? on testing local h2o

Balance

Balance

Large Fish
#1
Jul 16, 2003
481
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Aurora, IL
www.myspace.com
#1
is there a good way that I could test my local tap water (im about 1 block from the water plant, good or bad?:rolleyes: ) before investing in an RO system?

maybe I could get some salt mix, 1 lbs of cheap LR, and just see what happens?

what do all the experts think?!?!*PEACE!*

my brain is awaiting the knowledge download!
*twirlysmi
 

C

CoolWaters

Superstar Fish
#2
Dec 10, 2006
1,028
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Milpitas
#2
you should invest im a RO system or a really good filtering media IMO. theres a lot of impurities in tap water...no matter where you are.

right now i can only think of copper/phos/and the 2 types of chlorines.

but if your stuck using tap water at the very least get tap water conditioner.

the best of luck in SW.
 

1979camaro

1979camaro

Ultimate Fish
#3
Oct 22, 2002
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San Ramon, CA
#3
Actually CoolWaters, a lot of times the local water is acceptable. When I was living in Oregon the water was great...in LA it was horrible...here in Hayward I try to use RO when I can but it isn't an absolute necessity.

Balance, the best thing you can do is call the water company and ask for a water report. They are usually either free or a few dollars. It will tell you everything that is in the water.

Kevin
 

Lotus

Lotus

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
#6
Aug 26, 2003
15,115
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Southern California
home.earthlink.net
#6
I was reading the other day that the water plants put in chlorine in amounts that ensure there is enough to get to the end of the water distribution pipes, so the concentration near a plant will be higher. I don't think you need to add extra dechlorinator, but I guess it's important to know.

Even if you don't get an RO unit, it might be worth getting RO water for your top offs.
 

C

CoolWaters

Superstar Fish
#8
Dec 10, 2006
1,028
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Milpitas
#8
1979camaro said:
Actually CoolWaters, a lot of times the local water is acceptable. When I was living in Oregon the water was great...in LA it was horrible...here in Hayward I try to use RO when I can but it isn't an absolute necessity.

Balance, the best thing you can do is call the water company and ask for a water report. They are usually either free or a few dollars. It will tell you everything that is in the water.

Kevin
Click to expand...

well thats a first. well i understand that some no so populated states have good water but to be able to be used directly? :eek:

i also heard that if u let the tap water sit for a while the chlorine dies off. is that true?
 

Balance

Balance

Large Fish
#9
Jul 16, 2003
481
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Aurora, IL
www.myspace.com
#9
thanks for all the great info guys!

I think i'll stop by the water plant on monday or tuesday after work, its literally a block from my new house... maybe ill call first :D

and ive heard the same thing about chlorine as well Coolwaters, if you let sit or shove an airstone in it, it should dechlor on its own without additives.

I may just have to experiment. way cheaper to try tap water with salt mix and 1-2 lbs of live rock, then to either buy an RO unit or experiment with a full tnak or LR
 

C

CoolWaters

Superstar Fish
#10
Dec 10, 2006
1,028
1
0
Milpitas
#10
Balance said:
thanks for all the great info guys!

I think i'll stop by the water plant on monday or tuesday after work, its literally a block from my new house... maybe ill call first :D

and ive heard the same thing about chlorine as well Coolwaters, if you let sit or shove an airstone in it, it should dechlor on its own without additives.

I may just have to experiment. way cheaper to try tap water with salt mix and 1-2 lbs of live rock, then to either buy an RO unit or experiment with a full tnak or LR
Click to expand...
i wonder how thos hardcore reefers deal with 25% WC 100g+ tanks...

but i seen some 100g tanks so many LR/LS and coral theres only about 50g in it...
 

J

JeLeAk

Large Fish
#11
Jan 4, 2005
491
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Alaska
#11
CoolWaters said:
i wonder how thos hardcore reefers deal with 25% WC 100g+ tanks...
Click to expand...
Saltwater Aquarium Salt: Aquarium Systems Instant Ocean & Reef Crystals Synthetic Sea Salt

also this was prob already addressed, but chlorine will evaporate over time


and the water here is great, i dont really use de-chlor either for my freshwater tanks... i do for the reefs, but i got lazy and ran out once for my nano and used straight tap water with no ill effects *crazysmil ... just my past experiences with the rather clean glacier fed tap water
 

Lotus

Lotus

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
#13
Aug 26, 2003
15,115
13
38
Southern California
home.earthlink.net
#13
Balance, I'd be worried about the nitrates in your tapwater (10ppm, according to the report), if you plan on having a reef tank. There wasn't anything I could see about phosphates, but those could cause algae problems or problems for corals.

We have a RO unit on the way. While our water is generally pretty good (although a little hard for FW fish), it does have phosphates in it. We will need to get a couple of large storage containers for the RO and saltwater. Many people in our area don't dechlorinate, and it's fine, as the chlorine levels are low.
 

Balance

Balance

Large Fish
#14
Jul 16, 2003
481
0
0
49
Aurora, IL
www.myspace.com
#14
im going to get a more current report. based on the testing ive done since living in this new house, the water out of the tap is NOT like that 2005 report states....

lower PH, no nitrates. phosphate appears pretty low as well.
 

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