Auto shut off without rodi

[usmcr0811]

I agree about not setting everything up without a valve and doing it every few days. I had decided that at the beginning of the post. I agree I should use prime or RODI. Just because I don't use RODI doesn't mean I'm setting myself up for failure.

I have read lots of posts in here about success with tap water. And I had success with fresh water.

What I am saying is that I have spent $40 on fish, snails, and crabs at this point. That is all I would loose if the water isnt up to par. Im not going to loose my pumps or my sump or any other equipment I have purchased. The sand and rock was already in my tank from 4 years ago so if it has copper in it RODI won't fix it now and I was planning on replacing most of it eventually anyways with some larger rock. I agree if I set it up for auto shut off, that is setting myself up for failure and I would probably not have a wife anymore.

I didn't decide to move forward with my plan, after I posted in here...I already had everything set up as the people at the LFS didn't tell me I needed to check for copper or chlorine before I set it up. I even asked them what test kit I needed and told them I was useing tap water. It has been set up for close to a month before I posted here.

For what its worth when I commented I just finished working a 20 hour double shift at work and didnt see anything productive about the post. But there is some truth to the setting yourself up for failure post if you are refering to the auto shut off or didnt test for what you needed to thanks to my LFS. But if their is copper in the water there is not much an rodi unit is going to do to fix that now.

Thanks for the info appreciate all the opinions.

 

[perkint]

What rock are you using? Are you using rock as biological filtration (as is normal in reef tanks)?

Tim

 

[usmcr0811]

I just have around 15 small fist size stones. Really should get something more porous. Also have 3 large plastic rocks. I know I need to get them switched with something more porous someday but that's what I have for now. I have two clown and a striped damsel in a 125 gallon. Not going to add any more fish until after I get the rock switched out.

 

[usmcr0811]

Also am working on building a sump that will someday house filration. Justed tested my tank for Copper and there is no signs of copper in the tank.

 

[sleepydoc]

Just an FYI - the lower threshold for most Cu test kits is still above the toxic level for inverts. The test kits are usually designed to test therapeutic levels for treating fish for ich.

Not detecting Cu is good, but probably doesn't tell you much.

 

[usmcr0811]

Ok good to know. Is there a way to find out if my tank is full of copper then or do I just have to wait it out now that they are already in the tank. Had I known all this from the start I probably would have got all new sand and rock to begin with.

Also how long would it take to kill my snails if there is a copper issue?

 

[usmcr0811]

Got my line run and set up on a shut off valve. I got plenty extra 1/4 inch line so hopefully in a week or two I can hook the whole system up to an RODI system. Guess it depends if I can get the wife talked I to it that soon but I have everything I need now and its just a matter of hooking up a couple of quick connect fittings.

 

[perkint]

I would think you'd see an affect within a week or so, but I'm not sure.

You definitely need to add proper (porous) live rock if you want it to be the biological media, as, from what you say, the rock you have will be offering next to no filtration benefit.

Also, if it is live rock you will be using, be careful trying to run it in a sump. Live rock needs dramatically more flow to work properly, than most people have in their sumps.

Tim

 

[usmcr0811]

Sorry I didn't mention I actually also have two emperor 400's (HOB filters) one on each side of my tank so its not just crappy live rock I have. Didnt realize that about the flow. Will be putting all the live rock in my display then.

Either way I really need to get some real live rock as soon as possible.

 

[zachts]

Just an FYI - the lower threshold for most Cu test kits is still above the toxic level for inverts. The test kits are usually designed to test therapeutic levels for treating fish for ich.

Not detecting Cu is good, but probably doesn't tell you much.

Indeed! the copper absorbed by your water running thru any copper piping along the way to your tank will likely be enough to make keeping inverts difficult if not impossible long term. fish would be fine and a few of the tougher corals may tolerate it but over all it's not a good thing.

An RO or RO/DI unit is not very expensive and will save you lots of headache down the road not just from removing copper but even in the cleanest of water supplies you'll have nitrate, phosphates and other nutrients in levels higher than are good and that will promote lots of nuisance algea in most tanks. Just my two cents.

 

[Dapg8gt]

I agree about not setting everything up without a valve and doing it every few days. I had decided that at the beginning of the post. I agree I should use prime or RODI. Just because I don't use RODI doesn't mean I'm setting myself up for failure.

I have read lots of posts in here about success with tap water. And I had success with fresh water.

What I am saying is that I have spent $40 on fish, snails, and crabs at this point. That is all I would loose if the water isnt up to par. Im not going to loose my pumps or my sump or any other equipment I have purchased. The sand and rock was already in my tank from 4 years ago so if it has copper in it RODI won't fix it now and I was planning on replacing most of it eventually anyways with some larger rock. I agree if I set it up for auto shut off, that is setting myself up for failure and I would probably not have a wife anymore.

I didn't decide to move forward with my plan, after I posted in here...I already had everything set up as the people at the LFS didn't tell me I needed to check for copper or chlorine before I set it up. I even asked them what test kit I needed and told them I was useing tap water. It has been set up for close to a month before I posted here.

For what its worth when I commented I just finished working a 20 hour double shift at work and didnt see anything productive about the post. But there is some truth to the setting yourself up for failure post if you are refering to the auto shut off or didnt test for what you needed to thanks to my LFS. But if their is copper in the water there is not much an rodi unit is going to do to fix that now.

Thanks for the info appreciate all the opinions.

It's better that you asked here vs just doing it =).. It's hard to get an idea that in the mind of the person is all good shot down by multiple people so I personally didn't get offended or anything as its human nature to defend your ideas and try to make things work.. I was more posting on the topic of the never ending supply Un treated tap water into the Ato vs using tap in general fwiw..

There is successful tanks using tap water but also tons of threads where Reefers are dealing with years of leaching rocks and sand from initially starting with tap water causing total rebuilds.. I'll admit I used tap water for the first 4 years and really didn't notice anything negative but I am fed some of the cleanest water in California where I live.. Tap works for some but not for all and it's undeniable that a properly set up rodi is really one of the most important things for the longevity of the life you are taking care of in your slice of the ocean.

Decent rodi units can be had for great deals I ran a water general (rd102 I think) I bought on eBay for about 2 years that I sold to a friend that is still using it multiple years later. I think new they are like $120 or something.. Now I use an expensive unit (spectrapure) just because I realised I wanted the best possible water I could provide but that's not saying I wouldn't have just as nice a tank with my original unit still running. You can also get refurbished spectrapure units fairly cheap when you decide to start looking.

 

[usmcr0811]

Well the shutoff valve is working awesome. Saves me like 10 min that I used to waste getting out a 75 foot hose and dragging it through the house then draining it, rolling it back up, and putting it back away!

I am going to get the RODI set up as soon as possible. Less phosphates and fewer algae blooms make it worth it I think.