Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.
Trending News
Fresh Water Aquarium and Reverse Osmosis Water?
I am new to aquariums for fresh water and have one big question. I have found out through trial and error that adding straight RO water to my aquarium might not be a hot idea. When I first started, I used hard water from my garage. Trying to be a reponsible newcommer, I stuck to water changes weekly. After about three 15% water changes, I noticed my alkalinity dropped and my ph started to drop. I have since used just treated tap water, but would like to use RO water. My question is...If i want to use RO water, would I have to use and RO buffer or can I achieve the same results using aquarium salts?
4 Answers
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
The first question I have to ask is why do you want to use RO water?
The vast majority of fish in the US will do fine in your tap water. However if your tap water is high in nitrates or phosphates then I can understand the desire to use RO water IN ADDITION to the tap water.
When I do use RO or distilled water in a tank I typically use a 50% ratio with tap water. This puts back the minerals needed to maintain a proper pH in the tank, but lowers the nitrates in tap water.
Please disregard everything that JR said. Water changes are necessary for the vast majority of tanks, and are a good thing. The beneficial bacteria in a tank will not be negatively affected by your water changes.
Source(s): This information and detailed profiles of over 2,500 aquarium fish along with over 11,000 photos of aquarium fish can be found at FishGeeks - http://www.aquaria.info/ Get your 2007 tropical fish calendars: Freshwater http://www.cafepress.com/fishgeeks.91944067 saltwater http://www.cafepress.com/fishgeeks.91939978 - GuZZiZZitLv 51 decade ago
To start with, aparently JR has no clue. A 20% weekly water change is the best think you can do for your tanks. Also, i wouldnt take fish advice from anyone who dosen't know what RO water is.Would you take car advice from someone who didnt know what motor oil was for?
Also, the benifficial bacteria he speaks of do not even live in the water. they live in your gravel and in your filter media. I really feel sorry for his poor fish.
Second, if you use RO water, use "RO right" or a similar product. I'd shy away from trying to do it with aquarium salts.
- Jr. MechanicLv 41 decade ago
Ok first, I do not know what you mean by RO water. But I can tell you right now that your problem is that you are doing so many water changes. Trust me, this is the last thing you want to do. Companys recommend it because then you will buy more of their products like declor and such. You need to keep the water in the aquarium, especily with a small tank! Over time you get bacterias in the tank that you NEED. This will also keep you PH, nitrate, and alkalinity how it should be. I have two oscars and a zebra pleco and they are the happiest fish I have seen. These methods have worked for me for over 10 years and I have shared my methods with other people over the years and they have worked out for them. Hope these tips help and happy new year!!
Source(s): 10+ years of expirience with american cichlids - Anonymous5 years ago
The salt doesn't really evaporate that much. It just gets stuck to the lid and the side of the tank, so knock it back into the water and just add de-chlorinated water if the water level gets low (just let faucet water sit out for a couple of days and the chlorine evaporates). And you can always get a hygrometer to make sure the salinity's at the right level.
