Are RODI systems necessary?

[hailey1423]

Have a 11g nano reef and recently ran into extreme green water problem. The green killing machine UV Sterilizer has been running for 24 hours and already have been seeing slight improvements. Not 100% what the cause was for the green water as this tank was running for almost a year with no water quality issues. However, a week before the green water I used hot water to try and speed up the salt dissolving, and I think that was the issue, as i’ve never done that before. (learned the hard way from that mistake). Wondering if a RODI system would be necessary and if I should add one to this set up. I am not familiar at all with RODI systems, and if I should add one.

 

[Derrick0580]

RODI is really a good idea. It strips everything from the water and lets your salt mix remineralize it to the proper levels.

 

[mdb_talon]

Its one of those questions that can get lots of answers from people who say they dont use one and they are fine. I am sure for some people that is the case. However an rodi certainly does let you control exactly what is going in your tank and eliminates many risks that are potentially in tapwater.

 

[CaffeinatedReefer]

I don’t think necessary is the right word but definitely strongly recommended. It’s the only way to have true control over your source water. I’ve known many people who've had struggles that have come back to less than reliable source water. Definitely something to consider investing in.

 

[damsels are not mean]

"necessary" is up to you and your water. Some people don't bother. Some only use RO. Some use RO/DI water to rinse their coral tweezers.

RO/DI is one of those thing that eliminates a potential cause of a problem. I ran a tank for a while without RO/DI but I also didn't do water changes and didn't have any SPS. My water is about 150 TDS (but who knows what those solids are). And I ran carbon 24/7. Now I only use RO/DI because it makes me feel better and eliminates sources of potential problems. If your water is relatively clean you can probably get away with no RO/DI but again it creates another point of failure that is completely out of your control and hard to test. I think most would recommend it but those that say it is absolutely necessary in all cases are projecting their own goals and priorities onto others.

 

[ZoWhat]

At 11g.... not sure how often and how much of a % water change you do.

I'd just get in the habit of grabbing Distilled Water where you grocery shop.

At what? 99cents a gallon.... it would take you 150gallons of distilled water to break even with a decent RODI unit going for $150 minimum

If you dud a 1gal water change a week... thats 52gaks of distilled water versus a $150 rodi equipment cost b4 you even start generating water

 

[JNalley]

At 11g.... not sure how often and how much of a % water change you do.

I'd just get in the habit of grabbing Distilled Water where you grocery shop.

At what? 99cents a gallon.... it would take you 150gallons of distilled water to break even with a decent RODI unit going for $150 minimum

If you dud a 1gal water change a week... thats 52gaks of distilled water versus a $150 rodi equipment cost b4 you even start generating water

I second this, though, if you're going to go this route (Distilled) just make your own, it's super easy. Google: "How to make distilled water"

It's really nothing more than boiling and having the steam re-condense into liquid in another container... can be done inside what you're boiling with, or you can get a chemistry set to do the same thing in a separate container.

 

[131696]

11g tank where's your nearest LFS buy water from them or online already with salt and your finish with a 11g tank don't need a rodi just need a place that sells saltwater .what water change 3 gallons a month 3 dollars at mine,dollar a gallon .do the math 36 dollars a year for your tank ok 4 gallons a month 48 dollars a year cheaper then a rodi system.just an idea but if you go bigger get a rodi and if you decide to stay in hobby after you get a bigger tank for sure get 1 .