Salinity and other water elements

[Koonitdo]

Hi All,

i currently have a 4ft tank uncovered and close to the window. its pretty hot in the area. i read around and evaporation would cause me to top up about 4L/day?

my real concern here is the top up of fresh water would help maintain my salinity but wouldn't it affect other parameters too like PH, Calcium, KH since topping up fresh water would dillute the solution.

Thanks in advance

[Kakani]

If you are talking about 4 litres per day it alot it would affect your salinty and trace element in long run. Best use salt mix water as top up for your tank. Sent from my GT-I9305 using Tapatalk 2

[Zee123]

Hi All,

i currently have a 4ft tank uncovered and close to the window. its pretty hot in the area. i read around and evaporation would cause me to top up about 4L/day?

my real concern here is the top up of fresh water would help maintain my salinity but wouldn't it affect other parameters too like PH, Calcium, KH since topping up fresh water would dillute the solution.

Thanks in advance

Are you running a fowlr or a reef tank? If you are running a reef tank, then you have to dose the elements in. If fowlr, topping up of water would be sufficient. Else do a water change and adjust your elements accordingly.

Do top up with RO/DI or "aged" freshwater and not saltwater. Unless you want your salinity level to shoot up that is.

[Koonitdo]

i'm doing a reef tank. I am still in the midst of cycling the water still.

what is "aged" freshwater?

is there a benefit to use RO/DI instead of dechlorinated tap water?

Where do you get RO/DI water? mineral bottles?

Thanks for the help so far

[Gouldian]

Technically salts and minerals will not be evaporated and thus, your salinity will in fact increase as water evaporate. Thus it is prudent to top up with fresh water.

The reason why we top up with RO/DI or distilled water is because tap water contains chlorine, chloramines, silicates, phosphate and other dissolve organics.

Aged freshwater is used by some because they wanted to let the chlorine dissipates from water. However, aging water does not remove the rest of the above mentioned thus I prefer to top up with RO/DI or distilled water.

You can get distilled water from super market, just make sure its "Distilled" and not "Mineral Water" or "Pure Drinking Water".

If you are concern with depleting minerals, 1st choose a good salt-mix for water change and measure the Big 3 (Ca, Mg, KH) after the water change and top up accordingly.

Hope that helps.

[Koonitdo]

that clears up the mist.

i have a large koi pond actually, was wondering if i could use the water from there to top up instead of buying RO/DI water.

but since koi ponds can be considered aged freshwater? there will still be trances of silicates, phosphates and other dissolved organics?

[DottyClown]

Don't think its wise to use the Koi pond water as it could contain a lot of things you do not want to import into the tank.

Also, I was thinking, if your tank is near the window, that would mean a lot of sunlight. Any problems with algae bloom so far?

[Cruzer]

Technically salts and minerals will not be evaporated and thus, your salinity will in fact increase as water evaporate. Thus it is prudent to top up with fresh water.

The reason why we top up with RO/DI or distilled water is because tap water contains chlorine, chloramines, silicates, phosphate and other dissolve organics.

Aged freshwater is used by some because they wanted to let the chlorine dissipates from water. However, aging water does not remove the rest of the above mentioned thus I prefer to top up with RO/DI or distilled water.

You can get distilled water from super market, just make sure its "Distilled" and not "Mineral Water" or "Pure Drinking Water".

If you are concern with depleting minerals, 1st choose a good salt-mix for water change and measure the Big 3 (Ca, Mg, KH) after the water change and top up accordingly.

Hope that helps.

sorry to hijack, I always tot pure drinking water is referring to distiller water . Eg ntuc pure drinking water. Been using ntuc pure drinking water for water top up and change

[Clement_jr]

how about self mix saltwater kept in drums/jerrycan? will the nutrients deplete overtime, say a week.

[Gouldian]

sorry to hijack, I always tot pure drinking water is referring to distiller water . Eg ntuc pure drinking water. Been using ntuc pure drinking water for water top up and change

Pure drinking water sometimes will have some salt added to make it palatable and add electrolytes. Also these water may be just boiled and pass through a carbon filter thus is not suitable for our usage.

