Tap water & chlorine remover - needed?

G

GatorDrew

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Apr 19, 2006
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Alright - I've been using tap water for about a year. I know that RO/DI water is best and I'm researching into the best ones (off topic though).

Anyway, I was reading this page...

If you opt to use tap water because it saves you money, you'll need to add some type of de chlorinator to protect your livestock from chlorine. Seachem's Prime is excellent, and I used it for years.
Click to expand...

My LFS told me that I don't need to use dechlorinator as the salt takes care of it.

My tank has been pretty healthy overall; however, even with the nice lights, etc I don't have any coralline algae growing (most of the LR that I get with it die off). Additionally, I'm starting to get bubble & hair algae.

Anyway, is my LFS wrong... again!!?!
 
i dont possibly see how the salt would take care of it. salts are soluble. chloride is derived from a salt in an aqueus solution. I would also add chlorine remover. but even more than that, iw oudl never use tap water :D
lol. even with chlorine remover, it still is pretty bad depending on where you live.
 
As fishieness say...that is a load of twoddle to be honest...

Issues of corraline algae not growing may be down the calcium levels in your tank. Have you measured them? if so, what was the result?

Am afraid the algae issues is something you have to live with because of the tap water. Tap water will feed the algae in the system..a few things that algae thrive on is light, phosphates and nitrates...the later 2 will be consumed by the algae from the tap water..

Niko
 
Thank you both!

Alright. I'll order a phosphate tester from Dr. Fosters & Smith and will be able to see how bad the water is. I'll go test for other stuff now.

I officially will never support my LFS. There's another fish store ~15 minutes further (25 minute overall drive) that just opened. I went in there yesterday and asked them: LR rubble vs. bioballs. Immediately they answered with LR rubble. Whereas the LFS that I previously went to recommended bioballs!

Good thing I asked. Was just about to do a water change... think I'll hold off until I can get a dechlorinator or RO/DI unit. Is Seachem's really one of the best? Should I turn off my skimmer for a few hours after adding it?
 
Prime is a dechlorinator ive been using for freshwater, it works great, works instantly actually.

Its always a good feeling to find a good lfs.
 
water dechlorinators are all good if your keeping freshwater....saltwater is a different scenario.....when your putting water into the tank, you want NO additives/chemicals in your starting water....

Niko
 
if you are really short on cash for an RO/DI, i would look for one used. i bought mine with a 3 month old membrane for only 40 bucks from someone local.
you can also buy just a DI unit such as the aquarium pharmasuticals one. it is only like 30 bucks at www.petsolutions.com . I started out with this and it is excelent at removing DS, but the only problem is it doesnt filter tons so eventualy it adds up in replacement cartridges. They claim to filter between 55-125 gallons each and they cost about 18 bucks plus 8 bucks for shipping. However, it can be useful until you ahve the money for a DI or find a used one.
 
Is this what you're talking about?

Looks good, but you're right about the filter costs. I'd rather continue to save towards something. So far, one of my favorites is the one on Melev's site.

I checked all over Craigslist... I don't see a thing!

Niko - what do you suggest I do? I guess I could grab a couple of 5 gallon buckets from Lowe's and then go to the new LFS. They sell it for $0.30/gallon.

I need to do a water change shortly... just want to do it right this time.
 
30 cents a gallon is a good deal, my lfs sell it at 60 cents a gallon and my grocery store at 49 cents a gallon. IMO a tank over 20 gallons should get an RO or DI unit, anything under would do fine buying the water at the lfs and stuff. But thats my opinion.
 
haha
that is understandable. 30 cents a gallon is pretty darn good! id recomend having them test it with a tds meter before buying jsut to be on the safe side.
www.thefilterguys.com is a good place to look.
 
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