RO water
- Thread starter jfbhd4
- Start date
Segundo
New member
I just get my RO/Di Water from the local grocery store, they have a water dispenser that goes through all the stages uncluding UV. Wal-mart also has a Culligan dispenser, either one is 25-33 cents per gallon. Look for the water dispenser in a local store and then check to see what filtration it goes through and then make sure that someone goes through its regular maintenance.
Devildogg9745
New member
IN the long run your better off just paying the $200. You will believe me after lugging aroung gallons of water for a couple of months . Not to mention over time that .25 to .45 cents a gallon will add up.
GlobaLPimP
New member
I would take out the tap water and replace it with RO/DI water or you will probably have a MASSIVE alge bloom:eek2:
I agree with at least getting a TDS meter. That is the ONLY way to know if there is ZERO Total Dissolved Solids in the filtered water. If you do not test the water you are getting (even if it's from your LFS) and the water is not good, it may very well cost you more than $150 in negative effects in your tank. Keep in mind that it's not going to take that much time to burn through $150 - $200 in gas, cost for water, and time used to obtain the water from somewhere else. Also, your signature says 90gl tank - if that's the size you plan on using for a salt tank you are going to need at least a gallon of water per day just for top-off. I only have a 75gl and I use about a gallon and a half per day. I suggest that you break down and purchase your own RO/DI filter. They are worth every penny and you will be much happier in the long run
REEF-ON:rollface:
I agree with at least getting a TDS meter. That is the ONLY way to know if there is ZERO Total Dissolved Solids in the filtered water. If you do not test the water you are getting (even if it's from your LFS) and the water is not good, it may very well cost you more than $150 in negative effects in your tank. Keep in mind that it's not going to take that much time to burn through $150 - $200 in gas, cost for water, and time used to obtain the water from somewhere else. Also, your signature says 90gl tank - if that's the size you plan on using for a salt tank you are going to need at least a gallon of water per day just for top-off. I only have a 75gl and I use about a gallon and a half per day. I suggest that you break down and purchase your own RO/DI filter. They are worth every penny and you will be much happier in the long run
REEF-ON:rollface:
AZDesertRat
In Memoriam
When you purchase water you are at the mercy of whoever you buy it from. I have never seen a Wal Mart or any other water& ice type store that sells RO/DI, only RO that may or may not be treated with UV, never DI. That being said RO only is not going to have a 0 TDS so you will always have something in it albeit less than tap water. I have seen LFS that sell RO water but after testing some of them or seeing what they store the treated water in I would rather but it at the grocery store. Filtered water must be stored properly or you are no better off than if you had not filtered it.
An RO/DI is a good investment not only for your aquariums but I use it for cooking, drinking, brewing and the icemaker too.
An RO/DI is a good investment not only for your aquariums but I use it for cooking, drinking, brewing and the icemaker too.
AZDesertRat
In Memoriam
You should remove the glass tops for good oxygen transfer as well as the cooling effect it provides due to evaporation. If I don't use my chiller I add 6 gallons every other day and with the chiller I still add 5 gallons every 4th day in my 100G reef.
GlobaLPimP
New member
YES - remove your glass tops and get a decent digital thermometer if you don't already have one. You can replace the tops with egg crate if you have jUmPeRs!
AZDesertRat
In Memoriam
Eggcrate is really light diffuser panels found at Home Depot and Lowes in the lighting dept.
damitchsta
New member
i started my 55 with tap water and then got the stuff that gets the water clean and ended up with a massive alge bloom. it was not at all fun. and i have to lug five gallon buckets back and forth from the lfs for top off and water changes also not fun. said the same thing i didn't want to spend the 200 but already ended up spending tripple that between gas to the store and buying the water so i am getting one this week.
here;s the one i use, it works great
http://cgi.ebay.com/AQUA-SAFE-100GP...7QQihZ008QQcategoryZ20684QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/AQUA-SAFE-100GP...7QQihZ008QQcategoryZ20684QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
AZDesertRat
In Memoriam
With RO and RO/DI cheap is not good. You give up things that are very important. You either get cheesy filters that don't last and shorten the life of the membrane or you get a cheesy membrane that will never perform as well as it should. When you go cheap you end up either being totally disgusted with it or you spend much more upgrading it. About the cheapest you can go and still get quality is soething like the Optima series from www.purelyh2o.com or the regular Typhoon from www.airwaterice.com. There are a few other good ones in the $150 range from www.thefilterguys.biz and www.buckeyefieldsupply.com . None compare to the Spectrapure unit I linked to earlier though.
The one someone above suggested is on the very bottom of the totem pole as far as quality, it uses cheap components, is assembled poorly and will never get the water quality the others I have suggested will due to its poor design and poor filters.
The one someone above suggested is on the very bottom of the totem pole as far as quality, it uses cheap components, is assembled poorly and will never get the water quality the others I have suggested will due to its poor design and poor filters.
GlobaLPimP
New member
Bottom line - You get what you pay for...
The one you recommend from eBay only reduces down to 5 microns. That's why it's under $100.
I tried a cheap eBay deal at first and it didn't completely remove everything. My friend's TDS meter read 58 on that system.
The one I use makes 75 gls per day and reduces down to one half of ONE micron ".5" - MUCH more pure and virtually NOTHING left in the water - but it I also paid $230 for it which also included an incoming pressure gauge and an IN/OUT TDS meter.
IMO, I wouldn't get one that doesn't reduce down to a least 1 micron. It's up to you but I would do some more reasearch and actually speak to more people about them before you buy.