[Gouldian]

that clears up the mist.

i have a large koi pond actually, was wondering if i could use the water from there to top up instead of buying RO/DI water.

but since koi ponds can be considered aged freshwater? there will still be trances of silicates, phosphates and other dissolved organics?

Yes, they will contain high silicate, phosphate, nitrate and dissolved organics.

You can do a simple test by using a TDS pen, reefers who using RO/DI will change their RO/DI resin when the TDS start to climb above 8. If you use the TDS pen on your tap water, the reading will be usually range from 18-35. And pond water can sometime be 35 and above.

[hanafi_weeseng]

sorry to hijack, I always tot pure drinking water is referring to distiller water . Eg ntuc pure drinking water. Been using ntuc pure drinking water for water top up and change

Pure drinking water sometimes will have some salt added to make it palatable and add electrolytes. Also these water may be just boiled and pass through a carbon filter thus is not suitable for our usage.

Bro,what about life brand from ntuc?I'm using that

[Gouldian]

how about self mix saltwater kept in drums/jerrycan? will the nutrients deplete overtime, say a week.

It depends what water you use to begin with and also what nutrients you trying to deplete. Not all dissolved organics can be broken down within a time acceptable to us, especially in a container with limited natural occurring decomposers.

[Gouldian]

Bro,what about life brand from ntuc?I'm using that

Not sure, read the label, 1st look for "Distilled" or "RO/DI", 2nd look for the the Nutritional label for added salt, carbohydrates etc.

[Kayakkite]

Bro,what about life brand from ntuc?I'm using that

Tds about 7

[Clement_jr]

It depends what water you use to begin with and also what nutrients you trying to deplete. Not all dissolved organics can be broken down within a time acceptable to us, especially in a container with limited natural occurring decomposers.

I apologize for not being clear with my intentions.

I meant to say those Calcium, Mg, St, kh, and other trace elements - will these deplete over time? if it does, is it significant? if it doesn't, is such saltmix kept overtime develop any negative conditions to the water?

The scenario as, using tap water for saltmix. (added with prime). After WC, the remaining of the drum kept for the next WC or top up.

[Gouldian]

I apologize for not being clear with my intentions.

I meant to say those Calcium, Mg, St, kh, and other trace elements - will these deplete over time? if it does, is it significant? if it doesn't, is such saltmix kept overtime develop any negative conditions to the water?

The scenario as, using tap water for saltmix. (added with prime). After WC, the remaining of the drum kept for the next WC or top up.

Most trace will not depletes by itself if kept in a clean and dark container. However, if there is significant die-off on bacteria, protozoan and algae, it may cause kH to drop but this should not be the case if you are using reasonably clean water to mix your salt.

[hanafi_weeseng]

Tds about 7

Bro, means ok anot? Using life brand cos some of the reefers here recommend and it's cheaper.

[Gouldian]

Bro, means ok anot? Using life brand cos some of the reefers here recommend and it's cheaper.

If NTUC Life is TDS 7, it should be safe.

[Kayakkite]

Bro, means ok anot? Using life brand cos some of the reefers here recommend and it's cheaper.

Should be okay. Normally, my direct tap water about 70 ppm.

[ahvy]

Oh dear! I also thought pure drinking water is distilled! Silly me! And i actually did a wc using dasini brand! Is there going to be a big issue? Should i be panicking? Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

[hanafi_weeseng]

If NTUC Life is TDS 7, it should be safe.

Should be okay. Normally, my direct tap water about 70 ppm.

Thanks to both bro Gouldian and bro Kayakkite.

[Clement_jr]

Thanks bro, gouldian

[Cruzer]

If NTUC Life is TDS 7, it should be safe.

noted,thks

[DottyClown]

Oh dear! I also thought pure drinking water is distilled! Silly me! And i actually did a wc using dasini brand! Is there going to be a big issue? Should i be panicking? Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

No need to panick. Just change to distilled water in the next WC. I'm not saying that Pure drinking water is no good, but to play safe and, its always better to use distilled or DI/RO water for WC and top-up.