Tap water analysis, help needed

[Mandelstam]

I've read about how a lot (ok at least some) people who has access to good tap water uses that instead of RO for their tanks with great success. For me who lives in a rental apartment that would make life a whole lot easier as well as save me a bunch of money when I start up my reef tank. At least I would much rather spend that money on something else for my tank.

So I found the water analysis paper from my city but I need help to determine if this is at all suitable. As it's not in English I had to translate it so I hope it's understandable.

My goal is to use the Triton method.

Numbers are the average for the last 12 months.

Number of microorganisms at 22 ºC, 72hrs cfu/ml = 3
Number of microorganisms at 22 ºC, 7 days cfu/ml = 15
Color mg/l Pt = <5
Turbidity FNU (=NTU) = 0,1
pH = 8,3
Conduitivity mS/m = 35
Alkalinity, HCO3 mg/l (ppm) = 146
Chlorine total mg/l (ppm) = 0,03
Ammonium, NH4 mg/l (ppm) = <0,01
Nitrite, NO2 mg/l (ppm) = <0,004
Nitrate, NO3 mg/l (ppm) = 5,3
Fluoride, F mg/l (ppm) = 0,22
Chloride, Cl mg/l (ppm) = 21
Sulfate, SO4 mg/l (ppm) = 31
Phosphate PO4-P mg/l (ppm) = <0,005
Total organic carbon, TOC mg/l (ppm) = 2,8
Iron, Fe mg/l (ppm) = 0,01
Manganese, Mn mg/l (ppm) = <0,01
Calcium, Ca mg/l (ppm) = 32
Magnesium, Mg mg/l (ppm) = 6,4
Permanent hardness, Ca+Mg mg/l (ppm) = 43
Permanent hardness, Ca+Mg °dH = 6,0
Copper, Cu mg/l (ppm) = 0,03
Sodium, Na mg/l (ppm) = 33
Potassium, K mg/l (ppm) = 2,5

 

[Jason mack]

I’m sure @Randy Holmes-Farley can help explain this for you !

 

[Mandelstam]

I’m sure @Randy Holmes-Farley can help explain this for you !

I'm hoping he will! Thanks!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Is that data for your personal apartment, or for the water supply?

Copper mostly comes from your own pipes.

 

[75galOCD]

From my experience RO water with 0 TDS is 100% necessary. It is the foundation to a beautiful reef system. It is a couple hundred bucks well spent.

 

[Mandelstam]

Is that data for your personal apartment, or for the water supply?

Copper mostly comes from your own pipes.

Water supply, not from my tap. Good point.

 

[Mandelstam]

From my experience RO water with 0 TDS is 100% necessary. It is the foundation to a beautiful reef system. It is a couple hundred bucks well spent.

There are obviously people who've had great success without it.

Yes, it's a couple of hundred bucks. And I have to be able to install it somewhere without messing with any of the plumbing in my apartment.

 

[Mandelstam]

Is that data for your personal apartment, or for the water supply?

Copper mostly comes from your own pipes.

So if I were to explore this possibility further I should get the water from my actual tap tested?

Is copper the main concern here or do you see anything else that might cause problems?

If I run Triton method and use tap water for top off I basically add more and more copper and raising the level all the time, aren't I?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

If you can run the water long enough that you flush out your own pipes so the collected water does not contain water that has been sitting in copper pipes overnight, then it may be worth a try. But the copper level even in the source water (30 ppb) might be an issue long term in a tank not doing water changes. I'm just not sure how fast it depletes.

 

[Tallison]

I would go with a RO machine outside your grocery store or Walmart. That's what I did for my initial fill since my RODI is 75G per day(1.75 per 5G). Just check the TDS to make sure it's below 5-6 ppm

 

[corey01]

if cash is the limiting factor you could always pick up one of these. dont think its quite as good as a lot of the nicer units. but I think I would trust a cheap RO/DI system over tap or a walmart dispenser any day.
these are small enough to just set in the sink when your using it. as long as your faucet tip unscrews and you can install this to it.

https://www.amazon.com/Aquatic-Life..._rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=HQ9NMQYC5CQRM3HMXHA0

 

[Twisted_Blenny]

when i lived in an apartment i just hooked my rodi unit to my kitchen sink and took it off when i was done making water. they sell connections at home depot for a quick connect/disconnect for your sink. problem solved. just hook it up when u need to use it

 

[Twisted_Blenny]

this is what i use. just screw this to your kitchen faucet and u can hook up your rodi in seconds and disconnect after your done. very easy

 

[75galOCD]

What I want to know is, where on this planet can one get tap water with a low enough TDS for a reef?

