Nsw/mix your own/lfs
- Thread starter el richie
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Shelby2012
Community Member
I am a newbie and just about to establish my 1st SW tank so of course my opinion doesn't count. I was reading a lot about tap water, filtration etc and I decided to use tap water and filter it through activated carbon.
kcb1123
Community Member
Not all NSW is equal, now it can be used and given the right source you can have long lasting successful tank. Having said that, I will always recommend RODI water. When you properly filter you are able to produce 0 tds(total dissolved solids) water. This allows you to control what goes into the tank and avoid things like nitrate, phosphate, heavy metals along with a whole host of other nasties that can be in the sea.
Shelby2012
Community Member
So probably I was close to make the 1st newbie mistake. Let me ask you a question but I warn you it is a stupid one. I don't have a RO/DI filter, maybe in the future. My last shippment is to arrive today so I would like to start ASAP. What about using the purified water that can be purchased in supermarkets, like Poland Spring or other brands in large 2-5 or even 10 gallon plastic containers. I have a 29 gallon tank so it will cost me a little and for the next water changes I will buy RO/DI filter if it is strongly recommended. I've never read about using water purchased at supermarkets so probably my question is more than stupid.
Shelby2012
Community Member
I tested my tap water for phosphate and nitrates. It shows Phosphate 3.0 and Nitrate 0. of course It may contain a lot of heavy metals and other "stuff".
DBarsotti
Valuable Member
I'd use tapwater through an RO/DI. Its the best way to go. then i'd purchase and use some quality salt. I use reef crystals and it does a pretty good job for its price. If you don't have the funds to buy an RO/DI unit right now you can always go to your local water store and buy some but for extended use, water store water prices can add up fast, though for only 29g it shouldn't be too pricey. I wouldn't suggest using bottled water.
I used water store RO/DI water for a really long time but when i started making my own i had much better results.
I used water store RO/DI water for a really long time but when i started making my own i had much better results.
btkrausen
Fish Hoarder
If you don't have an RO/DI unit then I'd check with your LFS to see if you can buy it. Usually they sell it for 50 cents a gallon. Will have to haul some buckets around but you could do that until you can get around to buying a filter of your own.
Owning a RO/DI system and mixing you own NSW goes a long way for stability in a reef system. There is nothing like having ultimate control of your water quality and a name brand reef quality system can be had for as little as $120 complete. At 50 cents a gallon from the LFS or water store it does not take long to pay for a RO/DI system plus you can use the RO portion for drinking, cooking and pet watering too! No more buying all thos plastic bottles of water and filling up the landfills.
Shelby2012
Community Member
How the full RO/DI system compares to this?
Aquarium Water Quality: Tap Water Filter
As you see I am trying to save some bucks wherever I can by asking all those questions. I understand that most of you guys have large, 75g and up tanks. I start from relatively small tank so I assume the requirements are different.
Thanks for your help.
Aquarium Water Quality: Tap Water Filter
As you see I am trying to save some bucks wherever I can by asking all those questions. I understand that most of you guys have large, 75g and up tanks. I start from relatively small tank so I assume the requirements are different.
Thanks for your help.
The tap water filter is a small cylinder with a few ounces of carbon and DI resin inside it. They have an extremely limited lifespan, in many cases 15 to 20 gallons, before they are totally exhausted and in need of a new cartridge. They do not save you money as they require constant replacements and they are quite expensive. The only way to know if they are functioning or not is with a handheld TDS meter, $20 to $25 at places like www.spectrapure.com and www.buckeyefieldsupply.com , and unfortunately most people why but the filter don't buy a TDS meter and have no idea if it is working or not.
By the time you buy the tap water filter and a 6 pack of replacements you have exceeded the cost of a reef quality RO/DI and a TDS meter. The tap water filter might, I repeat might get you about 200 gallons of low, not 0 TDS water, with 7 cartridges. The RO/DI will make hundreds to maybe a thousand gallons on a single DI cartridge.
MAXPURE MPDI SYSTEM
Untitled Document
http://www.buckeyefieldsupply.com/showproducts.asp?Category=168&Sub=166
Purely H2O | The Optima Automated
By the time you buy the tap water filter and a 6 pack of replacements you have exceeded the cost of a reef quality RO/DI and a TDS meter. The tap water filter might, I repeat might get you about 200 gallons of low, not 0 TDS water, with 7 cartridges. The RO/DI will make hundreds to maybe a thousand gallons on a single DI cartridge.
MAXPURE MPDI SYSTEM
Untitled Document
http://www.buckeyefieldsupply.com/showproducts.asp?Category=168&Sub=166
Purely H2O | The Optima Automated
stingray 125
Community Member
RO/DI and good salt is what I use, got the RO/DI unit off c----- list with a trade for a canister filter that I did not use. No money for the unit, just $$ for new filters.
negative44
New Member
Aquarium Water | Reverse Osmosis | RODI Water | ReefKeeper Water | ReefKeepers RODI
Has some nice 5 stage RO/DI units for a good price.
Has some nice 5 stage RO/DI units for a good price.
For what its worth I sold a Typhoon III to buy a Spectrapure and there is no comparison in final water quality or DI resin life. The DI last about 6 times longer now and I get a true 18.2 megaohms resistivity or 0.0 TDS water.
