When cycleing...

[h8z2luze]

Is it ok to just use tap water or should it be RO? Clearly RO would be better but im just curious.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

I think you said it already... "clearly RO would be better..."

I started my tank with dechlorinated tap water. But I also had one nasty diatom bloom after it cycled! I now use pure water, and if I had it to do over again, I wouldn't have used tap water.

 

[h8z2luze]

So I will just get EVERYTHING I need including a RO system before I start...

 

[melosu58]

So I will just get EVERYTHING I need including a RO system before I start...

Sounds like a plan. A good one. The silicates in the tap water as Kurt just said will cause a pretty bad diatom bloom.

 

[InfernoST]

Great Plan, you will be less frustrated later on.

 

[h8z2luze]

I used tap water before when I had my last tank and had a bad ?brown algae? Problem.... What is diatom? Im guessing its the problem I had.

 

[InfernoST]

That's what it was, using RO water will greatly reduce diatoms.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

You'll still have a diatom bloom when you cycle... even with RO water. But it most likely won't be as bad.

 

[h8z2luze]

Sounds good to me cause that was horrible lol.

 

[Zer0]

Im going through a diatom bloom right now. It makes things look poopy, but it's nice knowing they all will just die off and dissapear

 

[WhiteDevil]

fish will eat them too.

 

[Kurt_Nelson]

Fish will eat diatoms?