What's your take?

I'm in the process of setting up my aquarium. Almost to the point of adding fish. I've filled the tank with water ran through an RO/DI filter and I was wondering if that is too much filtration or is it ok. The previous occupants of the tank did well, but I would like to make sure that I am not removing anything that the fish or live plants may actually need.

 

Is this a Fresh Water or Salt Water tank? RO is usually bad for fresh water, it removes minerals that are needed. RO is great for salt water though.

 

It's a freshwater. If ro is bad for freshwater, then the water changes just got faster. lol. I should just use tap water and chlorine treatment then, and by doing so will it help out the plants also?

 

Well general tap water with dechlor is not an issue with freshwater, however, it really doesn't have much effect on plants. To insure plant growth you need the proper lighting, C02 levels and fert levels for that plant. Some plants like java fern and certain Anubias do fine with just minimal lighting and no extra co2 or ferts.

 

I've tried RO water in my tropical tank for some time and it has not made much difference. Fish and plants were fine and algee grew at the same rate (I do like to feed my fish a lot ) )Now I'm back to ch treating tap water and don't bother with RO.

 

As far as the plants, can I just get away with just using sand and liquid fert? The sand is 2 or more inches. If I actually need a substrate, what would be best for plants. I'm new to the whole plant growing thing and want to be successful. I do have three bulbs out of bout twelve, start. One, I know is an onion. It's about 8" tall with two stalks. The other two I thought were Apons, but yesterday a stalk shot up out of one and so I think it may be a waterlily. The leaves are 6-7" and the stalk is like 15". When I say shot up, it shot up. I didn't notice it one day and the next it was 15" long. The third I think is an apon cause it's shorter than the previously mentioned. The leaves are similar so I may be wrong. I've only had them around three weeks. If pics are needed I can post some.