Water sources

[Ibafoo]

New to this addiction and wondering about sources of water.

For Freshwater does RO water from a grocery store work? How about the mountain stream in my meadow which runs very clear?

For Saltwater I live a short walk from the Ocean and not near any pollutant sources. Can I bring home a bucket and use it?

I know these have been asked before but I am a genuine newb. Thanks in advance.

 

[blaxsun]

Invest in an inexpensive RO filter - it will pay for itself over and over again (you can spend a small fortune on store-bought RO water).

 

[BaliReefBox]

get a $5 TDS meter and check your stream water..it may be good, as for collecting from the ocean imo yes you can and most of the stores here truck in nsw

 

[Ibafoo]

Invest in an inexpensive RO filter - it will pay for itself over and over again (you can spend a small fortune on store-bought RO water).

Thanks for the advice. Im just planning how to integrate this complexity into the physical space and time. Our stream water is safe to drink but it is high in minerals so probably put the natural water into the RO system. Happily I don't have city tap water. Our tap comes from a well and does not need any kind of treatment because it is so natural and real.

 

[Ibafoo]

get a $5 TDS meter and check your stream water..it may be good, as for collecting from the ocean imo yes you can and most of the stores here truck in nsw

Thanks, since I posted that I watched a youtube video from BRS and the guy said his tank had tons of pests when he used NSW. And the natural stream water is high in minerals I just don't know which ones, but we get white collars on our faucets over a period of years...
Me trying to learn...

 

[blaxsun]

Well water can sometimes contain higher levels of various elements, so I'd definitely run an RO system (one with DI resin) even if it seems perfectly fine to drink. I forget the system I use, but it has these handy twist filter cartridges (found it on Amazon).

 

[Ibafoo]

Well water can sometimes contain higher levels of various elements, so I'd definitely run an RO system (one with DI resin) even if it seems perfectly fine to drink. I forget the system I use, but it has these handy twist filter cartridges (found it on Amazon).

Thanks. I know for a fact that it is high in at least one mineral because over decades we sometimes get white rings on the end of the faucets. On the other hand the tap water and the creek taste better than bottled water, let alone tap water in cities. You spend some time up there and water in a restaurant tastes like sewage....

 

[blaxsun]

Thanks. I know for a fact that it is high in at least one mineral because over decades we sometimes get white rings on the end of the faucets. On the other hand the tap water and the creek taste better than bottled water, let alone tap water in cities. You spend some time up there and water in a restaurant tastes like sewage....

lol, I heard that. Btw, the system I'm using (and have been for just over 2 years now) is an Aquatic Life Twist-In 100 GPD 4-stage RODI. We have a different system in our kitchen for drinking water and it's an absolute PITA dismantling to change filters, etc. compared to the new one we bought and installed downstairs in the basement just for our tank. The filters are a bit more money, but changing things out is as simple as turning off the flow, placing a towel under the filter, twisting off and then replacing with a new one.

We also added a pressuired RO water storage tank so we could more or less fill up 5 gallon jugs in about 5-10 minutes.

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

First up, NSW. Fine to use and have had minimal issues over 15 years in various systems. I pour mine through a 200 micron filter sock prior to adding to display. Only downside I have encountered is occasional periods of very heavy rain that rule out collecting from shore for a week or so.

Stream water may be okay but there are some risks that you'll need to accept or manage. Primarily upstream contamination. You may be able to run stream water through carbon block only if testing indicates it is reasonably pure. Watch out for after heavy rain though.

Well water likely more consistent. Get a sample tested to understand nutrient and mineral composition. Depending on your local geology it may actually be beneficial.

I use collected rain water for top up with no issues.