Starting a Nano system... Is RODI worth it?

Michael W. · Jan 21, 2018

I am just about ready to start making purchases for my nano saltwater tank (Fluval Evo 13.5) but I am still on the edge on whether I should get a RODI system. I have a LFS within a 10-minute drive and I'm pretty sure that that they can supply me with RODI water and pre-mixed saltwater. I am scared about the potential costs and complexity of my own system and I'm looking for insight on how to go about this. I would only be doing about a 2.5 gallon water change on the tank every week and the lid is on pretty tight which would slow down evaporation. Any ideas?

Crabs McJones · Jan 21, 2018

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Michael W. said:
I am just about ready to start making purchases for my nano saltwater tank (Fluval Evo 13.5) but I am still on the edge on whether I should get a RODI system. I have a LFS within a 10-minute drive and I'm pretty sure that that they can supply me with RODI water and pre-mixed saltwater. I am scared about the potential costs and complexity of my own system and I'm looking for insight on how to go about this. I would only be doing about a 2.5 gallon water change on the tank every week and the lid is on pretty tight which would slow down evaporation. Any ideas?

is absolutely 100% worth it. And I'll give you a prime example as to why it's better to have your own rather then be rely on your local fish store. It's 10 o'clock at night on a Saturday. Lfs is closed on Sundays. You just had a huge ammonia spike that you cannot identify the origins of. If you don't get that water out your fish and corals will die. You can make your own water and get it changed out Sunday morning before anything dies. Or wait till Monday and get it from the local fish store. So yes I absolutely highly recommend getting an ro/DI unit to anybody. They're amazingly simple to hook up and operate. And you save money in the long run by making your own.

lacrosseboss18 · Jan 21, 2018

Only reason not to get one in my opinion is cost. If you can afford it do it.
I would get a 5 gallon bucket and attach a float valve to it. (Never actually done this on a 5 gallon only On garbage cans and other containers). Your def going to forget to turn it off otherwise and flood your place. Might have done it once or twice

.
You could also get a Rubbermaid container with a float valve.

Crabs McJones · Jan 21, 2018

lacrosseboss18 said:
Only reason not to get one in my opinion is cost. If you can afford it do it.
I would get a 5 gallon bucket and attach a float valve to it. (Never actually done this on a 5 gallon only On garbage cans and other containers). Your def going to forget to turn it off otherwise and flood your place. Might have done it once or twice .
You could also get a Rubbermaid container with a float valve.

After flooding my kitchen twice, this is the one fish related purchase my wife actually welcomed lol

Fin · Jan 21, 2018

I would say don't assume you are getting quality water from your LFS. If you do go that route, I would suggest getting a hand held TDS meter to check the quality of water they are selling you. Too many of them don't change their media on a regular basis. Also get a refractometer so you will know the salinity of the water you are getting. You can make it work if you get a couple of 5 gallon containers to keep extra water on hand. That being said, I have always had a RO/DI filter and can't imagine being in the hobby without one.

Maggie321 · Jan 21, 2018

Look on Craigslist. You can get the setups cheap and get new filters for them.

NY_Caveman · Jan 21, 2018

I have relied on LFS so far while curing rocks at the start of my new build. If you are interested, you can read my experiences with LFS water here:

Poll: Do You Know Your TDS?

My advice is test the RO/DI water yourself with a TDS meter every time. I also keep bottled store bought gallon jugs of distilled water on hand for those 10pm Saturday emergencies.

cmcoker · Jan 21, 2018

I didn't get an rodi unit until I upgraded from a biocube 14 to a 55g. I'd agree you should get a TDS meter to check the quality of water you are getting from the LFS.
I would suggest buying a refractometer and mixing you own saltwater. If you have a salt mix at home and need to do an emergency change you can go to the local 24hr box store and get distilled water.
In time when you are more comfortable, it would be worthwhile to have your own rodi unit but I don't think it's something you need from day 1 for a 13.5g tank.

don_chuwish · Jan 22, 2018

I ran a 36 gallon tank for quite a while buying filtered water in 5 gallon jugs from a 'water store'. I had 6 of the jugs that I would fill up and bring home just to have water for emergencies and water changes. Before that it was conditioned tap water! But we have pretty good tap water here, low TDS.
So it took me a long time to make the decision to buy an RO/DI system but after finally springing for a basic one (on sale) I was amazed at how much more convenient it was. I didn't even have it mounted anywhere, just took it outside to the garden hose when I wanted to make water. Filled up those same jugs, one by one.
You can certainly wait, but if you stay in the hobby you'll eventually get one.

LanM · Jan 22, 2018

RODI was the first thing suggested to me when getting into the hobby. the LFS closest to me sells 2.5 gallon jugs of RODI for $2.50. Yup, that's a $1.00 a gallon, but distilled is a buck a gallon, and you don't get a well made reusable container as well. If you have your own container, I haven't found an LFS charging more than 50 cents a gallon, which is cheaper than the grocery store.

