What's a good source of water to use to top-off your tank?

[Gerald Garcia]

Hello all.... What should you use? I have been using room temp boiled water to top off my pico tank (2.5 gal). I loose about 1L of water every 2 days. I was thinking of using Alkaline water or Distilled water. which should I use? Why and what's the difference between the two? Thanks!

It use to look like this before my light upgrade about a week ago.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Rodi water is what you want.
It has all extra nutints and minerals and metals removed.

 

[BigJim]

Rodi water is what you want.
It has all extra nutints and minerals and metals removed.

I agree. You probably don't want to invest in an rodi system for such a small tank, but you can usually buy rodi water at a local fish store.

 

[Jeff_Toronto]

I agree. You probably don't want to invest in an rodi system for such a small tank, but you can usually buy rodi water at a local fish store.

I'm 4 weeks into hobby. Best investment I've made was a rodi system and an ato. If you can afford the rodi I recommend. Has made life so much easier and no more trips to lfs. Can't say enough how much easier it is to make your own water.

 

[Sorcha2]

If your using tapwater you need to be treating it with prime before putting it in the tank as well. Also you should be able to find a report from your city on what is in the local water to determine how big of an issue it is.

 

[ourcoralreef]

I agree Rodi water is the way to go you can usually buy it at a local fish store for about a $1 a gallon buy 5 gallons at a time

I don’t know what allaline water is but distilled is they boil water and the evaporation is called distilled water i don’t know if it really removes everything from the water like a rodi system you want your water to have 0 nutrients in it

 

[GSPClown94]

RODI or distilled water, both should have 0 TDS.

 

[Gerald Garcia]

If your using tapwater you need to be treating it with prime before putting it in the tank as well. Also you should be able to find a report from your city on what is in the local water to determine how big of an issue it is.

Thanks. But I'd alkaline or distilled water ok?

 

[Gerald Garcia]

RODI or distilled water, both should have 0 TDS.

What's DTS?

 

[Gerald Garcia]

What's DTS?

Lol. TDS

 

[GSPClown94]

What's DTS?

No idea what DTS is in this context but TDS are total dissolved solids which basically measure how much other stuff is in the water. Ideally you don't want anything else in your water.

 

[Gerald Garcia]

No idea what DTS is in this context but TDS are total dissolved solids which basically measure how much other stuff is in the water. Ideally you don't want anything else in your water.

Got it... I actually typed it wrong. Lol.
I'll try to get my waters tested and if it's not good, I'll pick up an rodi kit.
Thanks

 

[DracoKat]

Eventually the RO/DI system will pay itself off. You'll find yourself down the line spending more on the jugs of distilled water.

 

[Gerald Garcia]

Here are my test results.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Distilled water works, but in the long run, you will actually save money by investing in an RODI system. For now though, I wouldn't use anything that isn't either distilled water or RODI (RODI being the preferred route).

 

[sponge]

I would say if you are planning on staying in this hobby,invest in a RO/DI system.You could get yourself a unit that gives you great drinking water for yourself,and then the DI part for your tank.Who knows maybe you would want a larger tank someday?

Consistent water is a plus in this hobby.Having the ability to access water when you need it ,also a plus . Swings can happen faster in smaller tanks

 

[cmcoker]

Thanks. But I'd alkaline or distilled water ok?

Distilled water is fine, it would be better than boiling tap. There are things like copper and other metals in your tap that you can't test for. These small amounts will build up in the tank as they are left behind when you replace the evaporated water.

Think if it as, evaporation is only losing the pure water, H20, anything else in the tap water like metals, phosphates, etc stays behind in the tank so will get to problematic levels over time.

Distilled or RODI is just putting back what you lost through evaporation, pure H20.

I think in alkaline water that they add sodium bicarb and stuff back to the pure water so it tastes better for drinking, I would avoid that for the tank.

 

[Gerald Garcia]

Ok, to thanks