20 sure ways to guarantee disaster

[r0bin]

I was just using the Georgia Aquarium as an exmple. I read in Aquarium Magazine that none of the laerge aquariums us RO/DI water, its just not cost efficient. They use large quanities of carbon.

 

[carnophage]

what is wrong with a fish that sturs the sand bed? i have a diamond goby that does it.

 

[kathainbowen]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11640471#post11640471 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by r0bin
I was just using the Georgia Aquarium as an exmple. I read in Aquarium Magazine that none of the laerge aquariums us RO/DI water, its just not cost efficient. They use large quanities of carbon.

I was more commenting on the implying that Atlanta water was superior to water in the Mid West (not the aquarium usage of carbon) to underscore the point the point that you never can tell exactly what your local water composition is going to be like and cannot make assumptions until you just get down to it and really closely evaluate your local water quality. The water I was getting in Atlanta from the tap was really soft with a huge phosphate load, while the water off the tap at my NJ home is incredibly hard with a relatively high, but not huge phosphate load. Personally, as a result of seeing first hand just how largely tap water can swing from location to location, I must second Sk8rs suggestion the newbs always use ROdi until they can be absolutely certain of the composition of water from their local source (and even after that, I might continue to recommend it, especially for people living in older homes which might have copper piping).

However, in all honesty, you have a really good point. Carbon filtration is becoming more popular as an economic and ethical choice to avoid both 'burning through' membranes (this is what my coworkers and I used as a *technical* term to describe just how quickly we could go through membranes with our incredibly high local TDS count going in) and to avoid waste through "gray water." While it is probably a discussion better left for Responsible Reefkeeping, it is definitely a valid line of thought to consider using carbon in place of ROdi, but I still feel you should investigate your local water quality and the potential for whatever filter you are interested in using to handle what the local water is going to throw at it. I think there's still a thread or two discussing the ethical choices over on Responsible Reefkeeping for anyone who's interested in more information regarding the waste issues related to ROdi, including a really neat thread discussion alternate usages for 'gray water.'

*reading rainbow star*

The more you know!

 

[bawla47]

ive had 2 cucumbers in my tank now for more then 3 years.