New RO for tank...Now what?

Hey all!

I finally got an RO system installed for my tank with a new water softener. Did you know that a GH of 20 tastes really different than RO, my wife discovered why I have been wanting an RO system for so long now! I have never used RO water in a fish tank and I want to replace the current nasty, extremely hard water with RO water. What additives will I need to be putting into the RO in order to keep the fish and future plants healthy? I thought maybe Equilibrium, but I haven't used that stuff in years and I wanted to ensure that I am considering the correct products.

 

Hi

You could just mix some of your tap water back into the RO to remineralise. Not sure on ratios on that.

 

What additives will I need to be putting into the RO in order to keep the fish and future plants healthy?

Depending on what fish you want to keep maybe nothing but a fertillizer for the plants and humic substances for the fish.

 

Hi

You could just mix some of your tap water back into the RO to remineralise. Not sure on ratios on that.

My water goes through a water softener so I don't think that would be a great idea. Though I like to think that I'm smart enough to figure out a ratio if that's the case LOL.

Depending on what fish you want to keep maybe nothing but a fertillizer for the plants and humic substances for the fish.

I am planning on 2 Angels, 6 Rainbow Boseman, 6ish Cories, a BN, and many a few Otos (though the Otos may be a moot point now that I have emptied the tank and cleaned everything)

 

If it wasn't for the rainbowfish (hardwater fish) you could use straight 100% RO for the fish you chose. The angels and the catfish would do well in pure RO and low pH. You would just have to have a certain amount of humic substances for stability and that's it. Perfect water for them.
Just for practicality maybe find a softwater alternative to the rainbows?

(though the Otos may be a moot point now that I have emptied the tank and cleaned everything)

Yeah, I'd give it 6 months then until Otos can move in.

 

If it wasn't for the rainbowfish (hardwater fish) you could use straight 100% RO for the fish you chose. The angels and the catfish would do well in pure RO and low pH. You would just have to have a certain amount of humic substances for stability and that's it. Perfect water for them.
Just for practicality maybe find a softwater alternative to the rainbows?


Yeah, I'd give it 6 months then until Otos can move in.

Question for you then: I didn't realize that the rainbow Boseman fish was a hard water fish, would they do OK in a softer water environment? Or would it just be overall better to choose a soft water fish at this point since I am planning to use at least some RO water?
I am looking for a more colorful fish as well to add with the Angels and Cory cats. I want something with some serious color to it. I am planning to have live plants likely hygra (I think that is what they are called they are tall and bushy) Maybe some crypts and ferns as well (though with ferns I have no idea what I would attach it to right now). Ultimately I would like 2 angels, 6 cories (species doesn't matter), 1 BN (I will be adding some cave structures), and a handful of Otos. I love some green algae, but it gets out of hand so fast. I was thinking about forgoing the otos and going with a few dwarf gouramis, If I add the Otos later I know it'll be more frequent tank maintenance. Thoughts? Concerns?

 

I didn't realize that the rainbow Boseman fish was a hard water fish, would they do OK in a softer water environment?

Rainbowfish are adapted to rather hardwater environments. I would actually keep them in your tap, that would be ideal. Just to clarify: All fish that are known as hardwater fish (rift lake cichlids, central american cichlids and livebearers, rainbowfish) are not able to survive long in soft acidic water. Which in turn is the ideal for all other fish you chose.

Or would it just be overall better to choose a soft water fish at this point since I am planning to use at least some RO water?

That is what I propose. In case of your choices I would look for some tetras. Lemon tetras, phantoms or maybe bleeding hearts... that direction. With South American tetras you can't go wrong.

For the plants: RO contains... nothing. It's devoid of nutrients, so a full spectrum liquid fertilizer would be necessary. And attach the ferns to driftwood. For the correct structure in such a tank you'll need a lot of driftwood, branches and twigs anyway.

While dwarf gourami are suitable for the water, keep in mind they are hyper aggressive. You should only keep one. Ask jinjerJOSH22

If I add the Otos later I know it'll be more frequent tank maintenance.

Can't follow. What do you mean?

