RO / DI water

[follow3]

Hey All,

How important is it to use RO / DI water?

Is it a make or break deal?

Can you get good reef water from the tap using conditioners and treatments, or is it essential to use RO / DI?

Thanks,
Steve

 

[dc_909]

I would never use tap. Too many unknown "things" in it. Corals with never be at their best using tap.

 

[Azurel]

Back in the day I used to use tap water ran through a britta filter. I had great luck with the water then and never had any issues with corals looking bad from softies to LPS. But many years later knowing now what I do I wouldn't risk it, alot of your good LFS sell RO/DI water for $.25 or so a gallon. That is what I use now and have had no issues since.

 

[surfn]

for an area like hampton, va.......you will WANT an RO/DI filter. i imagine the TDS reading from the city water is quite high. (my dad is from hampton)

check out ebay, there are some good RO/DI kits on there. your water system is one of the major things in your reef setup you dont want to skimp on though.

 

[surfn]

Yeah, get a RO/DI unit... Spend the extra $30 for the inline dual tds meter as well so you know what's going on with your water all the time.

I would say water is one of the most important areas in your reef and should not be skimped on.

Just my $0.02...

yeah, those in-line TDS meters are kinda the new hotness in RO/DI systems. i got one of those ebay systems a couple of years ago, and it has a horizontal DI stage. I'm looking to replace that piece of crap stage for a vertical DI with built in TDS reading. then i can get a reliable reading on when i need to change something.

 

[chadfarmer]

spend the extra money and get a name you trust and easy to get filter s from always buy ones with a vertical DI (works better)

 

[bryan]

Hey guys,

Just a little tip from my experience workig in the RO/DI industry for a while.

I always recommend getting a handheld TDS meter if the budget only allows for one meter. It is much more versitile. You can add some valves/outlets for RO only water and you can test that for rejection ratio of the membrane when troubleshooting any issues.

If you can afford the inline meters and the handheld, super, get both. But, if you can only snag one, I'd vote for the handheld.

Just my 2 cents, Bryan

 

[Azurel]

Even though I use the LFS's water I still test it with my handheld meter, in some cases I have caught a spike in TDS and let them know so they can change the filters. They have both also but when it's busy in the shop and with accounts things can slip by.....Tap water here in Kalamazoo in my area is about 789 ppm TDS. They say a lot of it is carbonates cause Michigan sits on one of the largest limestone aquifers in the country but I still want as close to 0 as you can get....

 

[Buckeye Field Supply]

Hey guys,

Just a little tip from my experience workig in the RO/DI industry for a while.

I always recommend getting a handheld TDS meter if the budget only allows for one meter. It is much more versitile. You can add some valves/outlets for RO only water and you can test that for rejection ratio of the membrane when troubleshooting any issues.

If you can afford the inline meters and the handheld, super, get both. But, if you can only snag one, I'd vote for the handheld.

Just my 2 cents, Bryan

Bryan - your advice is right on the money.

Russ @ BFS

 

[Deepwater]

Being a plumber i can asure you that you DONT want to use reg tap water

Copper pipes ,galvinized pipes and brass pipes all rust way. Not to mention any work (constructon) being done in your area can affect main water lines. Some ppl alos have lead pipes

Ronen

 

[anomie]

Do you own your home? Do you have water access and a 3 foot space in the garage? If so, contact Hydrologix locally. It's $50 to come and install the unit and 13.5 cents per gallon of water. They maintain the filters and service it...all included in the 13.5 cents per gallon. They call and ask you your meter reading too. No waste water and it's like using your regular faucet; just turn her on and fill her up.

I don't have one myself :angryfire: since I don't have any water access in the garage, but this unit is what most of the local LFSs and hobbyists use.

 

[kharn101]

Ro/Di water is god...i use to get my water from a pet store turned my water green...into pea soup...invest in one, better to take a hit now then later with loosing coral and livestock