 

[John Ostler]

You can also install a valve to switch your sink from regular tap use to ro use.
I installed an RODI in a second bathroom and the single 1/16 line really didn't mess up the aesthetic of the room. Just put the unit under the sink and pulled the lines out when I needed them.

 

[Mandelstam]

If you can run the water long enough that you flush out your own pipes so the collected water does not contain water that has been sitting in copper pipes overnight, then it may be worth a try. But the copper level even in the source water (30 ppb) might be an issue long term in a tank not doing water changes. I'm just not sure how fast it depletes.

I might see if I can get it tested actually. Even if I go down the RO path it's always good to know what my tap has. Thanks for your reply!

I would go with a RO machine outside your grocery store or Walmart. That's what I did for my initial fill since my RODI is 75G per day(1.75 per 5G). Just check the TDS to make sure it's below 5-6 ppm

I'm not in the US and our stores don't have that unfortunately. I think it's because our tap water is considered to be good enough for any consumption. I love my tap water lol, I just wish my reef could do the same!

What I want to know is, where on this planet can one get tap water with a low enough TDS for a reef?

The systems I've seen that has used tap water has had high quality well water.

if cash is the limiting factor you could always pick up one of these. dont think its quite as good as a lot of the nicer units. but I think I would trust a cheap RO/DI system over tap or a walmart dispenser any day.
these are small enough to just set in the sink when your using it. as long as your faucet tip unscrews and you can install this to it.

when i lived in an apartment i just hooked my rodi unit to my kitchen sink and took it off when i was done making water. they sell connections at home depot for a quick connect/disconnect for your sink. problem solved. just hook it up when u need to use it

this is what i use. just screw this to your kitchen faucet and u can hook up your rodi in seconds and disconnect after your done. very easy

You can also install a valve to switch your sink from regular tap use to ro use.
I installed an RODI in a second bathroom and the single 1/16 line really didn't mess up the aesthetic of the room. Just put the unit under the sink and pulled the lines out when I needed them.

Thanks guys!
One problem I have is that all of my faucets don't really have anything that I can unscrew. They are the new modern fancy a** egg shaped faucets where everything is kind of hidden inside of them. But the shower hose unscrews easily and I'm thinking that I might be able to find something that could fit there. The bathroom would be the best place for me to have the RO unit anyway while it's running.

We have pretty good tap water here in Sweden and I've noticed that most reefers here only run a 2 stage system. So I should be able to find something not too expensive. It's not that much money really but it's when you have to start up a new system that every little thing adds up.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

What I want to know is, where on this planet can one get tap water with a low enough TDS for a reef?

Well, TDS is not actually any concern. The concern is whether the water contains problematic components (such as copper, etc.) or whether the TDS is coming from sodium, calcium, chloride, etc., which are not an issue.

 

[75galOCD]

You know what I mean, it just cant be done is my point. If a reefers TDS goes up no matter what the component is we just see the TDS value and correct. If we are to promote a cretin level of husbandry within this for the lack of a better word "hobby", lets not think for a moment that it can be achieved with tap water. I never heard of it!
Who was it that said "$1 water for a $1 reef"
I think it is misleading to suggest it can be done.
We of all people should be concerned for all the life going into the hands of fellow reefers, so lets error on the side of caution and encourage new reefers with what works! Short cuts do not!

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I never heard of it!
Who was it that said "$1 water for a $1 reef"
I think it is misleading to suggest it can be done.

You've never heard of anyone keeping a great tank using tap water?

 

[corey01]

I have heard of plenty of people keeping reef tanks with tap water. while tap isn't ideal at all, and I wouldn't use it or ever suggest it. I thought the larger issues based upon the tap is the OP is running his tank using Triton.
that means no W/C right? so anything that may be in his water accounting for just topping off his tank all the time would be compounded over time to exceedingly high levels. Vs using Tap with a W/C schedule where the contaminates would be there always but normally in much lower concentrations.

or I may be completely wrong. that happens also.