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[AdAndrews]

As some of you may know im raising the salinity gradually in a puffer tank, when i get into marines i want to keep a few small fish and maybe some corals, salt i have used is d&d h2ocean.

Im wondering if i can continue using tap water as i have been for corals aswell as fish? my tap water is moderately hard, and ph7.6(obv salt will buffer) nitrate is 10ppm and i will be using dechlorinator.

i plan to have these things in the tank to help reduce the ammounts of chemicals/nitrates/phosphates..

macro algae
live rock
protein skimmer
rowacarbon
rowaphos

Possible?

My lfs sells RO for £3.50 for 25l, i would need 50l a month(doing 10% wc's, tbh, i would probably do 20% weekly.) I dont fancy paying £7-14.

Just wondering what your opinions are on this. Ive thought i would only keep a few corals anyway, soft corals to be precise and maybe there are some hardier ones to suit?

thanks
Adam

 

[liamg1285]

youd be better off using ro water. u could buy ur own ro unit then can make it as needed does cost abit to get setup but will pay for itself in a short while

 

[AdAndrews]

youd be better off using ro water. u could buy ur own ro unit then can make it as needed does cost abit to get setup but will pay for itself in a short while

need to make a few calculations if that is the case, erm, is there such thing as a cheap RO unit? and, can i have one that i simply plug in when i want to use it? as i havnt got the space for it to be plumbed into the sink permanantly.. also, dont you have to buy filters for it?

sorry for all the questions folks, one more though hehe

If you were to have say 2 tubes, would you have 1 white and 1 blue?

thanks

 

[liamg1285]

have a look at http/osmotics.co.uk/ for ro units. if u cant have it plumbed in all the time u will need 3 ball valves to keep the membrane wet so it doesnt dry out. they can be plumbed into a garden tap or off ur washing machine pipe with a adaptor.

i got a 50gpb ro unit with tds meter and 3 ball valves for bout 130quid just after xmas from them and has already payed for it self with water changes and things like that

u could run a white and a blue that wouldnt be problem just depends if there t5 or t8s as they will limit wat corals u can keep if u want them at all

 

[AdAndrews]

have a look at http/osmotics.co.uk/ for ro units. if u cant have it plumbed in all the time u will need 3 ball valves to keep the membrane wet so it doesnt dry out. they can be plumbed into a garden tap or off ur washing machine pipe with a adaptor.

i got a 50gpb ro unit with tds meter and 3 ball valves for bout 130quid just after xmas from them and has already payed for it self with water changes and things like that

u could run a white and a blue that wouldnt be problem just depends if there t5 or t8s as they will limit wat corals u can keep if u want them at all

ok, thanks, a connection to the sink tap would be the best, i'll get looking.

the lights are t8x2 but i plan to add either 1 t5 tube, 2 or 1x power compact.

thanks for your help matey!

what about the filters for them? how often do they have to be changed?

thanks

 

[liamg1285]

u could add a twin t5 whites and use the t8s as blue and u will be able to keep most soft corals and maybe a few lps

u only really need to replace the filters and membranes when ur tds starts to go up

 

[ben1987]

id go for RO is you can mate. Although what salinity will you be starting at? in fresh water using RO is harmful to fish as there is nothing in it and fish require certaim things in the water. There is a product that will add these and make RO safe for fresh water tanks.

 

[AdAndrews]

id go for RO is you can mate. Although what salinity will you be starting at? in fresh water using RO is harmful to fish as there is nothing in it and fish require certaim things in the water. There is a product that will add these and make RO safe for fresh water tanks.

if i do, i wouldnt start using it until 1.20 or around, then, if i was keeping corals i would obv go up to the 1.026,

not sure about it though, its alot of money, and i cant keep spending

connection would be ok, i can connect it via a screw adapter into my tap...

 

[macpegg]

I have just purchased a R/O unit that has a peircing valve which will attach the cold water pipe leading to the sink.. I'll have this also under the sink.. Maybe something to consider?..

 

[AdAndrews]

I have just purchased a R/O unit that has a peircing valve which will attach the cold water pipe leading to the sink.. I'll have this also under the sink.. Maybe something to consider?..

thanks, i'll look on osmotics.

what about filters for ro units? do these need to be replaced every so often?

thanks

 

[AdAndrews]

Ok, ive got everything sorted now, tottled up at just over £100 from osmotics.

So excited, need to sort out the exact corals i can have

thanks guys!