best bottled water for water changes

[wasi99]

so recently my lfs where I get my ro stopped doing it, looked into getting a rodi but I live in a condo, so my next alternative would be bottled water. can I just get bottled distilled or does it have to be ro? I do 10% water changes a month plus top ups so it wouldn't be to expensive on a 20 gallon. if I were to use tap water and my current salt my alk would be 14 which is too much

 

[rubertoe93]

Most ro units are easy to install to the mains, just get a small 50gpd or lower and you will be fine? I’m n out too sure on bottled water as it won’t be through the same process so the TDS would be high? You could always get the bottled water you thinking and run a tds check on it?

 

[wasi99]

I looked into getting a 50gpd ro buddy thing but I live in a condo where all the faucets don't have the threading mounts or anything. so that's unfortunately out of the question.

 

[homer1475]

Just unscrew the diffuser and screw in the tap connector. When you move out of the condo, just put the diffuser back on.

In my area the purple top water from walmart is RO.

 

[rubertoe93]

Could you not get fittings to connect to your tap? A bit like a hosepipe connection?
Instead of it going to the Mains in runs straight from the tap to the ro unit? If not I would suggest running a TDS check in the water you want to use

 

[wasi99]

hmm so if I get a tds checker thing and find water that's either 0 or closed to 0 I should be able to use it?

 

[piranhaman00]

hmm so if I get a tds checker thing and find water that's either 0 or closed to 0 I should be able to use it?

Yes, also if the faucet spits out 100$ bills you should use them as well.

RO Buddie is 100$ or so and can connect to any faucet, small and easy.

 

[The Farmer]

you can also find a local reefer that is willing to give/sell a few gallons of RO when needed.

 

[E_reefer]

You can use distilled water if you can’t get RO. I used it a few times in a pinch before I had a rodi unit.

 

[count krunk]

You can hook up any rodi unit to your tap, as another said you just need to unscrew the diffuser.

That said you could also go under the sink and use many different fittings to achieve connection.

BRS has some videos on the subject. Owning an rodi unit is vital to long term success imo

 

[Hasted]

Mur-Lok EZ Angle Stop Adapter

Mur-lok EZ Angle Stop Adapters (faucet adapter) directly connect an RO unit to the household water supply. It installs under the sink, inline after the shut-off valve. This clean, out of the way installation leaves faucets free for other use. Mur-lok EZ Angle Stop Adapter 1/4" 3/8" Male...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

This is what I am currently using to connect my unit. In the cabinet, if you can see the hot and cold shut offs, there is a pipe threaded in to each one. Easy as shutting off the cold, twist off the tube, put this between the two.

This is assuming the RO Buddy uses the same tubing as most other systems.

 

[JuniorB721]

While my tank is not a "show piece" it's been running for 2 years exclusively on distilled water from walmart and grocery stores. I've had no trouble growing softies and LPS. I haven't tried SPS yet because my light wouldn't support it. For smaller tanks I almost think it may be easier to use the distilled water

 

[Camaro Show Corals]

hmm so if I get a tds checker thing and find water that's either 0 or closed to 0 I should be able to use it?

It needs to be 0 or you will have problems. I can not stress good rodi water quality enough no matter how small your tank is. I lost 10k in coral from a bad rodi and bad city water quality.

 

[Clownfish_Boy]

I'm sure you have a supplier of good quality bottled water who delivers in your area.... That would be a good option if there is one.