Changing from bottled water to RO

sandiego

Hi! I've had my male Betta for almost a year and I've been using bottled spring water for his tank. I recently got a Reverse Osmosis Water System for my home and would like to use RO water now if possible. How should I change from his current tank of bottled water to RO? When using RO, do you recommend leaving the water out for 24 hours first? Is there something I should add to it and if so, where do I get it? Please only answer if you know about reverse osmosis water and please be specific about any products needed. Thanks!

clinto

just make sure the temp is the same with the new and the old water then change it just as you would with what you are using now. RO is not going to be any different than bottled water other than the fact that is cleaner and better for your fish. as long as the system was hooked up properly and the hoses aren't backwards or anything then you are good to go.

Loman

I have a differnt perspective on this. Fish need to have several trace elements. These elementas are found in most normal water supplies. Many bottled waters are really from fairly common sources and ran through a carbon filter. The RO unit (as well as distilled) are virtually pure water with all the elements including trace elements removed. Freshwater is vewry different than salt water and in most cases normal tap water will work better than RO or distilled water. If you really want to use the RO water then you need to add the trace elements back in. You should not need to let it set or dechlorinate it. I know Kent makes a decent product that adds trace elements and there are several others as well. I do not have first hand knowledge of them since I use tap water for my freshwater set up. I have kinda skirted around this but why do you want to use something other than tap water?

sandiego

I live in San Diego, CA and our tap water sucks. Even the lfs here says it's bad. I cringe at putting my fishie in San Diego water because if it smells bad and tastes bad to people, it must be very puky for a fish. There's no telling what levels of what contaminants are in it at any given time. Even the annual water report cautions against people who are very young, old, or with compromised immune systems to be warned. I started using bottled spring water because it would at least be cleaner and consistent and has worked well for my fish thus far. The RO water system I have makes tap water taste like spring water and is very pure -- so I'm uncertain as to it being too pure for the fish who needs nutrients from trace elements. Thanks!

Loman

I was not aware the water there was that bad but I do know some large municipal systems are rather toxic. Based on what you are saying your source water may be one of the few that should not be used for - well anything much. In that case I would use the RO unit which will give you all but pure water (I think RO/DI deionized is slightly more pure and distilled is slightly more pure again). I would then add the trace elements for freshwater back in there are many products to do this. I have seen the ones from kent at several places in Ohio but not sure what all is available in San Diego. Really most any of the additives for reintroducing the trace minerals will work effectively.

Just for completeness the reason that salt is different iis that the salt mix has the trace minerals built into it so you want the pure water so they are not doubled.

Jay

The problem with straight RO water as Loman points out is that all of the essential electrolytes necessary for proper cell function in fish and plants has been removed. Biologically it will not support aquatic life. You have lots of other ways to restore your electrolytes, the critters in the tank do not.

The easy fix is a Product called Equilibrium, manufactured by Seachem. It is designed to restore all necessary minerals and mineral salts (electrolytes) to RO water.

Jay

clinto

i guess i am just lucky with my beta. i have it is a container that holds no more than 1/2 gallon and i do a 100% water change when it starts to look slightly cloudy and i have had him for 18 months now. I use RO everytime and have never added trace elements. He has the most personality of any of my fish too.

Judge

Ok sorry to barge in but I am going to start up a FW tank and would like some clarification on which is better. Use RO/DI and add traces OR use tap and dechlor??

Loman

The accurate answer is it depends. Typically I would say the tap water is better mostly because it ties in the majority of aspects and is cheaper. That said you have to look at the tap water to make sure it is okay. In some cases, often wells but some really bad municipal supplies, the tap water can contain so many toxins they will cause a problem. I encountered a situation when I was much younger working to install water conditioners where the person hit a vein of gas with the water well. In this case if you had an open flame near the water it would flash. Obvious problem for fish and a most everything else too. So if the water is really bad you would lean toward the increased expense of RO with supplements.

Judge

Thanks Loman. I already have the RO/DI but I think my water is decent and I also have pretty good well water. Maybe I should just test them all?? Again , sorry for jacking.