I know patience is a virtue...
- Thread starter skyking
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It is really personal preference.
I, personally, would not be able to forget about the fact that I started with tap.
I filled my first tank with 1 gallon jugs of distilled water from wal mart.
If you are willing to put in the effort, go for it. Or be patient and wait out an extra long cycle before adding anything sensitive.
I, personally, would not be able to forget about the fact that I started with tap.
I filled my first tank with 1 gallon jugs of distilled water from wal mart.
If you are willing to put in the effort, go for it. Or be patient and wait out an extra long cycle before adding anything sensitive.
Level drummer you make valid points. There is no right nor wrong here. We are each giving our opinions on what would be the best route to take. I would counter on of your points however.
I do not believe that assuming his tank has cycled he would have massive die off and have to start the cycle process over just by doing a massive water change. That is if it were done properly. I upgraded from a 35 to a 125 with no cycle and complete new water and sand. I used dead sand not live and tossed the old stuff. Before draining the old tank, I made sure I had enough new water in a stock tank in which I could house corals and fish and fill the new tank. I did ( and he most likely would too) have a diatom bloom from silicates but as most of us know that is short lived and goes away on its own once silicates have been consumed. Algae a caused by the impurities contained in most tap water are a bit harder to control INHO.
I do not believe that assuming his tank has cycled he would have massive die off and have to start the cycle process over just by doing a massive water change. That is if it were done properly. I upgraded from a 35 to a 125 with no cycle and complete new water and sand. I used dead sand not live and tossed the old stuff. Before draining the old tank, I made sure I had enough new water in a stock tank in which I could house corals and fish and fill the new tank. I did ( and he most likely would too) have a diatom bloom from silicates but as most of us know that is short lived and goes away on its own once silicates have been consumed. Algae a caused by the impurities contained in most tap water are a bit harder to control INHO.
Allright Guys-
6 beers later here is what I decided to do. First of all, I've made a good friend recently who professionally maintains tanks for a living. Tanks all over the Atlanta metro area. He has 20+ years experience and I trust his judgement. After speaking with him about my dilema, he assured me that tap water was 100% safe to use while cycling a tank. However..., I decided that for my own peace of mind and that I had nothing to lose (except a bucket of salt and 180 gallons of water) that I should do a complete water change and start the process over. So, 6 hours later I'm done. I'm confident that I was able to dispose of at least 90% of the water in my system and replace it with RO/DI. Maybe this was overkill. Who knows? But, at least I'll be able to sleep better tonight. Or is that because of the beer?
6 beers later here is what I decided to do. First of all, I've made a good friend recently who professionally maintains tanks for a living. Tanks all over the Atlanta metro area. He has 20+ years experience and I trust his judgement. After speaking with him about my dilema, he assured me that tap water was 100% safe to use while cycling a tank. However..., I decided that for my own peace of mind and that I had nothing to lose (except a bucket of salt and 180 gallons of water) that I should do a complete water change and start the process over. So, 6 hours later I'm done. I'm confident that I was able to dispose of at least 90% of the water in my system and replace it with RO/DI. Maybe this was overkill. Who knows? But, at least I'll be able to sleep better tonight. Or is that because of the beer?
I dont really see any long term issues with starting out with tap water for your cycle. I have done it in the past but would not anymore. I agree that your rock was pretty good to and just needs a little bump to spur bacterial growth and then add stuff very slowly.
For what it is worth, I started my tank with 120lbs of 100% uncured rock that I got from a great vendor online and picked up at a local airport. Granted it was all airfreighted stuff from Fiji and Manado to LA to Atlanta and then to Augusta. There were still living crabs in the bottom of the box and smelled like the ocean. I put it in the tank with the skimmer going and lots of flow. It never smelled and I only changed out 20 gallons of water a couple of times. The cycle was done in 7 days and ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels never got high. My point is that I dont think it was a waste to start with RO/DI despite starting with uncured live rock.
For what it is worth, I started my tank with 120lbs of 100% uncured rock that I got from a great vendor online and picked up at a local airport. Granted it was all airfreighted stuff from Fiji and Manado to LA to Atlanta and then to Augusta. There were still living crabs in the bottom of the box and smelled like the ocean. I put it in the tank with the skimmer going and lots of flow. It never smelled and I only changed out 20 gallons of water a couple of times. The cycle was done in 7 days and ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels never got high. My point is that I dont think it was a waste to start with RO/DI despite starting with uncured live rock.
