Trying to Understand RODI Water

[Seajellyy]

I have been able to get away with using treated tap water and then purchased water up until this point but hoping to get seahorses in the near future. I live out in the middle of nowhere and I dont think I could consistently purchase RODI water out here.. I'm really interested in getting one of the machines so I can do it myself. I realize it might be expensive but in the long run it's going to be the best option for me i think. The only problem is, I'm trying to do some research on what to buy and i feel like I dont even understand enough about it to get a good start or know what to look at. Can anybody make any recommendations on what I should buy or what I should read? Its going to be a small seahorse tank and I have a few other small tanks. I dont need anything huge.

 

[SeaJay]

It’s really simple to get started. I got this one.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/5-stage-premium-plus-ro-di-system-bulk-reef-supply.html

It’s literally tap water in, clean RODI water out with a third, waste line to the drain. By the time I filled my tank, my sump and my quarantine tank with store bought water, the unit would have paid for itself by the second water change. Wish I had done it from the get go.

 

[P-Dub]

Get a standard 5 stage RO/DI. I am out in the middle of nowhere as well. WAY out in the middle of nowhere. You can start with this https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/5-stage-premium-plus-ro-di-system-bulk-reef-supply.html
If need be, you can always add on a dual DI setup to boost your water polishing based on your communities water quality and how you are going through your resin.
A basic RO system with a sediment pre-filter, carbon blocks, best to have two, membrane and a mixed bed (cation/anion) DI filter will work for average needs. It's an investment no doubt and kind of pricey but it pays dividends, in the long run, depending on the organisms you plan on keeping. For starters look at this, a bit dated but still relevant.

 

[garbled]

I have the BRS unit, and can't recommend it enough. It's not very hard to setup, might take a few hours, but it is so worth it.

Honestly, when my non-aquarium owning friends say they want an RO for the kitchen, I tell them to go get one from BRS. They are the cheapest and the best.

 

[Seajellyy]

Alright thanks, this was super helpful. I think I'll get the 5 Stage BRS unit because our tap water is well water.

 

[P-Dub]

Alright thanks, this was super helpful. I think I'll get the 5 Stage BRS unit because our tap water is well water.

With well water, you might go through a lot of DI resin depending on the quality of the water. Something to consider to save you some money if you do end up going through a lot of resin... http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-09/nftt/index.php
I have three DI resin cartridges on my set-up. Using the recharge method, I am able to recharge just my Anion resins and save a ton of money.

 

[Water Dog]

Where are you located? Shoot me a PM if interested.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/brs-75-gpd-premium-plus-5-stage-rodi.528075/

 

[lapin]

I live out in the middle of nowhere and I dont think I could consistently purchase RODI water out here.. I'm really interested in getting one of the machines so I can do it myself. I realize it might be expensive but in the long run it's going to be the best option for me i think..

Good choice with the BRS 5 stage. Depending on your well water you can fine tune the unit. If you have a lot of sediment then use 2 sediment and 1 carbon block. Sediment filters are way cheaper then carbon blocks. If your well water has a lot of Co2 then you can get a certain resin that will not get used up as fast. Its a learning process so if you have issues, just ask, and the "experts" will answer. Im in the boonies too. Rain water collection instead of a well. Brave person try to tame the horses.

 

[Seajellyy]

Where are you located? Shoot me a PM if interested.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/brs-75-gpd-premium-plus-5-stage-rodi.528075/

Thanks! Are there any cons to buying used? Definitely interested!

 

[Water Dog]

Sent you a PM.

 

[Water Dog]

Also note, as you mentioned that you are on well water. Rapid exhaustion of DI resin is a common theme for those on well water. Because you’re using well water, it will be very high in CO2. Excess CO2 will exhaust your DI resin very quickly. If you can, store the water produced by the RO membrane in a brute trash can. Let it sit for a day with an air stone so it can degass all the CO2. Then get a small pump and run the water through the DI canister. You will get 0 TDS water and will vastly prolong the life of your DI resin.

 

[tripdad]

If you have a farm bureau check and see if they offer water testing service, ours does. I'm on a well but beware they are not all the same. I have only sulfur and iron to deal with but my neighbor two houses over has so much that his water treatment in his basement looks like a submarine, lol. I start out pretty reasonable at around 380ppm and end up at 0ppm after 5 stages.

 

[P-Dub]

Thanks! Are there any cons to buying used? Definitely interested!

The only con to buying used is that you have no idea what condition the RO membrane is in nor the carbon filters. It may be days, weeks, or months before the filters and membranes need changing. At $3-$8 for the sediment filter, $17 for the carbon blocks, and $35-$47 for a new RO membrane, you'll have to do the math to determine if you will be saving enough to make it worthwhile.

 

[Seajellyy]

Okay all great answers, thanks so much. So is well water even worse than tap water or does it just vary too much to say?

 

[Mjl714]

Consider Russ and Company @buckeyehydro.com, very helpful, excellent knowledge and products.

 

[Water Dog]

Okay all great answers, thanks so much. So is well water even worse than tap water or does it just vary too much to say?

It’s not that it’s worse per se. It’s just that with the CO2 variable ftom well water, there may be extra steps required to get your RODI unit to run at maximum efficiency.

 

[P-Dub]

Okay all great answers, thanks so much. So is well water even worse than tap water or does it just vary too much to say?

Yup, it can vary from house to house and well to well.

 

[Swingline77]

The basic process:

Essentially, an RO/DI system treats water in several stages. Pressurized water is forced through a course particulate filter, then the water is forced through a reverse osmosis membrane, which is a membrane with extremely small pores, smaller than most molecules. Water that actually passes through the membrane is purified (about 1/3 total volume). The rest of the water does not pass through, and carries away the salts, etc. that have not passed through. At this point, remaining salts are removed through the deionization stage. Some systems have additional steps.

I picked up a system meant for drinking water off ebay for cheap, that works very well.

Most people on this site have reef tanks, i.e., coral. Coral cannot form its exoskeleton in the presence of excess phosphate. Furthermore, most reef inhabitants are not as tolerant of metals, pollutants, etc. as fish are. So, I don't know if you really need RO/DI water for seahorses. If you choose not to use RO/DI, be aware that many water treatment plants add chloramine to water, which won't simply evaporate away.

If you do a search for "do I need DI water for seahorses", results come up. I don't know if it's frowned upon to give links to the other major reef site, so I won't. You can find what you need with the search, though.

I have heard of seahorse tanks with just tap water that has had the chlorine removed, salt added, and pH elevated to 8.2. If you have coral, etc. in the tank though, you will need to use RO/DI water.

 

[Buckeye Hydro Verified Sponsor]

Actually that 5 stage you're looking at is probably NOT a good fit for you. That system has two carbon stages... we use the carbon to remove chlorine... your well water is not chlorinated.

Feel free to give us a call if you'd like. We take lots of calls from first time buyers every single day. And Buckeye Hydro has been doing this for over 20 years. Let's get you what you need... and not extra components you don't need.

Russ
513-312-2343

 

[P-Dub]

@Seajellyy, you stated that you have a few other tanks. What are the organisms that you keep or plan to keep in those other tanks?