mastercave

which conditions and additives would i need to buy/stock for a 55 gallon FOWLR? i don't think i will be buying any bio-spira and i might need something to treat tap water, even though i know it's bad.

Peterpiper

Hi Mastercave,
If you are going to be mixing you own water, I would be using RO/DI Water.
If you have bad tap water, and use it to make your SW, then you are asking for trouble.
By using RO/DI water, you wont need to add anything extra, as the salt mix has it all.

sgould

I've been running 1 SW tank off tap water for a year now, and a 2nd for several months. I treat the water with Prime before mixing my salt. I run a canister filter on each tank with Matrix and deNitrate, as well as a phosphate pad and a Purigen pouch. The Matrix and deNitrate are for added biological filtration and are more or less permanent. The Phosphate pad I replace monthly. The Purigen is recharged as needed. Protein skimmer on both tanks. Having said all that, I would agree that RO water is better, but my point is that it is possible to run a tank on tap water with few problems IF you do your research and IF you stay up on your maintenance.

Peterpiper

sgould,
Before we started using NSW, I was thinking about setting up a filter with a phos pad in it. and running the tap water through it for a while. ( we have a small amount in the water ). If the tap water is bad, then it might pay to try and remove as much as you can before mixing the water.

sgould

Don't get me wrong...I agree with you that RO is usually the better choice if it is feasible for you. I'm just sharing what has gone on with my tank as evidence that there is another way.