is R O water the best for my puffer ?

[reefpoker]

HI
I have a 90 gallon drilled aquarium that is home to my dog face puffer named Reef. I always go to my lfs to pick up my RO water when I do water changes . I have salt at the house and can mix it from the tap after declor . I understand about the ph which is 8 out of the tap and the temp . Do I need to put an air stone in ? I just am wondering if I need the RO water ? Is that the best water for my puffer . I appreciate the help ! I am also in the process of setting up a 55 gallon tank and wanted to get either f8' or gsp . I have it set up for freshwater now . I want it to be a puffer tank so I just need to decide which puffere I want . My lfs is great and stocks plenty of puffers . Tomorrow is customer appreciation day all fish 50 % off , everything else 25% and they are giving away 2 , 55 gallon setups . Maybe I will get lucky and have even more puffers .
My tank
am o
n 0
ph 8.2
kh 13
sg 1.022
THank you !

[yunachin]

I personally like to use r/o water because it is easier for me than adding product to the water. I try not to use any chemical if I can help it. I like this description of r/o the best:

In order to understand the method of osmosis; imagine a container with a semi-permeable divider. One half contains tap water and the other half distilled water. Nature's way for maintaining cellular fluid levels triggers a natural action in equalizing both fluids.

Distilled water has no minerals and salts, while the tap water has plenty. The distilled water is forced over tothe mineral and salt rich environment in order to equalize the minerals and salts in both fluids. This is osmosis and the pressure on the "divider" the osmotic pressure.

A carrot for example extracts water from the moistened soil by this principle. The carrot being loaded with minerals, the outside moisture being pure. The same principle is at work, if humans consume saltwater. The saltwater in the stomach extracts fresh water from outside of the cell wall (stomach) in order to equalize the fluid levels. And that is the reason why we dehydrate by drinking saltwater.

Let's turn this around. Let's put pressure on the mineral rich water forcing it through the "cell wall" or "divider" to get pure water. That is reversing the process of osmosis as we know by nature and the basic principle of reverse osmosis.

Osmosis in simplest terms is when pure water dilutes the mineral and salt rich water in order to equalize.

Reverse osmosis (RO) results in the purest drinking water possible. A membrane takes over instead of a "cell wall". The membrane is a dense material leaving only small molecular weight particles through, while the larger particles (salt, chemical/ organic compounds, impurities, bacteria, fungi, viruses, pesticides) are washed away.

Personally if you have the money and space go for the r/o. If you want to make water yourself with additives like water conditioners then that is okay too. Puff won't really mind either way, I think. You won't need an air stone as the water flowing from the pumps will provide enough oxygen for him as well.

Good luck on getting more puffs!

[reefpoker]

THanks so much for the reply . I see you are from SC , Im from Charleston . I buy my water from Tideline Aquatics . Is that where you shop for your fish ?
I will continue to buy the RO water , thanks for the explanation . I think that was the best explanation I have ever received so thanks , much appreciated .

[yunachin]

No I owned a fish store for a while and I recently sold it but still have access to the supplier in Atlanta. I also have a guy in North Myrtle that I see who gets some really good stuff. I plan on setting him up with some clownfish soon. I have been to Charleston but never to the fish stores there. I would love to check it out though considering I like traveling around and seeing what I can find.

[reefpoker]

No I owned a fish store for a while and I recently sold it but still have access to the supplier in Atlanta. I also have a guy in North Myrtle that I see who gets some really good stuff. I plan on setting him up with some clownfish soon. I have been to Charleston but never to the fish stores there. I would love to check it out though considering I like traveling around and seeing what I can find.

What is the name of the shop in N myrtle ? Were you near any of the fires there ? It was so sad to see . Im looking to buy some puffers and my lfs has f8's which im getting but wanted to see what else was around . I have my dogface who I just love , he is in the tank that I won from my lfs back in December 90 gal bowfront . I have stuck to your advice on the RO water . My PH is always 8.0 with a kh of 12 . Is that ok ?

[Pufferpunk]

No need to add dechlor or anything else other than salt to RO water. Better to use a powerhead to mix.

[reefpoker]

No need to add dechlor or anything else other than salt to RO water. Better to use a powerhead to mix.

