Clear tank with tapwater

wcolwell88

wcolwell88

AC Members
Jun 25, 2007
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Oakland, MD./Terra Alta, WV.
www.waynecolwell.com
I'm setting up my new 29 gal. tank. I have my skimmer and filter and things set up. I'm currently using tap water for my tank. The tap water I use has phosphates and nitrates in it. Using better water is almost out of the question for now because I have no way to hook up a RO/DI filter right now. All water around my area is very expensive. The only RO water I can buy is at a petco just over an hour away and is sold in 2 gal. containers for about $6 each. I would really like a nice clear tank once I get it finished. I have had the tank running with all the equipment for about a week or 2 and I already have algae coming in with just saltwater in there. I would like to do things the natural way but because of my problems getting good water, I think maybe I would be better off using chemicals and stuff to keep the algae gone. This is what I have setup:

-Fluval 405 cannistor filter-I currently have this with the media that came with it, I am thinking about replacing the little white bacteria tubes with live rock rubble and replacing the carbon with chemi-pure elite and maybe some phos-ban.
-AquaC Remora w/ Maxi-Jet 1200 powerhead- I've had this running for a week and nothing is going into the collection cup, not sure if that is because I have nothing in the tank or what.
-30" Coralife lunar light fixture on a coralife power center dual timer set to turn actinics on from 10AM-10PM, 10,000k from 12noon-8PM and luner LEDs from 10PM-10AM.
-150W Rena Cal heater set at 76F although the tank seems to stay around 80-81F
-Small in tank refugium w/ Rio 50 powerhead
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/213308/product.web
I plan to put miracle mud and Chaetomorpha sp. in this and maybe try to keep copepods in it.
-Powerheads on a Natural Wave Pump Timer-
http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...ct_Code=NATURAL-WAVE&Category_Code=Wavemaking
I have a MJ600 and MJ400 coming on at opposite times, a MJ 400 at the double time section and a MJ600 running all the time toward the bottom of the tank. I also have 3 MJ900s and 1 more MJ400 not in the tank if I need them.

I used stress coat on the water I originally filled the tank up with and then I ordered Prime which I used on the tank and in the water I do my top offs with. I will be using the prime as my conditioner for the rest of the water used in the tank. I think I may get a phos-ban reactor to help. Do these work well? What other options do I have to try at? Sorry about such a long post and all the questions but with putting so much money into this tank I would like it to be nice once it is finished. Also, want to prove my dad wrong who suggests that there is no possible way to keep algae out of a fish tank (he doesn't know anything about using RO water).
 
I actually have "clear water" using just my tap water! It can be done. I also don't add any additives to it. BUT, when i do gather the funds, I will invest in a RO/DI system
 
bladeruner143 said:
I actually have "clear water" using just my tap water! It can be done. I also don't add any additives to it. BUT, when i do gather the funds, I will invest in a RO/DI system
Click to expand...

Do you have any algae?

Andrew_Murphy said:
You could get a nice mag-float and a good clean-up crew and your tank should be clean as a bell.
Click to expand...

What is a mag-float? Also, about what would be a good cleanup crew for a 29 gal? The price of the clean up crew is not real important as long as they do a good job and don't need replaced often.
 
You should do just fine with most of the hardier s.w. fish and inverts like hermits for example. I'd stay away from most inverst and if you could post your water readings it would be of great assistance.
cheers
Max
 
You can use tap water, its just harder to keep low levels of nitrate and phosphate since your introducing it with every water change. I started my 56gal tank with tap water. However I never got much growth from my corals or coralline on the glass. When I setup my 90gal I used ro/di and the coral growth has taken off. I have 0 nitrate and 0 phosphate.

I would look into getting a faucet adapter. I use this method on the bathroom sink. You unscrew the strainer, screw on the adapter and ro/di unit.
 
wcolwell88 said:
Do you have any algae?



What is a mag-float? Also, about what would be a good cleanup crew for a 29 gal? The price of the clean up crew is not real important as long as they do a good job and don't need replaced often.
Click to expand...


Clean-up Crew
-------------
4-6 Turbo Snails
2 Astrea Snails
2 Nassarius Snails
4 Blue Legged Hermits
2 Scarlet Hermits

These guys along with some good flow(no dead spots) should keep your tank pretty clean. This will probably cost you around $40.
 
I use tap water with pretty decent results. I have some lagae but I'm not sure if its because the tank is still slowly settling or what. I have well water, 0 nitrates and 0 phos so I felt pretty good about using it.
 
Well water makes me nervous. One of my son's cousins developed cancer because their property was close enough to farms that chemicals leached into the well. Very sad. The testing showed it was due to the farm chemicals and the Round-up that her dad used along their long driveway.
 
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