use it for the tanks, because it produces such 'clean' water, very low in metals, minerals (especially salts) etc. It's as easy to use the RO water as the standard tap water.
Only in the form of weekly ferts (potash and chelated iron). As we have a maintenance agreement on the RO system, which includes test results, I am pretty confident the water is free from toxins. I don't feel it is necessary to add any other materials and was more interested in reducing the use of chemicals, if possible.
Well, you will need to for a FW tank, or your tank will eventually suffer a pH crash. There is nothing wrong with well water for FW fish. What is the pH, ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, GH/KH on your well water, and for that matter, on your tank?
When my wife gets home, I'll ask where the last set of tests are kept (I lose things, she finds them).
Useful input guys and I'm glad I asked the question now! Once I get the well water test in hand, I'll just start using that, assuming it's okay (I often drink it and I haven't developed finrot or cholera yet).
The well water has minerals needed to buffer and maintain pH, that get used up in a FW tank. Pure RO will slowly cause your pH crash. Some folks use RO to mix with well/tap water to cut it if it has certain extremely high issues in some areas.
Do you have a good liquid test kit to test your tank water?
Do you have a good liquid test kit to test your tank water?