Another thing: If you decide to do really soft water with the RO, this will only work with at least a minimum of humic substances (aka tannins). These substances buffer pH in a lower range (4.5-6.5). The water doesn't have to look like tea, but it will need to have at least some tint.

 

Noted on the look. I am concerned about using my tap water as it has gone through a softener. And in my experience tetras tend to be pretty nippy on those beautifully long and flowing fins, was that a one-off, or is that normal behavior.

 

Noted on the look. I am concerned about using my tap water as it has gone through a softener. And in my experience tetras tend to be pretty nippy on those beautifully long and flowing fins, was that a one-off, or is that normal behavior.

I also have a softener and RO water…. I use my outside tap water, and mix about 1/2 & 1/2 ….. RO & Outside water that isn’t softened… works well… also use equilibrium for some nutrients

 

I also have a softener and RO water…. I use my outside tap water, and mix about 1/2 & 1/2 ….. RO & Outside water that isn’t softened… works well… also use equilibrium for some nutrients

I don't know the route that my outside water takes, but that is a good idea, though my mix might be a bit umm different, to say the least LOL (My old water softener gave me a GH of 20+). What do you do in the winter? Because I sure as don't want to be going outside in the freezing cold to mix water....

 

Hi, when I was using RO water I added Seachem Replenish or Equilibrium along with SeaChem Alkaline buffer and SeaChem Fresh Trace. I did my mixture to put my GH at about 4-5 degrees 80-100ppm GH but you can mix yours up to be softer or harder depending on the fish you want to keep.

Some Tetras are very nippy of other fish with long flowing fins. You’d be safe with black or regular neons in that regard also x-ray tetras, cardinal tetras or rummy nose tetras. There are a few others I can’t remember. I have mine in with a betta so I had to research tetras that weren’t nippy.

Also I should say now I am using softened water and still use the above SeaChem products, minus the buffer to re-mineralize what the softener has removed (magnesium, calcium etc).

 

I don't know the route that my outside water takes, but that is a good idea, though my mix might be a bit umm different, to say the least LOL (My old water softener gave me a GH of 20+). What do you do in the winter? Because I sure as don't want to be going outside in the freezing cold to mix water....

I live in Southern Utah…. Test your outside water and see how it looks..

 

And in my experience tetras tend to be pretty nippy on those beautifully long and flowing fins, was that a one-off, or is that normal behavior.

Not my experience. Tetras are bickering and fighting among each other usually, but I haven't seen them going for other fish if kept correctly. Exception if they were kept in subpar conditions. Most often too small numbers and wrong, bad nutrition.

 

Not my experience. Tetras are bickering and fighting among each other usually, but I haven't seen them going for other fish if kept correctly. Exception if they were kept in subpar conditions. Most often too small numbers and wrong, bad nutrition.

How big of a school would you recommend then for the Tetras? Obviously, I don't want to be keeping them in too small a school

 

How big of a school would you recommend then for the Tetras? Obviously, I don't want to be keeping them in too small a school

Like I mentioned above there are definitely more aggressive species of tetras who will fin nip. Stick with the mild tetras such as cardinals, neons (black or regular), rummy nose, x-ray. You can look up their disposition per species and you’ll find some are “known” for fin nipping.

They say 6 minimum or so but I personally find a school of 12 per species allows them to feel comfortable and they play and explore all day in a larger group like that.

 

Depends on the species and the structure of the tank. 10-25.

 

Like I mentioned above there are definitely more aggressive species of tetras who will fin nip. Stick with the mild tetras such as cardinals, neons (black or regular), rummy nose, x-ray. You can look up their disposition per species and you’ll find some are “known” for fin nipping.

They say 6 minimum or so but I personally find a school of 12 per species allows them to feel comfortable and they play and explore all day in a larger group like that.

I might have to do the neons then, I really want something with vibrant colors (hence the Boseman) I saw them at Shedd's and looked up some basic information like temperament, I should have looked deeper into the water preference as well. -_-

If anyone else has any suggestions that would go well in this tank that are colorful let me know I will look into any suggestion!