Using brita filtered water in marine or freshwater.

[cichlid]

Has anyone used and know someone who has used brita filtered tap water in an aquarium. I was wondering if it would work for salt water. Ihave heard of people buying filters, but a brita is just a charcoal filter.

[Edarion]

The problem with brita filters is that sometimes the charcoal can leave into the water itself. A better filter would be Mavea. Which uses a 4-stage multilevel filtration.

Tea Test Challenge: MAVEA Filtered Water vs Tap Water - YouTube

[cichlid]

The problem with brita filters is that sometimes the charcoal can leave into the water itself. A better filter would be Mavea. Which uses a 4-stage multilevel filtration.

Tea Test Challenge: MAVEA Filtered Water vs Tap Water - YouTube

Alot of aquarium filters use charcoal.

[grizadams_7mm]

I'm going to be using the brita water filter to keep the PH down in my soon to be set up community tank. I did a few little test and it seems to lower my PH from 7.4 down to 6 and seemed to remove everything from the water. Not to sure how it would work for SW

[cichlid]

Yea, for a cummunity tank its perfect. Brita ( the company ) boasts there filters remove nitrates, abbotsfords water is friggen clean anyway. The only problem is its 4ppm PH right out of the nozzel so No matter what I would have to boost it. Live rock should boost it some not sure how much tho.

[Algae Beater]

our tap water is damn near pristine here ! use a small dose of water conditioner and call it a day!

there are no nitrates, phosphates or any other junk in our tapwater. there are some stay metals, some chlorine and at times in the warmer months the silicates can rise ever so slightly. don't even bother!

but of course don't forget to harden your water, the money is better spent there!

[cichlid]

Yea, it seems to be prefference, ive talked to guys who have been using tap water year round, for years now. other guys swear against it.

I know abbotsford/chilliwack has prime water.

[scherzo]

I'm going to agree with algae beater. I love in Coquitlam as well (north) and we seem to have excellent water out of the tap.

I used to just use a aquarium pharmaceuticals water filter and it would last about 6 months.

I kept up with tank maintenance with my tap water and I have had I problems. I just make sure the water sits for at least 24 hours before adding it into my system.

I'd ask around re: your local water. I'm not sure if yours is reservoir or ground water. Or how far you might be from your treatment plant.

The other advantage of getting an RO system over doing things manually is that you can automate certain tasks like flipping up your top off container or your salt change bucket.

[grizadams_7mm]

I found it safer just to run a gantlet of test on your tap water just to be safe. It is possible for the water to pick things up on its way to your tap, Older houses/ pipes maybe even stuff in the main line. I have nitrates and high PH, but I'm also not hooked to a city line. Well water has its =/- The brita is the most consistent way to keep my PH low.

[gklaw]

The only problem is its 4ppm PH right out of the nozzel ..... Live rock should boost it some not sure how much tho.

What is 4ppm PH? GH you mean. I won't rely on live rock to boost anything

Aragonite will buffer it somewhat even then, not much. That's why we use calcium reactor to bring with CO2 injection to bring the pH to 6 in the chamber to dissolve the aragonite.

In terms of tap water for SW, you will probably be ok for a few months until the mineral build up - iron from water pipe, etc. SW tank is a big investment and when you have problem, it will cost a lot of time and $ to fix the problem along with the frsutration.

Water is not where you want to save money from. For a 20g the DI cartridge will last a years - so $5 per month. Not worth the gamble IMHO Even if you change with 5g RO from the grocery store weekly, it is only around $15 a month.