For all we know they never properly cycled the tank and there's zero bacteria available to reduce ammonia. I'd like to think they tested for that before going assuming it's a pH issue. Not that it can't be, but fishkeeping often involves a lot of patience and prep before just buying fish, tossing them into a tank and wondering why they're dead in a day.

How to Install a Reverse Osmosis Water Filter: Done in 1 minute, the other 7 minutes was just explaining the house and water tests. Got it!

She also need to aerate the water first before she put the water into the aquarium. It's not the chlorine since it's well water, but because the dissolved oxygen level from the well water is very low.

Always awesome to see Richard explain plumbing!

Would have liked to see the resulting water tested too. Also, couldn't they have just adjusted the pH of the water before adding the fish instead of going the reverse osmosis route? Aren't you supposed to do that for tropical fish anyway?

One thing I would have done differently is install the RO system in the mechanical room and then run lines to the basement sink and the kitchen sink as well as any refrigerator icemaker‘s you have. This way you get the RO water at multiple locations throughout the house and just not one. I’ve had an RO system for over 30 years. One of the best investment a homeowner can make.

We had a 10 gallon aquarium for years with a bottom under gravel filter. We changed the water every few months. We purchased 2.5 gallon carboys of drinking water and just dumped it into the tank. The fish loved it and lived forever. Much cheaper and less complicated. The drinking water had been run through an RO unit.

Guys the faucet is there so they can drink it as well lol; don’t think it’s ONLY for the fishies

Ok this is crazy I just saw the older video of Richard installing an RO system!?

It's probably ammonia that's killing the fish, not the minerals. 1st absolutely crucial rule of aquarium keeping is to establish the nitrogen cycle so that ammonia waste from the fish is detoxified by bacteria into nitrate, which won't kill the fish unless it is allowed to build up to toxic levels, don't get fish until it is established. RO water without minerals is also bad for fish because they also need minerals. Bacteria and plants will also naturally "soften" the water as they consume the minerals. or just get fish that like hard water, like guppies, platies, swordtails, or mollies. (Livebearers).

Fish should not be kept in pure RO water, they need minerals to properly osmoregulate. When keeping tropical fish its much better to find fish that will thrive in YOUR water. Fish will adapt to stable, consist water parameters. In the case of this homeowner, high ph and high hardness would be perfect for African Cichlids or Livebearing fish.

love having richard here

TOH team, thanks for detailed explanation of the RO system. Can you do another review on one of the newer tankless RO systems. Per their marketing, that saves lots of water and more efficient than the legacy 5 or 7-stage system. Thanks as always.

You must buy API Quick Start or Tetra Safe Start. Both have bacteria that when you introduce the bacteria in the aquarium water, the biological filter is immediately started. The bacteria consumes ammonia and nitrate, which are harmful to fish.

Interesting but we didn't test-strip the RO water.

That plumming is out of this world should belong in the muisuim

Wouldn't it be easier to just buy a few Gallons from the store?? How often do you change the tank water??

The reason the fish died is because the filter has not had enough time to be "seeded" with bacteria to remove the ammonia in the water which the fish produce from their waste. It takes 4 weeks to seed a filter. Buy hearty fish like Zebra Danio's to survive the 4 week period. I have a 30 gallon aquarium for a long time and learned the hard way that filters need time to accumulate enough bacteria to remove the ammonia. The other water problems can be fixed easily with chemical additives available at the fish store.

The aquarium does not look like a Nitrogen cycle has been completed. The aquarium needs it biological system to be alive and complete, Putting all new water in and adding fish is a situation doomed to fail. Do some research on the Nitrogen cycle before buying an aquarium and add fish. It takes several weeks before you can add fish.

Nobody: That lady: Yes

That’s a big upgrade for such a small tank. Also that tank is too small for that tank I think.

good to see this I will need to install one of these

did she use soap to clean the fish tank? soap sinks into the rubber between the glass connections

Confused by his comment at the end. The filters will fill the tank in 1-3 hours, but he said the water won't be clean for 24 hours. What is happening with the water sitting in the tank between 1-3 hours and 24 hours?

So useful 🥊

Where did you get that faucet? I love that it's a duel faucet.

Hey Richard! Cutting the sprayer will cause water to spray from the hose when the faucet is turned on. Someone inexperienced following your instructions is in for a surprise. You reassemble the sprayer under the sink.

Muriatic Acid?

Now the fish is happy but what about the water they drink from the whole house filtration? Wasn’t it tested to be a bit hard and basic?

lol these fish better be grateful

Really small tank and poor filtration for an angel fish.

TOH: Can you please also provide a link to the water test kit that was used in the video ?

That angelfish was stressed. Observe gills. This woman is clueless about fish keeping.

Interested to know what RO system this is?

All that money for pet fish!!!!WOW.

this is just throwing money at the problem. not actually finding a cause and a solution. install is legit but it wont necessarily be the solution

That's not how those test strips work... They're not super great, but at least read the instructions.

All that money spent on finishing the basement and installing the R/O system, but such a sad looking little fish tank. No thermostat on the heater, stick on thermometer, poor lighting, I'm guessing the HOB had a disposable carbon filter, almost no hiding spots to help the fish feel safe... the water parameters are not the only reason the fish are dying.

Doesn’t reverse osmosis waste gallons of water just to make a “clean” gallon?

Why didn’t they send out a water sample for a more accurate reading? Also, if they liked the way the water tastes why not just buy water for the fish tank like distilled or spring water

Expensive solution for .25 cent fish

she wears the pants! did you see her about to let richard have it after telling her to get that fish to safety, before he got the hell outta there? haha. Kids we cant have fish! our water isnt good to keep them alive

Another fish story.

Okay you isntalled your system. That'll be $500

Those reverse osmosis systems are for people who barely use any water.

No way I'm spending that amount of money to install an RO system, just so I can have fish. Sorry.