rinsing with tap?????

new tank buying RO from LFS, If i was to rinse arrag and BR with tap will this completely negate the idea of buying water? what will i have to do to make the rinsed componets ok to add?

 

No rinsing with tap is OK, but make sure and use dechlorinator just to be safe.

 

much obliged.

 

will rinsing with tap hurt LR, also will the dechlorinater hure LR or affect initial cycle

 

If its live rock rinse only with saltwater, fresh water will kill the bacteria.

I am a big proponent of doing things right from the beginning so I recommend using RO/DI from day one for everything. If the sand is going to be a fully functioning deep and bed and it has not been used before I would not rinse it as it is the fines or sugar sized materials that support the most bacteria growth. Yes you will have a milk shake for a day or two but in the long run its worth it. Using dead dry sand then seeding it with a couple cups of real live sand from a friends tank is the best way to jumpstart a sand bed. You will get some bacteria from the live rock but innoculating the sandbed works better as it adds things like anaerobic bacteria, spaghetti worms, mini brittle stars, pods and things that may or may not be present on or in the rock or may have died off during the curing process.

 

You can rinse with tap water with no problems, I've done for the past two years and never had an issue from that. However, as already stated, if you rinse pre-cured live rock with fresh water, you will most likely kill some of the bacteria, IMO, this is fine as you will cycle anyways, and it would be a waste of salt to rinse the rock in salt water b/c you would have to get rid of that water anyways. The cycle will do it's job and aid in the regrowth of the bacteria. You shouldn't have any problems.

 

I agree with Guitar man.

Also, no, you do not need to use dechlorinator to rinse things off - I never have. But you do need to use it if you're adding the water to your tank.

I do not agree with earlier suggestions that there is only one way considered "right". RO from the beginning is fine and is not "wrong". I used de-chlorinated tap for the first year and had absolutely 0 problems from this.

I do recommend RO/DI (even from the start), but I do not consider it the only right way. Just preferred and safer.

 

i always use plain outta the tap when rinsing things. im agreeing with the others that do it also. just thought id throw my 2 cents in.

 

I do not like using tap water to rinse anything.....tap water is full of phosphates so when you rinse your sand with tap water, you are starting off with a butt load of phosphates in your sand bed. Although this may work for some, it will increase the diatom bloom, increase the chance of cyano and also the chance for hair algae...Just my .02 and take it for what it's worth

 

i rinse all m equipment and feeding dishes and what not with tap water it hurts nothing i wouldnt rinse m things that live in tank with it tho