tap water question

So i need to fill my tank with about 5 gallons of water. I started my tank with 55 gallons of tap water; and although im going to be getting an RO/DI unit eventually, i need to fill it with tap water.
Now assuming there are trace elements in my tap water, what effects does it have on the aquarium? regarding fish and corals. Will tap water kill my fish or corals... im about 99% sure it wont. Is the only downfall with tap water the abundance of algae created?

please help me, im a noob

 

Chlorine will kill your fish fish of course, use water conditioner. Also get something to remove phosphates to keep the algae down. You can buy the phosphate remover which you can put a measured amount in a bag and set it in your tank as you would activated carbon.

 

Chlorine will be a factor in your tap water, its very harmful to fish. You could get some Prime. It works well to eliminate chlorine and ammonia and other trace elements from tap water if you have to use tap water.

 

But Ro water at the food store until you get a unit. Its still better than tap

 

well i have a primer that cleans the chlorine and other trace elemnents. I dont wanna buy DI water; so im going to use tap and deal with my algae breakouts. I will win; although i have to rearrange my tank so i can clean it.

 

you're going to regret it...i would invest in a RO/DI unit now.

 

I would agree with this statement. You are taking, IMO, an unnecessary chance. We are already walking the tightrope in this hobby. The RO water at the store is 35 cents a gallon. You can fill your tank for under $20. The tap waterTDS reading in my town is 81. And my water is considered good. You are going to add nitrates, phosphates, silicates and a host of other stuff you just flat out don't want to know about. Once algae gets a good hold it is a PITA to get rid of. Certainly more of a pain than going to the local RO unit and getting good H20.

Now, there are arguements out there as to how well the RO units at the store are cared for. The maximum reading I have obtained with my TDS is 3. The last time I went out, it was zero.

So please reconsider. I can appreciate your positive approach to challange, but sometimes things do not work out.

Peace......John.

 

Take it from me, i filled my 55 with tap water when i first started out and my phosphates amongst others went through the roof, never have i used tap water again and never will, i buy mine from the lfs at the moment, the tank is now 11 months old and my phosphates are still at 0.03, i am constantly in my tank everyday, don't want to have to say told you so, it's an expensive hobby, you don't want to be buying all this nice stuff just to get fed up with the problem and say i've had enough thats it i'm selling my tank, just trying to help, but at the end of the days it's upto you, good luck...

 

I have bought an ro unit. But, I am going to be moving soon and have been using tap water because I don't know were to buy water. I do not have a lfs that is saltwater, so i don't know of any where else to get it. Any idea's? I have been using prime though and my readings have been good. No nitrites and nitrates only have been up from 0 since I added my lr too fast. It's coming down again.

 

Steam Distiled water would be better IMO than tap water.

Make sure is says STEAMED though.