Can we talk about water and water filters a sec?

[JCurry]

Hi all,
So I have a question about water, I have a 150 gallon per day RO/DI system that I am going to install to make water for my aquarium. First off I should state that I’m on well water and the TDS reading of the well ranges about 70-80 mg/l after it goes through the house softener and ph adjuster. I have been using one of those Aquarium Pharmaceuticals tap water purifier to make up top off water for my nano tank, just for top off. I’m buying premade salt water from PETCO, for changes with a 18 gallon its just easier. But I’ll bee setting up a 58 gallon soon and cost is prohibiting, using the PETCO water. With the tap water purifier I can get the TDS down to 7-8 mg/l, what my question is can you keep a reef with only using DI water? With an RO unit so much water is wasted to get the clean water. So I was thinking of adding some whole house sediment and carbon filters to improve our drinking water, then adding a single or dual DI filter for the tank water. So what do you think will this work? Thanks for any and all help.

 

[boxfishpooalot]

It can work but its really exspensive to replace di. It does not last long as ro unit would. I dont think a di unit will remove enough Po4 to keep a reef tank alive.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Yes, the sediment and DI alone is likely OK but will, in the long run, be more expensive than buying an RO/DI. The RO part makes the DI resins last 20-50 times as long. The only thing that will get through is colloidal minerals, and that may or may not be a concern. If you have a lot of copper in the well water, I'd be reluctant to not use RO as well as DI.

I discuss these issues here:

Reverse Osmosis/Deionization Systems to Purify Tap Water for Reef Aquaria
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-05/rhf/index.htm

 

[JCurry]

Thanks Guys for the replies I was hoping to not waste all that water but you have to do what ya have to. Thanks for the link Randy, I'll have alittle light reading to do tonight.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

:thumbsup:

Good luck.