Most cost effective option for water changes

[islandguy85]

Hi everyone,

I have had my system up and running appx 7mos. It is 150g display w ~25 gallon sump and refugium. My question is what is the best/most cost effective way for me to be doing 25-30% water changes? Right now I am using tap water, prime, and instant ocean. When I change I change ~50+ gallons once a month. Local store sells RODI water .50/gallon or w salt for $1.50/gallon. I have not yet priced out an RODI system for my home. This started as a free to me "low budget" aquarium (recvd empty, dirty, w dead live rock and no fish)but there ain't nothing cheap about it.

 

[islandguy85]

. Still working on the rock, going to move it all around next water change.

 

[Shep]

RODI is your best bet, its expensive up front but cheaper in the long run. Plus if there was some kind of sudden need ,you can make water right away vs having to go to a store or if the store is closed

 

[1979fishgeek]

I use natural seawater, it’s completely free. My tank is a 700l display, 300l sump and run another 300l coral overflow frag tank off it. Cost me a fortune if I had to pay for salt. Can’t get more cost effective than free.

 

[Big G]

This RODI system will get it done. Quality materials. And plenty of help if needed: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/75gpd-4-stage-value-ro-di-system-bulk-reef-supply.html

 

[ontop27]

Tap water and prime... in the long run odds are you are going to spend more fixing issues caused by that then buying an rodi

 

[islandguy85]

I am within 15 min of the coast but the water has a lot of silt/stuff suspended in the water. I am going to look at the RODI options posted

 

[Big G]

RODI components: systems, filters, media, membranes are like refrigerator filters. Lots of people make them. Some are good quality; some are bad/poor quality. The problem is that you can't tell by just looking at them: they look the same on the outside. Be wary of cheap units and cheap components.

 

[GoVols]

This RODI system will get it done. Quality materials. And plenty of help if needed: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/75gpd-4-stage-value-ro-di-system-bulk-reef-supply.html

Big G,
Been using that model for years, but it has the built in TDS meter.

It's been a great unit

 

[Big G]

Been using that model for years, but it has the built in TDS meter.

Yep. Me too!

 

[GoVols]

Yep. Me too!

I was starting to blow thru a lot of DI resin

Then, I bought this sediment filter and seems like the DI resin is lasting longer.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/ge-rosave-z-depth-sediment-filter.html

We've got a lot of new construction going on, very close to us.

 

[Big G]

I was starting to blow thru a lot of DI resin

Then, I bought this sediment filter and seems like the DI resin is lasting longer.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/ge-rosave-z-depth-sediment-filter.html

We've got a lot of new construction going on, very close to us.

I'm blessed. We are on a very clean, kinda low to start with 60-75 TDS well.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I'll chime in. Tap water is like Russian roulette. It might work depending on its TDS, but the unknowns of what is in it is what scares most reef keepers. Heavy metals, chloramines/chlorine that don't always get removed with water conditioners.......damage from these can be catastrophic to corals in a reef tank.

RO/DI is the only safe bet, if maintained properly.

OP, get a RO/DI for piece of mind and save yourself money (and BIG headaches) down the road.

I used the 5 stage from BRS with TDS meter and pressure gauge. Wouldn't reef without it.

 

[Big G]

Which one do you use, the 1 or 5 micron? Going to keep this in mind. You never know around here when someone might punch a new well near by and change everything.

 

[GoVols]

Which one do you use, the 1 or 5 micron? Going to keep this in mind. You never know around here when someone might punch a new well near by and change everything.

I've always used a 1 micron for a sediment.

I'm like @Flippers4pups
RO/DI unit is a must in reefing.

 

[1979fishgeek]

I am within 15 min of the coast but the water has a lot of silt/stuff suspended in the water. I am going to look at the RODI options posted

So does mine as I collect over mudflats. My skimmer takes out the silt easily and corals have feeding frenzy everytime I do a water change, crazy PE on my Acro. As long as all other parameters check out could be a option for limited budgets, I’ve got sensitive coral and delicate fish like Powder Blue Tangs thriving. Bangaii increased numbers from 3 to 22 and rising, Clarkii Clowns, Spotted manderines and Chromis all spawned and had various corals spawn. It’s not for everyone and takes a little research but thousands of reefers using it now.

 

[Jesterrace]

Hi everyone,

I have had my system up and running appx 7mos. It is 150g display w ~25 gallon sump and refugium. My question is what is the best/most cost effective way for me to be doing 25-30% water changes? Right now I am using tap water, prime, and instant ocean. When I change I change ~50+ gallons once a month. Local store sells RODI water .50/gallon or w salt for $1.50/gallon. I have not yet priced out an RODI system for my home. This started as a free to me "low budget" aquarium (recvd empty, dirty, w dead live rock and no fish)but there ain't nothing cheap about it.

Treated Tap water is a terrible idea. At those prices I would definitely look into an RODI unit. I buy all mine but my LFS is literally 1 light down from my house and gives me RODI for free and charges 75 cents a gallon for RODI/Saltwater Pre-mix. Tap Water will lead to out of control algae and phosphate issues in the long run and could affect your fish.

 

[beaslbob]

balance the tank with macro algae and stop doing water changes.

my .02

 

[mjlash22]

My tap water is fairly clean out the tap (less than 10 TDS usually) and I still use RODI. I stick with the stock BRS filter package and can usually get about 6 months of useage for my reefer 250 doing weekly to everyother week 10% water changes. I also use the RODI for the top off and I have barely noticed the difference in my water bill. RODI gets my vote.

 

[PatW]

RODI is the way to go. Reef Crystals costs about $.25 per gallon. RODI water on consumables is about $.10 per gallon. So with that you are talking $10 per water change. You have control over the quality. You don’t have to run out and buy it and carry it home and you can have it on hand. The up front cost on the system and Brute trash cans and power head for stirring is between $200 - $600 depending on whether you go bare bones or pretty high end. I figure my system paid for itself in the first year and it saved me all sorts of aggravation and cursing.