Do You Have To Use Reverse Osmosis Water?

March 29, 2008 · Print This Article

Reverse osmosis (R/O) water seems to pop up very regularly in questions and discussions. Some aquarists consider the R/O filter to be another piece of equipment that is not really necessary. There is quite a bit of confusion particularly with beginners, which is understandable when the whole spectrum of equipment and guidelines for keeping marine systems is considered.

The heading question can be answered straightaway – no, you don’t. If you’re lucky, and have a water source such as a well that provides water of high purity, or live in an area where tap water is of a really high standard and not polluted with nitrates, insecticides, metals, bacteria (I won’t go on) then the tank seawater mix could well be of high quality.

Some aquarists have tried using bottled spring water and found that the purity was in fact not as thought and/or the cost was prohibitive. Similarly, some have obtained a supply of distilled water from a chemist or other source and tried that. This proved to be an inefficient way of obtaining the amounts of seawater – multiple gallons – often required, plus the cost.

A few other aquarists have turned to Mother Nature, a fine choice provided the transportation and storage needs can be met, and an unpolluted source can be found.

So for the majority it is the household tap. The water from the mains tap is purified and regulations exist for the amounts of pollutants that are acceptable. Nitrate can be present in a surprisingly high amount, as can phosphate, plus the insecticides etc mentioned earlier.

The water from the tap at the very least should be tested for nitrates and phosphates before consideration is given to using it for a salt mix. If tests are not done then the aquarist is possibly preparing a potential home for nuisance algae, particularly if high power lighting is being used. Added to the pollutants in the tap water are the natural developments in the tank because of the natural processes of the livestock, and the results of potential overfeeding.

Personally, I find it difficult to follow the logic (should I say illogic) of not using R/O water. First, look at the expense the aquarist has accepted in preparing the aquarium system, having purchased lights, salt mix, test kits, a protein skimmer, canister filter, heater(s), circulation pumps, maybe a calcium reactor etc, and also of course the aquarium and stand. Then there is the internal decoration, such as live rock and maybe sand. The fish and corals haven’t been mentioned yet! Whether a fish only or reef system, it all represents a fair sized investment.

Over and over emphasis is placed on the need for high quality water. To this end, the dry salt mix that most aquarists use is manufactured to a high purity, lacking in such unwanted substances as nitrate and phosphate. Why add less than ideal water to it?

If there is a marine retailer close by, R/O water may be available to purchase by the gallon. Quite reasonably, the retailer has to make a profit. Moving the water in containers is not the easiest practice.

If the aquarist purchased an R/O filter then production of purified water would be straightforward and predictable demand easily met. The cost of the filter, particularly when the cost of other items of equipment is considered, is reasonable.

R/O water is generally 95 to 98% pure and the environment for the aquarium livestock would be enhanced, which is probably the most important point, and the possible appearance of undesirable headache algae would be reduced.


Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites

Comments

5 Responses to “Do You Have To Use Reverse Osmosis Water?”

  1. Kenny on May 8th, 2008 3:08 am

    So what about the cheaper route glacier water (www.glacierwater.com)? These are found at many retailers and claim that they not only use R\O, but also a number of additional filters (http://www.glacierwater.com/quality.htm) at 25 – 30 cents a gallon it is cheaper that a aquatic store, and many location are available 24 hours for those “oops” nights. Anyone have any thoughts? has any testing ben done on the true quality of this source (results would vary as it does use local water system to for it’s source)?

  2. John on May 8th, 2008 7:15 pm

    Hi.
    I’ve not come across “Glacierwater” before, so had a look at the website you provided.
    I too would be interested to know if anyone has tried this.

  3. lil.guppy on January 24th, 2009 6:20 am

    I use Glacier and I like it so far. They said that there are no prosphates or silicons in their water

  4. ahmad tehalwi on February 28th, 2009 5:10 pm

    hello :
    i have a 250 gallon aquarium , good bio home made filter ,ehiem mechanical filter for 1500 l , a protein skimmer ,uv lamp , good lighting .
    i want to setup a reef aquarium .
    my question is :
    do i need an Ro system for my tap water ( there is no nitrite in my tap water ) or can i just use the( water conditioner )

  5. John on March 1st, 2009 12:27 pm

    Hello.

    There may be nitrate in your tap water or quite a number of other things caused by industry and/or agriculture. The water authorities put chlorine or chloramine in the water too as a cleaning agent. We don’t require any of it!

    I would suggest that an RO filter would be worthwhile. You will know that you are mixing the purest water you can.

    RO filters are not very expensive and are easily maintained – in fact they require little maintenance. It is best to check the amount you will need for routine seawater changes and size the RO filter to that. The filters come in various ‘gallons per day’ sizes.

    It is also good to initially fill your aquarium with RO water, not tap water. This takes some time, but is worth it as from day one the seawater is as good as it can be.

    I’m not sure what you mean by ‘water conditioner’ but assume it is a household conditioner. Many of these are based on carbon and are nowhere near as good as an RO filter – so as said I suggest the use of the RO filter.

    Johns last blog post..Should You Use An Automatic Fish Feeder

Got something to say?





CommentLuv Enabled

order viagra onlines

cialis cheap fast

buy viagra search find free

viagra by mail order

buy viagra canada

buy viagra order viagra

buy viagra online 35008

buy viagra and overseas

buy viagra no prescription

buy cheap viagra in uk

buy cialis today

buy kamagra viagra india

buy viagra phentermine meridia adipex xenical

buy generic viagra buy

overnight delivery cheap cialis

buy generic cialis uk

viagra online order viagra

buy cialis re

gay men buy cialis

buy viagra professional

cheap viagra sales

buy cialis dreampharmaceuticalscom online

cialis cheap visa

cheap cialis generic

where to buy viagra in canada

viagra and cialis cheap

buy cialis online buy cialis online

easy buy viagra

find viagra cheap overnight mail

buy viagra online 35008 buy

dirt cheap viagra

order cialis online a href

cheap generic viagra no script

target google viagra order cheap

buy viagra online canadian

generic viagra buy online

canada viagra buy

buy viagra ups

buy online cialis

search results viagra buy online

buy viagra online alternative viagra

name cheap viagra

find search viagra buy free

buy viagra onli

cheap buy viagra

cheap viagra walmart

order viagra viagra

where can i order generic viagra

viagra buy online

buy viagra meds online

buy taladafil viagra

buy cialis online pharmacy online

buy viagra cialis

cheap cialis si

buy viagra pill online

order viagra online a href

cialis buy cheap online

buy viagra price drugs on

caverta cheap cialis generic viagra

viagra buy pharmacy iframe

buy cialis online 20mg

cheap impotence drug generic cialis delivery

buy cialis online dream pharmaceutical

buy cialis without prescription

generic viagra buy

russia buy viagra

buy viagra in canada

buy cialis inur order

warning buy viagra now

search results buy cialis generic online

cialis soft tabs cheap

generic cialis order softtabs online

buy cialis softtabs

buy viagra the best quality pills

viagra order onlinr

buy viagra in el paso texas

order cialis now

buy cialis overseas

itc exclusion order cialis

cheap viagra online

levitra buy levitra online viagra