water

I have used the tapwater filter that Jason mentioned. It does work, but you will go through cartridges pretty quick @ $25.00 per.

For just a little more than the initial investment in the tap water filter, you can get this RO/DI unit.

And here you can get a Hose bib adapter that will allow you to use the RO unit without tapping into any water lines in your apartment.

Mike

 

You can still use a chloramine remover like Amquel or ClorAm-X and run the water through a DIY carbon filter for decent water.

 

Somewhere I've read that distilled water is not a good thing for reef. Something to do with the molecules and minerals missing in the distilled water. It has a great impact on the reef. That's why I stopped using it. Your best bet for freshwater top-off is RO/DI filtration, it's pretty much drinking water with a lot of natural minerals and stuff.

I agree with coral_reefer, testing your faucet water would be a very good idea. It will help you determine what type of RO/DI units would better suit you and your water. There are some for faucets, but some require other than faucet.

 

Some LFS sells RO/DI water. I used to buy it for a $1. a gallon before I bought my RO/DI system.

 

I have a reef shop near by that sells what they call "Woody water" because the owner's name is Woody. It comes in 5 gallon containers that are his and you return when empty. It is ro/di SALT water. I think he sells it for a dollar a gallon and he uses a high quality salt. Maybe you can find something like this nearby and just buy what you will use.. then you won't have to store any water. Good luck!

 

If you do get a RODI unit, make sure you get one that has a back flush valve. It will greatly extend the life of your filter.

I've clearly seen a difference when I changed to RODI. The chemicals that Chicago adds to the lake water seems to add a lot of phosphates and other stuff.

IMO, for about $100 it is cheap insurance and vs. the cost of Amquil(sp?) or another water treatment chemical it pays for itself quickly. Get a 100 gpd unit. They are only $20 more and have 2-3 times the lifespahn.

 

Cheap filtering units exist which uses fiber and charcoal. better than no filtration at all. also use water you left out and perhaps aerated for 24 hours. This should clear out the chlorine or chloramide additive to tap water. aerate with ceramic air stone and a cheap air pump. good luck!

 

Hello this is my first post ever. I am excited to get some much needed help with my 12g nano. My tank has been set up for seven months. I have CC, LR, a colt polyp, 6 zebra hermits, 4-5 nassarius snails, a cleaner clam, a queen conch, an emerald crab, dorment or dead green star polyp, a neon polyp, tons of white small fan worms. I have struggled from the get go. I have read tons of info online and relied to heavily from support from my lfs. I have killed a copius amount of fish, several starfish, two feather dusters ect. I my water is testing consistantly : ph 8.2/3, nitrites, ammonia and nitrates are negitive. temp 78-80 with a brief peak up to 84-6 degrees this summer. I change my water and carbon every 3 weeks. I have bristle worms. I think I have most of tham removed but I am still trapping. I also have a bubble algae. My lfs told me just to scrub it off. I did and I think I killed most of my remaining fish. Now I have just a few bubbles. Help I don't know what else to do. My tank is bare. I don't want to kill any more fish or inverts.

 

Probably best to start a new thread instead of adding a different theme to this one.
As for bristle worms, I've never removed any in over 12 years of reefing and I have a total of 590g of tanks. They are scavengers, important to the total biological structure of the tank. The chances of having a bristle worm that would be detrimental to your system are very remote.
As for bubble algae, that won't kill fish even if you scrub it off, but any spores remaining on "skins" left or any spores that escape into the water column will come back as more bubble algae.
As for deaths, a 12 gallon tank is not suitable for most starfish as they will starve. Likewise the dusters.
You didn't mention what fish, but a 12g tank limits the numbers and types of fish you can place in it (probably not more than one or two fish that will be small as adult size, and compatable with each other if more than one). Also, if you introduce a parasite from one fish and don't leave the tank fishless for a minimum of six weeks, you may automatically be introducing that parasite to any other fish you place in the tank.

 

Is Your Specific Gravity Good? Do U Have A Skimmer? As Said Before Sometimes Over Stocking Your Tank May Be The Problem. Your Tank Isn't Very Big So Maybe Stick With 2 Clowns(percula), Cleaner Shrimp, Some Crabs And Liverock. Your Temp Fluctuation Is Strange As I Have Had My Tank Cycling 4 3 Wks And It Has Stayed At 80. Read Some More. Did U Let The Tank Cycle Properly?