RO from grocery store water maker

[DaddyMav]

I don't know if I'm on target or if the growth in my tank is stunted. I'm just wondering if I could be doing better. I've just seen others using similar equipment having much better results. I know that a part of it is the fact that I'm using an Odyssea light, but I think I'm getting a good amount of light from it due to the growth of my softies(toadstool, cloves, gsp) but I haven't had alot of luck with mushrooms, zoas or any lps.

From looking at the setups of others, I've seen some amazing growth from the similar lights with quality bulbs. I'm really wondering at this point if it might be the water that I'm using. I typically get my water from the dispensers at the grocery store or gas station. It says it's RO water with 2 UV cycles and I'd just imagined that I was able to use it without any issue. It also has the benefit that I can go pick up some water whenever I need it, even in the middle of the night.

I'm wondering if anyone else is doing the same thing, or switched to LFS water or an RO/DI system and noticed a considerable difference.

Oh, the tanks been set up for about a year now with stable parameters. Although I have been having an issue maintaining ALK. That's the only thing I've been dosing/testing outside of my normal water changes with Red Sea Coral Pro salt.

 

[JMCAquarium]

You can buy RO water and it still be crap water. you need to have it tested and see just how bad it is. you should be getting it from oneof the fish stores (providing they dont have crap water as well but they should know there water the best)

 

[dream54ing]

Even if someone tells you that they don't notice a difference, it doesn't mean your tank will be the same.

Try using lfs water for a few months to see if it makes any difference. I won't hurt to try...

 

[briankmarsh1980]

Yeah not a good source of water

 

[Derbird]

The quality of the water will vary greatly depending on how often they change the filters. I have used this water before I got my own RO/DI but took my TDS meter with me.

 

[JMCAquarium]

I was going to a "windmill" and getting water after fighting my tank for a year someone explained RO systems to me. I tested the water at it was something like 111. I went to the water store on 91st and olive his water was reading 15-25 my tank instantly cleared up and was smooth running bought many 100's of gallons off him prob well into the 1,000's

 

[DaddyMav]

Thanks for the input. It was actually just about what I expected to receive. Now I'll start my experiment and spend at least the next 3 months getting my water strictly from the LFS. I'll just have to plan it out a little better since they're not available 24/7 if I run out. We'll see how it goes.

 

[evolved]

A handheld TDS meter would answer the question about the RO machine's water quality.

 

[Stolireef]

For the cost of buying the water over any reasonble length of time, a decent RO/DI unit is far more cost effective and convenient. That's just my 2 cents.

 

[82ndengineer]

Spectrapure has great specials on refurb units if cost is an issue.

 

[jporter]

For the cost of buying the water over any reasonble length of time, a decent RO/DI unit is far more cost effective and convenient. That's just my 2 cents.

I couldn't agree more with Alan. You won't believe you ever lugged containers back and forth the the LFS after using your own unit for a month. I've had my RODI unit for over a year now and love it.

 

[DaddyMav]

How difficult is the hookup of a spectrapure unit? and is it reversible? I'm renting right now and I'd have to be able to easily put things back to how they were.

 

[Junktown]

Nothing has to be permanent, can run it from a hose bib outside.

 

[gbru316]

Nothing has to be permanent, can run it from a hose bib outside.

This will allow you to use any sink. Just hook the RO/DI input to this valve and drain the waste water into the sink. This method will, however, require you to store the RO/DI unit elsewhere unless you don't mind it sitting out on a counter.

Alternately, This could be used to temporarily install it under the sink. You would, again, drain wastewater down the sink. With this method, the RO/DI unit wouldn't be an eyesore.


At the very least, I'd use distilled water before store bought RO.

 

[Weyrman]

The fixture on the right is the hose bib adapter. It's about $2 at Lowes but comes with the Spectrapure unit. I did this as the location was better than using a sink.

This one is on a "Y" adapter with shutoff valves (about $5) and shares the water line for the cold water side of the washing machine. The center drain is where you can route the discharge (I drain out to the garden instead so you don't see the RO/DI unit discharge line in this picture). So the unit can be installed in the laundry room if you have one.

 

[scubabum1983]

I run my own rodi unit under the sink, I also got a pressure tank, spout, shut off valve, and a t to run to my di chambers from my ro, I get 4 TDS drinking water, and 0tds fish water. To me the way to guage crap ro from good ro without a TDS meter is watch your salt dissolve in your mixing barrel. I use reef crystals and it dissolves before it hits the bottom and is clear in seconds with 0tds great quality water. with lower quality water my experience is longer time to dissolve while mixing, it's not a pirfect strategy but works. I never have trusted water machines, on the other hand I also don't always trust lfs water either. In my experience sometimes lfs stores let their water slip to get more gallons out of resin. This is certainly not true of all lfs stores. It's came down to knowing exactly what I was putting in my tank justified the expense of making my own water.

 

[dahay78]

thanks for the info on Ro water, i personally have been doing salt water now for three years with a 29g nano tank, just recently i moved and bought water from one of the water machines and needless to say, i have been having problems with my water, its just bad!!!! we live in a condo too and are leasing, i was thinking about going to a water station, i lve on the NE side of town they have what they call water stations around and they say that their water is guaranteed to be pure! so i may give them a shot for my new 55g that santa dropped off to me. so time will tell,