How to Use Reverse Osmosis System in Your Aquarium

Reverse Osmosis is used in the garden for providing plants such as lettuce and carrots with clean, uncontaminated water. But did you know it is also used for aquariums? Yes, even though the system is more popular in Marine Fishkeeping, it is slowly gaining favor among freshwater fish farmers! However, before choosing to use the system, you should know some few important facts. This article will give you a few answers on how to use reverse osmosis (RO) in your aquarium. We intended to provide you, the farmer, with the right tools and guide you on how to go through the procedure.

How to Use Reverse Osmosis in Your Fish Aquarium

• Defining reverse osmosis
• Why is Reverse Osmosis water used by Fish keepers?
• Is there need to use Reverse Osmosis water?
• Using Reverse Osmosis water
• Mixing Reverse Osmosis water with tap water
• Using one hundred percent of Reverse Osmosis water by adding minerals
• Key points to note while switching to Reverse Osmosis water

Defining Reverse Osmosis

The first thing that comes to mind when you ask yourself the question, “what is reverse osmosis”, is it sounds like some sort of object. Well, it is rather interesting to note that RO is not a thing but a process! It refers to a method where you make a strong solution become more dilute. To do this, molecules of a less-concentrated solution penetrate into it by going through a semi-permeable membrane.

In this case, water is taken through a semi-permeable membrane under high pressure. Through this, the large, contaminating particles are eliminated.

Why Is Reverse Osmosis Water Used By Fish Keepers?

There are quite a number of reasons why Reverse Osmosis water is used by a growing number of fish keepers! When tap water is taken through the process, the results are quite fruitful. RO eliminates the waste particles or greatly decreases their concentration. What you are likely to note is that the water collected contains very few amounts of dissolved particles. Also, it’s neutral in pH meaning that it has no alkalinity or hardness. This then makes it possible for fish to enjoy a lower pH level, especially when these levels are at a high in tap water. Besides, Reverse Osmosis also helps in removing excessive levels of phosphate, nitrate, and chloride, which may be present in the water.

Is Their Need to use Reverse Osmosis Water?

When this question is asked, the answer in most cases is no. Some countries in Europe such as the United Kingdom enjoy perfectly adequate water for fish keeping. All that is needed is an effective water conditioner, for neutralizing and reducing chlorine, chloramines, and heavy metals.

Reverse Osmosis water can also be inconvenient and expensive. We, therefore, recommend that you first make a firm decision before diving into the matter. Here is why – once the procedure has been started, it needs to be continued so as to maintain a healthy environment in the aquarium.

Make your own decision regarding the use of Reverse Osmosis Water. For those fish farmers who already have the appropriate kind of water, the process may be unnecessary. By appropriate water, we simply mean that it should be low in contaminants such as nitrates. You may also have suited your fish to survive quite okay in tap water meaning that using RO would be unnecessary.

In a nutshell, when you choose to use Reverse Osmosis water, ensure that there is great need to lower the pH or hardness. In areas with highly contaminated water, then using RO will probably be your best choice.

Using Reverse Osmosis Water

For those who may have chosen to use this procedure, the first thing to remember is that you’ve made a good decision. But the process is not ‘neat’ at all, and here are some reasons why! We noted that this is because the water has no hardness or alkalinity, and the fish lack some essential elements, needed for their survival. After completing the process, you will, therefore, be needed to add some minerals into the just collected solution, so as to make it more habitable.

Mixing Reverse Osmosis Water with Tap Water

A simple method of using Reverse Osmosis water for reducing alkalinity is to mix it with a small tap water solution! When you mix half a cup of tap and Reverse Osmosis water, the resulting GH ( a measure of water hardness) will be less than the original value by nearly half.  Let us now look at a small example. Let us say the GH of the tap water is twenty and what is required for the fish tank is one that is fifteen. Here, by only mixing three-quarters of RO with a quarter of tap water will bring out the right result.

Using 100 Percent of Reverse Osmosis Water by Adding Minerals

As the title suggests, the method requires you to add proportions of essential minerals and salts in the pure Reverse Osmosis water collected. Through this, you go on to create a solution with the properties needed for the fish to survive in the aquarium.

Key Points to Note While Choosing Reverse Osmosis Water

Key points to consider include:

• Avoid being rapid while switching to Reverse Osmosis water. Instead, adjust the level of alkalinity gradually and over a couple of partial changes of water
• Continue with your new Reverse Osmosis mixture in all water changes. This will help you maintain a stable supply of RO water!
• There is need to maintain consistency in your RO supply.

Additional considerations are:

• The process is costly, consumes a lot of time, and also requires a huge commitment. If you are looking to use the Reverse Osmosis procedure, let it be when you really need to.
• Decide if you’ll purchase or make your own Reverse Osmosis water solution. Here, remember that they both have advantages and drawbacks as well, and only you can tell what exactly works best for your fish farm.

Conclusion

Using Reverse Osmosis water is a great innovative tool in the world of fish farming. However, it’s not always necessary; many find it to be time-consuming and costly. Think carefully before using RO and we hope that this article will be of great assistance to you.

But let us keep communicating! Let us know the impact Reverse Osmosis water has brought into your fish aquarium. What challenges have you faced?