Using Pure Water in Marine Aquarium

Using Pure Water in Marine Aquarium

The environment inside a marine aquarium should closely resemble the natural habitat of aquatic animals. Choosing the right type of water mix is essential for the health and survival of the life therein. Tap water usually comes across as the cheapest and the easiest accessible options. However, the impurities contained in it are detrimental to fish health. Therefore, it is advisable to resist the temptation of giving in to the easier choice. Use pure water to create the artificial saltwater mix as a first supply, refill, or addition. Following are some of the options of pure water for marine aquariums:

Reverse Osmosis or Deionization. These are relatively more expensive choices. The equipment for either of these processes can be installed at home or the processed water can be purchased from shops. The quality of water supply varies from area to area. Therefore, it is necessary to test for dissolved impurities, including metals like copper, before subjecting the water to any of the processes. Such heavy metals nearly or in excess of 1 ppm are not effectively removed by even reverse osmosis. Similarly, test whether your tap water uses chlorine or chloramine as a disinfectant. In case chlorine is used, keeping the processed water undisturbed for sometime allows it to dissipate on its known. However, such is not the case with chloramine that remains in the water for a very long time. The processed water contains ammonia, which is highly toxic for the animals. Always use dechlorinating agents and chloramine remover. A deionizer in itself functions better in combination with an RO system and usually constitutes the last stage of filtration within the unit.

Distillation. Evaporating pure water (at 100 degree centigrade) from a water reserve such as collected tap water yields distilled water. This is the purest form of water possible. It is commercially manufactured industrial product and is nearly impossible to prepare at home. While, buying it from the market, choose only trusted sources, as distilled water runs the risk of contamination from industrial plants and storage containers.

One of the key issues with RO/DI/Distilled water is that it is too pure for the survival of the saltwater animals. It does not have the buffer to neutralize a shot in alkalinity after the animals are introduced into it. The purity levels are such that even the aquarium equipment poses a threat of increasing the hardness of water dramatically. In addition, such water lacks in nutrients to sustain aquatic life. All this necessitates the addition of salt mixes, electrolytes (to balance pH), nutrients, and even, live rocks, or other sources of desired bacteria.

Rain. In theory, rainwater is closest to distilled water, as it is a result of natural evaporation and condensation. However, the falling drops of rain carry with them many environmental impurities, some of which pose serious health risks for the aquatic animals.

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