Ok, RO water only, and tons of plants… what do I likely need to add to the water for both the fish, and plants???

[FishyD]

My well water was opposite. It was horrible for my fish. Naturally it was 20 plus degree gh. I had to run it through a softener, which of course then adds other treatments into the water. Then after a day, PH would raise to beyond 8 which I'm certain is CO2 offgassing so basically natural PH of the water was high. I live on a Peninsula where the bay is 600 feet from my house, leading to what I could assume was leaching. I ended up with RO/DI water solution and gotten it better.

I treat with Equilibriurm, Alkaline buffer, Flourish and Fresh Trace

Currently tank is 7 degree GH, 5 degree KH and 8.2 PH. PH high most likely from the CO2 offgassing. Checked with a drop checker and levels are very low. It shows in my plants.

I should have mentioned that possibility, but I knew Magnum lives in the upper Midwest. I am generalizing again, and his water may not have the minerals mine does, but there is a fair chance it contains a lot of what plants need. My well is a stable 8.4 so I use a high concentration of RO for anything but live bearers. Even they do fine with better than 50% RO. Until I get a pump to transport water like Magnum's, it's hard work to get my water down to 125 TDS. I am lucky a quick shot of NILOCG DIY ferts and I am done with minerals at very low cost.

 

[Sleeveless]

I should have mentioned that possibility, but I knew Magnum lives in the upper Midwest. I am generalizing again, and his water may not have the minerals mine does, but there is a fair chance it contains a lot of what plants need. My well is a stable 8.4 so I use a high concentration of RO for anything but live bearers. Even they do fine with better than 50% RO. Until I get a pump to transport water like Magnum's, it's hard work to get my water down to 125 TDS. I am lucky a quick shot of NILOCG DIY ferts and I am done with minerals at very low cost.

I set up 2 large trash cans to gather my water with the RO attached to one of them. Works well. Just means though I have 2 large trash cans in the room for a few days haha.

 

[FishyD]

I set up 2 large trash cans to gather my water with the RO attached to one of them. Works well. Just means though I have 2 large trash cans in the room for a few days haha.

By luck I placed my largest tank in a good spot. My RO is turtle slow, but I can put a small hole in the floor under my sink and gravity feed RO to trash cans in my basement. The tank is on the ,main floor six feet from the basement door. A pump like Magnum uses and this could be easy. But first I have to finish re-assembling my boat for vacation in a Minnesota vacation in a few days. So many hobbies lol.

 

[Sleeveless]

By luck I placed my largest tank in a good spot. My RO is turtle slow, but I can put a small hole in the floor under my sink and gravity feed RO to trash cans in my basement. The tank is on the ,main floor six feet from the basement door. A pump like Magnum uses and this could be easy. But first I have to finish re-assembling my boat for vacation in a Minnesota vacation in a few days. So many hobbies lol.

Your's and mine both. I have a 100 GPD Aquatic Life RO Buddie system. Definitely a lot less than 100 per day, but it is a budget friendly system. Knowing I will be sticking to the RO solution, I may get a nicer unit like Bulk Reef supplies 150 per day..