Do I Need To Remineralise RO Water If Mixing With Tap Water?

Author Topic: Do I need to remineralise RO water if mixing with tap water?  (Read 7845 times) 3 replies

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Offline suep

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I have high nitrate levels in my tap water (30-40ppm) and would like to give the fish some better quality water by mixing RO water in. I was thinking of adding 10% RO / 20% tap water in the 30% weekly change. I have a 125 litre tank but it probably holds 100 litres with substrate and plants, etc. Anyway, I know that RO water has no minerals in it al all but wondered if mixed with tap water if would be okay to add without having to 'add' the essential minerals. Can anyone give advice please?

Also my LFS said to only put RO water in (10 litres of it) every 3 rd water change because the fish would get too used to it then struggle with ordinary tap water. Is this right?

Offline Sue

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Re: Do I need to remineralise RO water if mixing with tap water?
« Reply #1 on: May 11, 2013, 12:26:33 PM »
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Any time you alter the nature of the water in the tank the fish will have to acclimatise to it. If you start using RO, only use a small amount in the mix the first time, then increase the amount of RO in small stages till you get to the ratio you want. The downside is that from then on you'll have to use RO every time, you won't be able to use pure tapwater in an emergency.

As for remineralisation salts, that will depend on the ratio of RO:tap and the hardness of your tapwater. Using RO will make the water softer, and if it is soft to start with it could end up too soft so you would need to add salts. But if it is hard, so long as you aren't keeping something like Rift Lake cichlids you should be OK without adding salts.

Offline suep

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Re: Do I need to remineralise RO water if mixing with tap water?
« Reply #2 on: May 11, 2013, 08:27:20 PM »
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Thanks for this Sue. I do have moderately hard water and my PH is also high (8.0 - 8.2), so I think I should be okay with the RO water although I have also had advice that the high nitrate and PH is not a problem to the fish bought at the LFS because they should have adapted. Still unsure what to do.

Offline Sue

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Re: Do I need to remineralise RO water if mixing with tap water?
« Reply #3 on: May 11, 2013, 08:35:30 PM »
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Your nitrate is not a problem for the majority of fish. There are some species that need it lower; researching the fish you have should flag up any problems.

The real downsides to RO are the cost and the necessity of maintaining constant water parameters once you start using it.

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