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**George Patterson** · November 21st 06, 02:32 PM posted to rec.aquaria.marine.reefs

wrote:

As an aside, I'm amazed that one of the articals above advocates using
tap water rather than RO for top up & water changes, a sure-fire recipe
for high NO3, I think. Although I'm guessing that most of you are on
the other side ofthe pond (I'm a Brit.), maybe you have better water
quality than me!.

My water tests out 0 for NO3 but 0.5 for phosphates. Agricultural areas (or
areas downstream from them) are much more likely to have NO3 in the water.

Tap water quality varies from place to place, so it really isn't possible to say
that a particular individual either should or shouldn't use it. It also is
likely to change in quality. Case in point - back in the 70s, the city of
Atlanta drew its water from the Chattahoochee river. I've seen perch swimming
near the intakes. It was rated the best water available in the U.S., including
bottled water. Manhattan tap water ranked second. Perrier was #10.

Since then, the entire area upstream of Atlanta has been heavily developed, and
the quality of the water has gone way down. Septic tanks and lawn fertilizer
will do that.

George Patterson
Those who do not study History are doomed to repeat it. Those who DO
study History are doomed to watch every one else repeat it.