Is RO water a must for a reef?

[exodus]

I'm going to be starting a reef tank soon, and I'm on pretty hard well water. I know there's no chlorine in it, and I was just wondering if RO is a requirement.

I know its certainly preferred - if need be I can grab a cheap one off of ebay.

TIA!

 

[Fluff]

Depends on your well water. I have to use it because my tap water is full of phosphates and nitrates and my tank is algae soup without it.

 

[vsnsofadrgn]

i would test the water from the well, you might get lucky, but like fluff said, algae soup if it has phosphates and nitrates... i am fighting this now b/c of tap water. i live in an apt and the ro/di was just not working out for me, so i unhooked it, BIG mistake for my tank. now im goin to get a faucet adapter and hope i can do it that way. if not, its back to bottled.

 

[melosu58]

If you can get one for a good price I would do it. It would help out the situation.