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Re: RO water? was (no subject)
For the record, buying an RO system for yourself is not as cost prohibitive
as it once was. For $80, you can now get 25 gallons per day from most of
the smaller systems. For $150, you can get top-of-the-line models that
comparatively cost upwards of $400 just a few years ago.
While $80 seems like a lot, I suppose, it also means no lifting of water
jugs from the LFS to your house, no $1 per gallon prices, and unlimited
supplies of RO water. And remember, for every gallon of RO water your
system creates, your system will produce 4 gallons of near pure "waste
water." This waste water remains 'hard,' but otherwise is far more purefied
then anything you'd get from your tap. In short, this "waste water" is
perfect for community tanks, drinking water, or any species that like hard
or basic water.
As Charles says, most fish can be persuaded to breed regardless of pH or
hardnesss. But you can't get around the fact that many killies live in soft
acidic water in nature...and will surely benefit from changing over to RO.
Your other questions:
...(2) RO water can be mixed with regular water. Of course, you'll be
mixing in the hardness of the regular water, but it still may be plenty soft
to achieve the desired results. In nature, you'll never find perfectly soft
(zero kH) water, so adding a bit of regular water probably won't hurt.
...(3) Certain species of fish prefer soft acidic water, without a doubt.
You'll need to take it on a species by species basis. Most fish (in
general) will tolerate a fairly wide range of pH if the water is clean,
clean, clean. In terms of fish health, the cleanliness of the water trumps
pH any day.
...(4) As for taking fish on and off RO water, it's really just a matter of
being gradual. Your pH should only change by about .2 a day. They can
tolerate more, but this is about the maximum stress you want to put on them
if you can help it. Regardless, it's more important to give the fish clean
water then worry about adjusting to pH. If you're cycling in RO water, use
a little pH balancer to get near 7.0. Because of the softness, it will
eventually creep down no matter what. If you're cycling fish off of RO
water (to more basic tap water, for instance), use a little "pH Down" on the
new water to get it close to the pH of what's in your tank. Because this
new water is hard, the pH will eventually creep up no matter what.
>From: Charles Harrison <charles at inkmkr_com>
>Reply-To: killietalk at aka_org
>To: killietalk at aka_org
>Subject: Re: RO water? was (no subject)
>Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2002 09:59:40 -0600
>
>Hello Les,
>One of the greatest problems keeping fish is the availability of
>changing water. If one is limited to purchased gallon jugs of water,
>the frequency and quantity of water changes is self-limited.
>This is not a good situation to place ones self in. The local food
>store also offers distilled or deionized water in gallon containers.
>Same thing goes, limited.
>
>Over the years and through most all the genera of Killies, I have not
>found any group which I could not spawn in great profusion in local
>tap water. Just get the chlorine out and get the pH below 8.
>
>Stick with what you have in the greatest volume and ease. Change as
>much water as often as you can.
>
>Charles Harrison
>
>
>>Hi Guys-
>> One more time- What's the basic story about RO water? Our local pet
>>store is offering it, free for the first five gallons, then
>>$1.00/gallon after
>>you're hooked on the stuff (or made a commitment to using it for your
>>fish). First few questions which come to mind are (1) Is this a
>>good price? (2) can it be used partially, mixed with regular water
>>(3) Are there certain species that take to it
>>better tan others (4) once you use it for a group of fish, can you
>>revert back to regular water - and does the transition, from one
>>type to another need to be done gradually?
>>Thanks for any help may be offered.
>>
>> Les
>
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