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do plants need special water?
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 4:17 am
by onyxlady
I've been keeping a planted tank for a while now, but I'm curious if my plants actually need special water. I use tap water with a conditioner, but some folks say RO or distilled is better. What's the deal?
Re: do plants need special water?
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 4:40 am
by fuzzybrook
Tap water's usually fine if you dechlorinate it. RO's overkill unless your tap's super hard or has crazy high nitrates. My Java Fern's been thriving in tap for years.
Re: do plants need special water?
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 5:50 am
by dreamy
It depends on the plants. Some, like Cryptocoryne, are picky about hardness. If you're dosing ferts, tap's minerals can actually help. RO's only needed for super sensitive stuff like some Caridina shrimp tanks.
Re: do plants need special water?
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 7:44 am
by KookyBuck
RO's a hassle unless you're chasing perfection. My tap's at 300 TDS, and my Anubias don't care. Save the cash for more plants instead.
Re: do plants need special water?
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 8:47 am
by anglerkid
fuzzybrook wrote: ↑Tue Jun 24, 2025 4:40 am
Tap water's usually fine if you dechlorinate it. RO's overkill unless your tap's super hard or has crazy high nitrates. My Java Fern's been thriving in tap for years.
Agreed. I test my tap params weekly, and as long as KH/GH are stable, plants adapt. No need to overcomplicate it.
Re: do plants need special water?
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 10:33 am
by fastfire
Some stem plants melt if you switch water types too fast. If you go RO, remineralize slowly. My Rotala hated sudden changes.
Re: do plants need special water?
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 11:21 am
by piped
I use half tap, half RO to balance hardness. Works for my Bacopa and Moss. Just gotta watch the pH swing.
Re: do plants need special water?
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 12:20 pm
by microvolt
RO's only worth it if you're into rare Bucephalandra or something. Most common plants are chill with tap.
Re: do plants need special water?
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 12:50 pm
by harvester
dreamy wrote: ↑Tue Jun 24, 2025 5:50 am
It depends on the plants. Some, like Cryptocoryne, are picky about hardness. If you're dosing ferts, tap's minerals can actually help. RO's only needed for super sensitive stuff like some Caridina shrimp tanks.
Yep, my Crypts thrive in tap with Seachem Equilibrium. RO's overkill unless you're breeding crystal reds.
Re: do plants need special water?
Posted: Tue Jun 24, 2025 2:18 pm
by Finnleya
Tap's fine, but if you're battling algae, RO can help reset things. Just remineralize with something like Salty Shrimp GH+.