Urgent help: LFS RO water versus purified water from the store

[nly04]

Any people out there using purified water from the local water store to mix or to top off their reef tank? are they the same or which one better?

The purified water from the local water store is $0.25 cent/ gallon versus $.590 cent/gal from the LFS.

My RO system from Aquaticlife (deluxe model) is not efficient, to get 1 gal of RO water, it wasted 5.6 gal of bad water.

 

[jerpa]

Single membrane RO systems should have a 4:1 waste ratio so your usage isn't too far from typical. The quality of store bought RO and LFS RO will depend on their respective maintenance schedules. A TDS meter would tell you which is better today, but not tomorrow.

FWIW it is still far cheaper to make your own water even factoring the waste into the equation. Those 6 gallons cost me a little more than a penny.

 

[nly04]

Seachem direction to mix salt: " We recommend the use of a commercial dechlorinator like Prime® to neutralize any tap water chlorine and/or chloramines". is this method work without using the RO or purified water?

 

[jerpa]

It will neutralize chlorine and chloramines but will do nothing for other possible contaminates. Some do fine with tap water but the quality varies drastically even on a local level and can change daily or seasonally. It can contribute nitrates and phosphates that will fuel algae or it could lead to a buildup of toxic metals such as copper. IMO the risk/reward strongly favors RODI.

 

[bertoni]

Some people are successful with treated tap water. Others aren't. I wouldn't take the risk.

Some RO membranes are more efficient than others, and a pressure booster pump might help. You could talk to the people from SpectraPure, for instance. I think they have high-efficiency RO membranes, but I haven't been looking for a while.

The quality of store-bought water can vary a lot. You'd need to know what the filtration setup is and how well it's maintained to make a judgement.

 

[nly04]

It will neutralize chlorine and chloramines but will do nothing for other possible contaminates. Some do fine with tap water but the quality varies drastically even on a local level and can change daily or seasonally. It can contribute nitrates and phosphates that will fuel algae or it could lead to a buildup of toxic metals such as copper. IMO the risk/reward strongly favors RODI.

Thank you,

Some people are successful with treated tap water. Others aren't. I wouldn't take the risk.

Some RO membranes are more efficient than others, and a pressure booster pump might help. You could talk to the people from SpectraPure, for instance. I think they have high-efficiency RO membranes, but I haven't been looking for a while.

The quality of store-bought water can vary a lot. You'd need to know what the filtration setup is and how well it's maintained to make a judgement.

Bertoni, Since you are in the SF bay area. Do you know any LFS in the area carry good quality RO or already mixed saltwater?

 

[bertoni]

I always have made my own water, and have had a RO/DI filter for more than a decade, so I don't have much experience, but the Water Store seemed to be very careful with their filters, and I used their water on occasion.

 

[lucky_snapper]

Save yourself a ton of money and just get an RO/DI for your home.. BRS has them for 129.99. http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bulk-...ms/reverse-osmosis-systems/value-systems.html I dont know how big your tank is but it would not take too many trips to the LFS to spend $130. It was save u alot of time and hassle and this way u will know that you water is good.

 

[Dapg8gt]

You can also look into adding piggyback membrane to your system to boost production and minimize waste.. Spectrapure has one as I think brs does also.. I'm thinking of getting one for my unit, FWIW I get a 3-1 ratio with the spectrapure..