Thanks for the reply , I had the tank cleaned today I have a boy at my lfs that helps me and today he did a 50 % water change and brought the water from the shop . I had a ph of 8 and kh of 16 before , now I just tested it and its 8.0 ph and 12 for the kh . So , do you think that is ok ? Is the ph high enough ? I use chemi pure 2 bags in the sump . The sg is 1.024 . Just wanted your opinion . I am doing 50% every 3 weeks and I do a 15% myself in between visits . I have used super kh buffer in the past but have not put anything in since water change . THanks

[Pufferpunk]

No need to use all that $alt for such a high SG. 1.020-22 is fine. Is that dKH? What test kit are you using? What kind of salt? I'd forget about the Chemipure too. Isn't that stuff expensive?

[reefpoker]

No need to use all that $alt for such a high SG. 1.020-22 is fine. Is that dKH? What test kit are you using? What kind of salt? I'd forget about the Chemipure too. Isn't that stuff expensive?

I thought that the sg was high . I did not make the water they brought it over from the lfs . I guess the lfs keeps the RO water at that sg since that is all I use . The test kit I have is Tetra Laborett for fresh and salt water the Bottle says KH . I thought I was supposed to use the chemi pure . They brought it when I won the tank and I just keep replacing it . What would you recommend? It is expensive ! Do you think I should top off the tank to lower the SG of 1.024 . THanks so much for helping me . Im going to the pet store in the morning to pick up some things I need so is there anything you think I should get to put in the sump after the chemi pure is used up ? I also have a protein skimmer in there as well . I really appreciate your help .

[Pufferpunk]

I bet your spending a ton of $$$ on that water too. Get yourself a RO system. Go to http://www.reefcentral.com & look in their used equipment forum or see if you can find a forum for a local reef club & get one from a local reefer.

[reefpoker]

THanks so much , I will check that out ! I pay a fortune for the water . I tend to spend a fortune on my dogs too . Most of my friends and family know im at the neurotic point with my animals and now I have just fell in love with my puffer . My JAck Russel , Jackson is very jealous of him . I can't go near the tanks with out him crying to be picked up . I have just spoiled all my animals . They are of course the only ones up with me at this hour . THanks again for your help !! Im assuming you think everything is ok in my tank that I wrote to you about so I will keep doing hat im doing .

[yunachin]

No, we weren't near the fires. I had some friends who managed to miss it as well there. Thank goodness there were no casualties. The shop is Sea Trade Marine. The owner is Bruce. If you are ever up that way, tell him I sent you and he might cut you a deal. He has quite the little shop there.

I agree with the R/O Unit. You will definitely get your moneys worth out of it. I don't know what I would do without mine.

[Pufferpunk]

You have a JRT? Do you belong to the JRTCA? All sorts of fun, cool activities for them to do! Kalvin is Champion Go-to-Ground in the Midwest. He's a pretty fast racer too.


Leader of the pack:

[reefpoker]

You have a JRT? Do you belong to the JRTCA? All sorts of fun, cool activities for them to do! Kalvin is Champion Go-to-Ground in the Midwest. He's a pretty fast racer too.


Leader of the pack:

Yes , I have a JRT , those are great pictures Kalvin is adorable ! That must be so much fun ! Congrats on him being the Champion what an honor . My Jackson has a problem with his throat and when he runs real hard he starts to gag . He is 6 now and has been that way since he was a puppy . I also have 2 Tibetan Spaniels , my business partners dogs , her mom is an AKC judge and breeds Tibetan's . I rescued Jackson as a puppy and he is my shadow . My 1st dog Irie ( means happiness in jamaica ) was a Collie Shepherd mix 125 lbs and the best frisbee player in the world , I got him when I was 21 . He was my soul mate , I found JAckson the day Irie passed away . He is actually sitting in my lap now . We woke up to 2 snakes in the backyard this morning so i am so afraid to let them out . What a morning that was . My lfs friend came over to try to catch and release them but they got away . I am not a snake person at all ! They were water mocassins ! very poisonous ! Very weird day . Im from NY and have lived here for 16 years now but still cant get used to the snakes . Great talking to you , you have helped me so much with my puffer ! What a cool dog you have ! I can not thank you enough for all your help you are the reason my puffer is so happy and healthy . Thanks for writing me back . Oh , Meant to ask you if you think my ph of 8.0 is ok and my kh is 12 ? Do I need to add super dkh buffer ?
THanks again , Wendy

[Pufferpunk]

Is that dKH? 12dKH is really high but if you add a buffer, your pH is going to go lower. I think you need to start mixing your own salt with a brand that doesn't mix that high.

There are other sports your dog can do other than racing (Kal coughs like that sometimes too), like Go-to-Ground, Barn Hunt, Brush Hunt, Ball Toss, etc..