RODI at start-up?

[mayjong]

hey all-
FINALLY getting ready to re-fill my 150...
i don't want to use RODI, it will take forever for it to generate 180G, + i would have to pump it into the tank.
why not just use the hose? it is all dry rock, gonna have to cycle for at least a couple months anyway.
should be fine, right???

 

[BrklynArch]

I'm not 100% sure but i think aside from the potential for unwanted algea from the additives in city water...i think i read somewhere that the hose bib or hardware at the end of the hose could taint the water w unwanted metal exposure

 

[ludiNano]

Wouldn't recommend using the hose. Yea it might take awhile but should probably do it right from the start. U have the rodi then use it.

 

[Aaarrrggg]

Use RODI, or you'll kick yourself later on when you have to battle all that algae.

 

[zigzag1]

I wouldn't use anything but RO/DI. If you don't have patience, this is not the hobby for you.

 

[Agu]

Back when I started up a 180 I rented a DI canister from Culligan and used that. Told them I needed about 220 gallons and they rented me one rated for 250 gallons. Still took almost 24 hours to fill the tank (the flow still has to be slow for the DI to work) but it was worth it. No unnecessary wear on my RO/DI and no waste water when filling the tank. TDS was still zero when the tank was filled so I made an extra 20 gallons.

Don't recall the price but I think it was around $30 .............

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

I wouldn't use anything but RO/DI. If you don't have patience, this is not the hobby for you.

+1
Wait for the RO/DI.

 

[garydan]

Many LFS sell saltwater pre-mixed from RODI. My local one charges $1 per gallon. If you want it filled fast, you could purchased LFS water and use your RODI. Unless you know exactly what's in your tap water, it's probably not a good idea to use it. My tap water has a TDS of 35 and i still had an algae battle when i started my first tank on tap. When i started my second tank with RODI from the beginning it was a completely different experience, almost no nuscence algae growth.

 

[mayjong]

fine then!

 

[Buckeye Hydro]

Not sure what your tap water quality is, or how well your RO is working, but consider how many gallons you get out of a single DI cartridge, and you may want to have some additional resin on hand for a refill (assuming you have a refillable DI cartridge).

Russ

 

[DownwardDawg]

Absolutely use the RO/DI! It would be crazy not to since you have it. I'm lookin forward to watching my 125 fill up!

 

[bamf25]

It took me like a week to fill my 120g with 40g sump with RO/DI. Not that big a deal.

 

[GiZmo88]

I wouldn't use anything but RO/DI. If you don't have patience, this is not the hobby for you.

Couldn't have said it any better!

 

[110galreef]

~2.5 days at 75g per day...not really that long

 

[wooglin]

Dont do it!!!! Take your time and start with RO/DI water. 200 gallons of water is nothing for a good RO/DI unit. I make alot more than that per month and only have to refill the DI every 3-6 months.