Emergency RO

[reefawn]

Hey there! I'm a fairly new (one-year) reefer and new member. I have a 40 gallon IM AIO and am running a Hydra 26 and an Ice Cap Gyre 1K along with the stock pump. I wasn't a fan of the media basket and am currently using 2 filter socks, no carbon or GFO. I have mostly LPS with a few Softies including a Leather and a couple Montipora. My livestock is pretty basic: a pair of Clownfish, four Chromis and a Coral Beauty ~ I also have a Fire Shrimp and a Coco worm, a few snails and a Tuxedo Urchin and a Ruby Red Dragonet who is always eating! So far everybody/everything seems to be getting along and happy.

I have been purchasing premixed water and RO from my LFS. Due to unforeseen circumstances I may not be able to get water from them for awhile. I have enough saltwater for now, but I do not own an RO system. I'd like some input about options for RO and maybe mixing salt myself at some point.

My local grocery store has RO out of a machine, but I have no idea about how new the filters are etc, and really no way of knowing if it's really RO. Or I could get it from a family member who is on a well and has a small RO system. I would at least know how old the filter is.

Maybe I should just take the "plunge" into buying an RO system and mixing the saltwater myself? Thoughts?

 

[Dustinc1983]

Purchase distilled water. $.75-1.00 a gallon or so but should suffice. Do you have a TDS meter?

 

[Dustinc1983]

Someone else can chime in here but doesn’t premixed salt water lose quality after prolonged storage?

I purchase my salt water premixed as well but it’s used on weekly water changes...

 

[Sailfin11]

I would 100% recommend getting an RODI unit. My 40-gallon reef uses 5 gallons a week of freshwater, so that's already 250 gallons a year not including water changes. My RODI system was probably one of the best investments I made early on and it gave me a lot of flexibility with my tank. For $100, it was totally worth it! Welcome to R2R by the way

 

[W1ngz]

Someone else can chime in here but doesn’t premixed salt water lose quality after prolonged storage?

I can't speak for every salt, but yes depending on the salt, the water does drop in some parameters over time. It doesn't necessarily lose 'quality', it's still perfectly useable, you'd just have to test it to make sure the major parameters meet your need.

Maybe I should just take the "plunge" into buying an RO system and mixing the saltwater myself? Thoughts?

All in all, it's really hard to not recommend buying an RODI unit and mixing your own water. It may seem intimidating at first if you've never done it, but you'll be a pro by next week if you get started today!

 

[Knightwolf1.025]

It is very worth it to buy an RODI unit for a 40 g tank we have the Nuvo 40 AIO and have used our RODI system a ton. Considering that a RODI system can cost about $100 it is very worth it

 

[Dustinc1983]

I agree here 100% . I meant to imply in a pinch or short term, distilled water will work if your LFS is on hiatus. Seeing you will need to make salt water at some point soon an RO/DI unit is a must.

 

[reefawn]

Purchase distilled water. $.75-1.00 a gallon or so but should suffice. Do you have a TDS meter?
[/QU

I agree here 100% . I meant to imply in a pinch or short term, distilled water will work if your LFS is on hiatus. Seeing you will need to make salt water at some point soon an RO/DI unit is a must.

I will definitely look into purchasing one. Any thoughts on which one is best and w?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Marine depot has an RO sale right now