[TheApprentice707]

I just filled my tank for the first time and I used tap water (sonoma county, rohnert park) I put in tetra's chlorine remover "makes tap water safe" stuff. Should I drain it and use another type of water? If so where can I get the water? Also when I make up my batch of salt water for my water changes, should i get another heater to put in it before i put it in the tank. Is getting another heater have i need to do in order to make it match the temperature of my tank water? thanks!

[leebca]

Your 'source water' is what we call the water you use to make up your artificial salt water for the marine aquarium. Please read this as it contains answers to your questions AND a lot more information: WATER - Source and NSW

The short answer is to drain that water out. Rinse out the system with RO/DI water a few times. Then obtain RO/DI water. If the aquarium is small, buy distilled water. If you want to just keep marine fish, Deionized (DI) water is usually good enough if the final analysis of the water shows it is good. Test your source water yourself.

Read this about water changes, then my answers below may make better sense: How to Make a Successful Water Change

The amount and frequency of your water changes dictate the procedure you should use. If you make large water changes, then you want the new water to be adjusted as advised in the above reference. If you will be making very frequent small changes, then temperature will not be that significant since the water added will not likely impact the overall temperature of the marine system. The limits of this and when it is no longer a 'small' water change is given in the above reference.

Good luck!