Puffer Chick's 46 Gallon Bowfront Reef

I buy the RODI water and mix it up myself, but i have trust issues with LFS's

 

You probably understood defdads point that Evaporative loss needs to be replaced with fresh water (e.g. RO or RO/DI) not salt water (e.g. Catalina water). If it's losses due to evaporation, do not replace it with Catalina water. Sorry to repeat if you were already clear on this but from your post above, I wasn't sure.

 

ohh, since i don't have a ro/di unit, should it be safe if i use tap water? i think it should be safe, i have prime if i need to use it, but i want to try to keep this tank as chemical free as possible

 

i seem to have missed your post, i hope to go to the lfs that i found online some time next week and have a water test, and look around to see if i like the place. Oh and my c.c is already crashing, it's going to die once i purchase my light. And hopefully once i get my skimmer up and running it will help quicken the cycle

 

OMG dont use tap waterrrr!!!! I made that mistake in a FOWLR tank and the algae was uncontrollable!
Just get yourself a 25 liter tub that has a tap on it (avail in heaps of places in Australia so i imagine you'll have no probs over there), get it filled with RODI water and leave it in your closet for top ups.

 

it is filled wit RODI water, i was just confused if it was ok to use tap water for evaporation losses, or should i go and buy freshwater ro/di from the lfs for top offs?

 

It's not a good idea to use tap water, Puffer Chick. Especially if you're planning on going reef later on. Tap water can add phoshates and nitrates, among other nasties depending on your source. Best practice is to use RO/DI water.

At about $150, you could get one from airwaterice.com, or buckeye field supply--both 3reef sponsors. You could then make your own water and not be dependant on the LFS. In the interim, you might consider buying RO/DI water from the LFS. Use the RO/DI water for top offs. I think I saw a suitable container you can store it in, in one of your photos.

I know it's a lot of money, and the expenditures don't seem to end, but really, using tap water is high on the list of things NOT to do.

 

"Safe" depends on what is in the tap water in your area. I keep two 5 gallon containers on hand. One with saltwater and one with RO/DI for topping off and for adjusting SG when I mix my saltwater. I started my tank with tap water and salt mix but after reading here I do not use tap water anymore. For small tanks like ours, RO/DI top off water doesn't cost too much. I pay $.50 gal.

 

no worries here about tap water tank is ro/di saltwater from lfs

 

ok now i'm not so confused anymore