Do i need to use RO/DI water?

[Chameleon]

With a 17 gallon I would just buy distilled water at walmart or get RO/DI from a reputable fish store that changes filters on when they need it. But yes you should definitely use ro/di water or distilled. Distilled works great as well. I usually use double distilled water on my tank with great success just because I have access to a double distiller and it actually does better than most hobby grade ro/di filters. Like previously said, good water going in is the best investment you can make on your tank. Its what I attribute most of my success to. I dont think those simple water purifiers do the trick. You could always test with a TDS, but I prefer to err on the side of caution and put in the best.

 

[Cullyisgully]

yes dont cut coners on that water is one of the most inportin thing in this hobby

 

[AZDesertRat]

Water is the single largest ingredient in a reef system and everything depends on its quality and its stability. Tap water is never the answer. RO/DI is by far the best choice, especially if its your own system so you alone control its quality. If $128 is too much for you to spend then buy bottled distilled water or find a trusted LFS who will test their RO/DI in your presence, I cannot stress that enough, right in front of you, so you are assured of its quality.
Pur filters are taste and odor drinking water filters and do nothing for TDS or the dissolved minerals and contaminants that are the problem.

 

[Cullyisgully]

Yes you do alot better for your tank

 

[TrishW]

AZDesertRat has spoken. Conversation complete You can't get better advice on RO/DI than from him.

 

[MaidOfDishonor]

What's the difference between RODI water and distilled water you can buy in jugs at walmart? I guess the price isn't much different. I'm buying my RO saltwater at my LFS for $1gallon. (I only have a 29 gallon tank). This hobby cost so much up front, I think I'll wait a few paychecks to get an RO filter!!

 

[Loki]

I'm not up on distilled water to really be able to answer all about it, but I can regurgitate information . Distilled water goes through a process where water is heated and steam or evaporation rises and goes into some coils and drips into another container leaving all(maybe) impurities behind. It is much better water than tap, but I have never checked it to see what is in it. RODI goes through a multi stage filtration and has everything removed even ammonia and phosphates. It seems to be the absolute best water we can provide for our tank.

 

[mainereefer]

after spending $$$$$ on your tank $150 for a ro isnt much to keep it all alive and happy!!

 

[EcoFrags]

i put a whole home system in my house for clean water...testing it comes with 0 metals or chlorine but i still get some phosphates so a phosphate reactor that i had set up finally got some use out of it lol...the RO water systems are a bit expensive but if you figure that you've put a significantly higher chunk of change into the tank already "a free mistake can wipe out a whole lot of investment"

 

[tornado0123]

Store that have bottle your own water are usually RO water. My local meijer sells it for 29 cents a gallon that what i use most the time. But Youd be better off get a unit for 130 cus it will be ro\di witch is the best you can get.

 

[turfster26]

Would not think of any other way. Fairly inexpensive if you look around (i.e.: BRS, reconditioned SpectraPure, etc)

 

[Cullyisgully]

Yes you do helps keep the nitrait down

 

[mainereefer]

I got mine a few years ago off ebay 7 stage filter with pressure tank for like $175

 

[AZDesertRat]

The word "stages" is an ebay sales trick to make drinking water quality systems sound like the best thing since sliced bread when in fact they are sorely lacing in most cases. 5, 6 or 7 stages of mediocre filters are just that. The number of stages does not mean a hill of beans, it what the 4 or so good stages contain, more is not better.
1 low micron sediment filter, 1 low micron carbon block, one 75 GPD Dow Filmtec RO membrane (or the 90 GPD Spectrapure vesrion of the Dow which is specially treated and tested to improve its efficiency and delivery) and 1 full size 20 oz vertical refillable DI canister and cartridge. Thats it, no more and no less in most cases.

With RO/DI you get what you pay for an cheap is not where you want to be. What sounds like a good deal usually ends up costing more to own and operate and usually requires upgrdaing to actually work as claimed.

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

BRS has a good RO/DI for around $200. I would not trust an ebay unit.

 

[Pumbooris]

I think the ro/di unit should be the first thing someone buys when deciding start a tank (I didnt do this as im sure about everyone else in the hobby) but if I were to sell off all my reefing stuff and quit for a while the ro/di filter would be first on my list of stuff to have when i started back up.

 

[Pumbooris]

and i got my ro/di filter from www.thefilterguys.biz it works great and was a real good price

 

[AZDesertRat]

$128 at Spectrapure which treats and tests their membranes to improve the performance, uses 0.5 absolute rated sediment filters not 5 or 10 micron nominals like many others and best of all custom blends every ounce of their reef specific DI resins in house based on thousands of hours or real world testing then usually vacuum seals it in mylar foil bags the day it ships so you only get the best. Add to that things like inline pressure gauges and capillary tube flow restrictors and they don't come any better at any price with over 25 years in the RO/DI and reef business in Tempe AZ.
www.spectrapure.com

 

[mcarroll]

i will probaly buy my water since i have a 17.090907 gallon

I always recommend using RO/DI (at least RO) water. If you look at Columbus's water quality report (PDF), you'll get an idea of the stuff that's in the water which you don't really want to add to your reef. On top of these things, it's highly advisable to mix your saltwater with pure water so you'll get predictable mineral levels (e.g. calcium, alkalinity and magnesium). Keeping things stable for your corals will be more difficult using tap water.

When asked whether to get an RODI filter or not, I usually use 50 gallon tanks as the breaking point where you're going to be carrying so much water to/from the store that you really will be wishing you had a filter at home (that would likely be making better water).

At ~20 gallons (you), I would say just to use water from the LFS if possible (preferable by far to department or grocery store water) until you can save up for a filter for home. Around $1/gallon seems to be the going rate - a little more if you get pre-mixed saltwater.

As someone who used to schlepp a lot of water, I would also not recommend skimping on buckets if you're not making the water at home. A full bucket of water weighs in at around 40 pounds after all! At least make it a little easier on yourself by having one or more of these: 2" Opening 5 Gallon Carboy With Molded Drain | U.S. Plastic Corp.

At $12 they might seem a little pricey, but they are so much nicer than a bucket for transporting water - and in the long term of a reef tank $12 is practically $0. Totally worth it. The beefy, molded handle and rounded corners are two of my favorite qualities and are really what make is my first choice for carrying water, but the multiple pouring options, a drain valve that accepts 1/2" tubing and a standard 2" opening are all features that add a ton of value and potential uses to this vs. a standard 5 gallon bucket.

Good luck!

-Matt

 

[AZDesertRat]

One big advantage of having a RO/DI system, no matter what size aquarium you have, is you can use the RO portion for drinking water too, saving yourself a fortune on all those little plastic bottles you will not be buying anymore. $5 in parts for a tee and ball valve and you have non pressurizeddrinking water or another $50-$60 and you can add a complete pressurized drinking water kit to a reef quality RO/DI andhave the best of both worlds. It makes it very easy to justify a RO/DI system no matter if you only have a nano or pico reef.