RO versus tap water

[mling]

After reading all about RO, I just bought a RO/DI system. But after discussing RO with a friend, I am now having doubts about using it for my tank. In short my friend tells me that he does not like RO because it strips the water of everything and then you have to buy supplements to bring up the PH, etc.

It is true that If your county water system is “acceptable” for aquarium use, it is better to just use tap water and use water conditioners to get rid of chlorine, versus RO ?

Is there a “natural” way to raise the PH level in a reef tank ?

[icereefer]

yes it's true. RO/DI is used to pull Impurites out of your tap water, that can cause problems in your aquarium, Like phosphates, nitrates, chlorine, and various heavy metals. phos,nitrates can cause algae blooms , and there's usally copper present in most tap waters and is harmfull to inverebrates.
this is why using RO/DI you want to use a high quality salt mix most salts. add the minerals that your RO/DI takes out. the reason most hobbiest use RO/DI is because you know that your starting off with a pure forum of water.
and if just doing water changes does not keep everything at a even level, this is why we need to monitor our readings, some can get away with just RO water for top off others, use kalkwasser or calcium reactors,to help maintain,calcium levels. aragraMilk or other products to maintain buffers as in magnesium, strontium, calcium, potassium.ect.
this is why most use aragonite sand and live rock,it in it's self is a natural buffer and helps use maintain PH, alk, and other buffers,as it breaks down in our tanks.
thiis is why as hobbiest we need to learn what or live stock needs to maintain life ,and learn how to come up with that balance that keep them growing a thriving
you never know what will be added to tap water, they monitor tap water and there's different times of the year that create, different parasites, they treat for, winter thaws create sturing up of different metals, farmers chemicals, mercury, ect they add flouride, who knows what else.
And myself with the money I add to my tank,with using RO/DI I know, Im starting off with a very high quality of water.
I hope this helps you under stand a little why most hobbiest use RO, or RO/DI and if I've left any thing out are am off on any thing here, please chime in.
Icereefer