RO water

[caz27]

Ive been using RO water for about 10 wks now as my ph was at 8.2 and nothing was helping so someone recomended RO water and since using it my fish are more colourful and seem happier
i would never go back to tapwater again Can't remember who recomended it but a big Thanks

 

[Waterloo Kid]

What proportion of RO are you using out of interest? I'm thinking of using it to combat high phosphate levels in my tapwater.

WK

 

[CFC]

Can't remember who recomended it but a big Thanks

That would have been me I know what you mean about the tapwater, i only live about 2/3 miles from you (Hampton area) and the tapwater is disgusting round here, comes out the tap with nitrates between 50 and 60 ppm and the only thing its PH is good for is Tangs and marine set ups . I have used RO water for about 18 months now and no way would i ever put another drop of Thames waters finest near my tank again. Before i had continuous algea problems and my catfish would turn off colour and suffer from barbel errosion after every water change.

 

[teknikz]

i live in the north west and our water is quite good.....ive never even thought of usin RO water but if i find any1 near that supplies it then i'll use it

Tek

 

[caz27]

i only use RO water...I don't mix it with tapwater my water is horrible so i won't take the chance.

Caz

 

[bobd_uk]

I've always used RO water since I set up my tank. Keeps the ph low, and has few phosphates and other rubbish in it. I've had the tank running for 6 years and I've never had any disease on any of my fish!!!!

 

[Lateral Line]

I lived just in North East Hampshire, (not far from Camberley), water came from chalk bore holes - appalling stuff. Bought my own RO system, used it exclusively in my established tanks. Was still enough buffering capacity in there without needing chemical buffers.

Be careful when introducing new fish into a tank that is pure RO, if they have come from a local place with tap water, could be 2 even 3 pH units out and hardness - well, I'll leave it to your imagination.

To the Hampton/Feltham possee, is Queensborough Fisheries still there in Ferry Lane at Wraysbury? I used to work in Staines and that was a regular haunt for me.

 

[AquaNut]

I was perplexed when I first came here and heard fw aquarists talking about RO water. I had only ever heard of people with really big, expensive reef tanks using it around here. Now I know why!!!! You poor people! The pH of the water coming straight out of my bathroom taps is about 7.2. If I sterilized it first, I'm pretty certain some of my fish could live in my bathroom sink.

 

[Alien Anna]

Just a little tip for UK aquarists on a budget: if you can't get RO water and can't afford your own RO unit, you can get so-called "spring water" from Lidl's and Aldi for about 20p a 2 litre bottle. Don't get carbonated, of course, and if it's called "mineral water" it'll have added calcium carbonate and other minerals (although considerably lower concentrations, and without the nitrates and phosphates that come out of the typical British tap).

The other option is to pre-filter your tap water through peat. I used this option for quite a while before the bogwood in my tank got to the point that it was doing the job itself and small water changes weren't causing a problem any more.

Just be careful if your tank's pH and KH is significantly different from your LFS when you buy new stock.

Also consider that African Cichlids probably think our water's lovely.

 

[bobd_uk]

RO water isn't too expensive where I am (Essex). I buy it for 60p a gallon. As pointed out though, if you have fish that need a higher ph than 7, then RO may not be for you!

 

[Lateral Line]

>>> Also consider that African Cichlids probably think our water's lovely.

Something that has always struck me as ironic is that people living in hard/alkali tap water areas keep soft/acid water fish and vice versa.

 

[Alien Anna]

>>> Also consider that African Cichlids probably think our water's lovely.

Something that has always struck me as ironic is that people living in hard/alkali tap water areas keep soft/acid water fish and vice versa.

It's because humans are bl**dy awkward! Or at least that's what my fish told me

 

[Lateral Line]

>>> humans are bl**dy awkward!

Nah, I think it's something in the water...