Water

[captmilkchoco]

Hi everyone! New to the hobby, and I was wondering what everyone here does for water for their tanks. Should I just buy premixed saltwater from one of the stores on Bird Rd or another LFS (anyone have a preference based on cost or quality)?

Or is there a more cost-effective way to get water? Other than buy my own RODI unit, not sure I'm ready for that quite yet. Can I use the Purified water from either Publix or Walmart and add salt?

Any help would be great, and I hope to get more involved with the group as I get going. Cheers! :beer:

 

[knukles55]

i use great value water from walmart............. its the green one ill check what type it is when i get home. cheaper to buy it at a pet store out of a mixing station, wiser to invest in a RO unit.

 

[Manfredo]

I started by buying water at the LFS but quickly got tired of hauling buckets. Best thing I did was to invest in an RO/DI unit. I now just make and mix my own water.

 

[steeb]

RO/DI unit. Its simple.

You have a 29 gallon, you should be doing at least 5 gallon water changes every 2 weeks. My RO/DI unit makes 5 gallons every 3 hours. Its nice to have the water ready to go in the event of an emergency plus top off. I hooked mine up to my kitchen sink for when I need it.
You can find a used one on CL for cheap (I paid $35). Get an inline TDS meter and you'll be set to go. There is nothing more annoying than hauling jugs of water.

 

[Nanron]

water

water

It depends on how much you need. The commercial companies get theirs from Haulover Inlet.

 

[Airtex]

Wherever you get your water I would suggest buying a cheap TDS meter that will verify that the water is actually zero TDS. There are a few LFS selling water that is not zero. I good LFS wont mind you checking there water before you buy it.

 

[Masterofstuff]

I just use tap water. I realize this isnt Ideal. In fact it limits me. Many corals simply dont like my Hard water(mostly stony branching corals.) BUt my Montipora(assorted chalices) doesnt seem to care, nore does my candy cane, trumpet, duncan, and various brain coral. Under more ideal conditions maybe they would grow faster currently im content with my tank. one day when i have a home i will plumb it for my tanks and add RO filters then. My reef tank will also hopefully be much larger!

 

[mlivvy]

Get one of those Portable RO's on ebay for like 60 bucks. Get a flush kit for it which is another $10-12 or make your own. The cleanest (close to 0) RO you can get or you'll have a tank full of algae. If you have to go bottled water, I tested all the local water and the only water with close to 0 tds was the publix green cap purified water. If you search under my name you'll find the thread where I tested them.

 

[captmilkchoco]

Thanks for all the responses!

RO/DI unit. Its simple.

You have a 29 gallon, you should be doing at least 5 gallon water changes every 2 weeks. My RO/DI unit makes 5 gallons every 3 hours. Its nice to have the water ready to go in the event of an emergency plus top off. I hooked mine up to my kitchen sink for when I need it.
You can find a used one on CL for cheap (I paid $35). Get an inline TDS meter and you'll be set to go. There is nothing more annoying than hauling jugs of water.

If I can find an RODI unit for only $35, that would be brilliant.

Get one of those Portable RO's on ebay for like 60 bucks. Get a flush kit for it which is another $10-12 or make your own. The cleanest (close to 0) RO you can get or you'll have a tank full of algae. If you have to go bottled water, I tested all the local water and the only water with close to 0 tds was the publix green cap purified water. If you search under my name you'll find the thread where I tested them.

I'll check that thread out. I may go bottled water at the beginning here, but look at buying an RODI unit as more funds become available.