Prepared water on the other hand has run me 2 bucks a gallon, which would get pricey pretty fast. Until yesterday, I had planned on buying my rodi from a LFS and keeping it on hand, and mixing my own salt. Scoring a great deal on salt and a used rodi setup fell into my lap yesterday. I would have gone that route otherwise.

For what its worth, the fella I purchased the unit from said he actually stopped bothering with rodi and had been using dechlorinated tap for a few months prior to breaking his tank down and saw no difference. Naturally that may not have been long enough to establish any actual change, or it might have been luck, etc. I know personally I'm not going to chance killing my tank over 5 bucks a week.

bo0sted2g · Jan 24, 2018

Definitely worth it! Being able to make water at your own demand is priceless. You never know when you're going to need to do an emergency water change.
Plus the money you'll save driving back and forth from the LFS will pay for itself. I got a pretty good deal on a refurbished unit from spectra pure. check them out if your looking for a deal

FlyinBryan · Jan 24, 2018

Seeing a lot of these questions pop up. Here’s a great resource.
Please watch at least through the first 2 1/2 minutes.

Good luck!

mjlash22 · Jan 24, 2018

Just adding to the train...definitely worth it! Went 3 years not using it and will never do that again.

Jesterrace · Jan 24, 2018

Michael W. said:
I am just about ready to start making purchases for my nano saltwater tank (Fluval Evo 13.5) but I am still on the edge on whether I should get a RODI system. I have a LFS within a 10-minute drive and I'm pretty sure that that they can supply me with RODI water and pre-mixed saltwater. I am scared about the potential costs and complexity of my own system and I'm looking for insight on how to go about this. I would only be doing about a 2.5 gallon water change on the tank every week and the lid is on pretty tight which would slow down evaporation. Any ideas?

I will be in the minority here, but I would say as long as you have a decent LFS that really takes care of things, I would say bag the RODI system and just buy the water in jugs if it is only 10 minutes away. I have an dedicated Saltwater LFS literally 1 light down from my house that does regular RO water for free and premix for 75 cents a gallon. I solve the emergency problem by either buying extra water to keep on hand or simply replacing it the day after a water change. I would agree that if the LFS was not conveniently located that an RODI system would make sense, but after doing the math on the cost of the system, replacement membranes, salt and the added hassle of having tubes running all over the place (keep in mind I have little kids in the house), garbage can for mixing, having to prep the water and salt mix a day in advance, dealing with the waste water/hooking it up right, etc. it just didn't add up for me. The prep work when you buy is virtually 'nil (about the only thing I worry about is making sure the water is the right temp before doing a change and stocking up) . Just buy a handful of 5 gallon water safe jugs and you are good to go.

lbacha · Jan 24, 2018

I have a 20g system and I fill 2 x 5g jugs and a 2.5g jug at Whole Foods. They sell rodi water for 49 cents a gallon. I test it every time I go and 0 tds.

My reason for not using a RODI is I live in an apartment in a downtown setting and I can't permanently hook it up and I find just going to Whole Foods easier than hooking it up and taking it down when I need water

NY_Caveman · Jan 24, 2018

FYI, if anyone is interested, I did get some very nice, solid 2.5 and 5 gallon food grade jugs from a company called BayTec out of Texas at a reasonable price.

https://www.bayteccontainers.com/plastic-bottles---jars--f-style-polyethylene-bottles.html

https://www.bayteccontainers.com/5-gallon-assembled-bottle-carton-hedpak-combination-packaging.html

Jesterrace · Jan 24, 2018

For those who might have a Winco in their area, they carry the 5 gallon water jugs with lids for under $7 each.

Jeff_Toronto · Jan 24, 2018

I am 5 weeks into first tank and also doing ttm for new fish (2. Tanks) plus two more qt tanks. I can tell you the best thing I bought was an rodi unit. Made life so much easier

Jesterrace · Jan 25, 2018

For a single 13.5 gallon tank though it really is a toss up between buying RODI/Saltwater pre-mix from your LFS or investing in an RODI system and the equipment needed to hook it up, mix the salt, etc. I would say if it is 15 minutes away or less and they aren't charging more than $1 per gallon of pre-mix that it is worth it.

LanM · Jan 25, 2018

The threaded cap jug idea seems to be better than the 5 gallon bucket with the pita lids.

Not to take the thread sideways, but NY_caveman-I checked that link and the 5 gal looks like something I'd like to have. My LFS must get great deals on bulk orders of the 2.5 gal, because they sell them filled with Rodi for $2.50 each. I've picked up 2, will probably use one as a ATO container when I get that going.

Ibacha, just an idea if you ever entertain the option; you can get faucet connectors and hook the unit up only when you need it. There's also smaller portable units that are about 75 dollars that are designed for rv''s or camping trailers to do just that. Just an idea if you ever decide to want something that doesn't require permanent install.

I'm not permanently installing mine either since I want to be able to hook it up in the adjacent bathroom vs plumbing it in the basement and having to keep an eye on it given my quantity needed will be so small I'd be overflowing the output jug-don't want 5 trips downstairs just to make sure I'm not wasting half of the output.