Water

[SilverCityReef]

So I've almost got everything I need to get my 40B up and cycling but I am looking for some insight into water. I'm assuming the best option is to buy a RO/DI system but curious if it's really necessary. Thanks in advance.

 

[dwest]

So I've almost got everything I need to get my 40B up and cycling but I am looking for some insight into water. I'm assuming the best option is to buy a RO/DI system but curious if it's really necessary. Thanks in advance.

Yep, necessary.

 

[mtdaly85]

Absolutely necessary. I'd go with one of the 4 stage (or higher if you have really dirty water) systems from Bulk Reef Supply.

 

[JoshH]

Most would say it's a necessity, myself included. It's really the only way to know for sure what's in your water. And also knowing your water is 100% pure helps you narrow things down when your dealing with a chemistry issue. You don't need a crazy elaborate system to start with and they aren't overly expensive. Extra stages you can add later on and Taylor them to your particular water source to give you the best possible water for your system.

 

[WVNed]

Really, it isn't an option.
I know. I tried doing it with other sources. They all failed. Some because of stuff in the water and others because I simply couldn't go and get them regularly because life stuff came up.
Water weighs 8 pounds a gallon. When you start hauling it for anything bigger than a nano it becomes a real pain. My wife never minded bringing 1 or 2 gallons home for me but any more than that and I got the evil eye. I usually had to go do it myself.

 

[SilverCityReef]

Absolutely necessary. I'd go with one of the 4 stage (or higher if you have really dirty water) systems from Bulk Reef Supply.

Really, it isn't an option.
I know. I tried doing it with other sources. They all failed. Some because of stuff in the water and others because I simply couldn't go and get them regularly because life stuff came up.
Water weighs 8 pounds a gallon. When you start hauling it for anything bigger than a nano it becomes a real pain. My wife never minded bringing 1 or 2 gallons home for me but any more than that and I got the evil eye. I usually had to go do it myself.

Most would say it's a necessity, myself included. It's really the only way to know for sure what's in your water. And also knowing your water is 100% pure helps you narrow things down when your dealing with a chemistry issue. You don't need a crazy elaborate system to start with and they aren't overly expensive. Extra stages you can add later on and Taylor them to your particular water source to give you the best possible water for your system.

Yep, necessary.

Well that answers my question so I just bought a BRS 6-Stage. I want the most successful setup going in so I can avoid as many issues as possible.

Do you guys have any information or opinions on sand? I was thinking 40lbs of both sand and dry rock.

 

[Flippers4pups]

Well that answers my question so I just bought a BRS 6-Stage. I want the most successful setup going in so I can avoid as many issues as possible.

Do you guys have any information or opinions on sand? I was thinking 40lbs of both sand and dry rock.

Carib sea special grade. Rock, toss up. Marco, reef saver...... I would add some established rock to your dry rock. It will help in bio diversity.

 

[WVNed]

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/bimini-pink-arag-alive-live-reef-sand-caribsea.html
I am not recommending this. I would like you to look at the information down the page.
Especially the grain sizes. Depending on what you want to keep and how much flow you will need is can make a big difference in how much it blows around and drifts.

I used Natural Reef so it would stay on the bottom in about any case.

 

[ScubaZ]

So I've almost got everything I need to get my 40B up and cycling but I am looking for some insight into water. I'm assuming the best option is to buy a RO/DI system but curious if it's really necessary. Thanks in advance.

One good alternative to avoid buying a rodi system would be check out your LFS many of them sell rodi by the 5 gal for around 3-5$. Relatively cheap compared to buying and maintaining a quality system yourself. I have a 25 gal and do not own a system myself I get 5gal of rodi from the lfs every week or so for my ATO

 

[PatW]

If your local tap water is really good, you might get by. Remember, because you have to top off the tank to offset evaporation, any contaminants in the water will increase over time. But tap water often has nitrates and phosphates which cause algae blooms. Tap water can easily have copper which will kill your corals and inverts. Tap water can have heavy metals that have nasty effects. Finally, at water can have pesticides, herbicides, medicines and all sorts of other weird stuff. A good RODI system will virtually remove all this stuff.

I figure that my seawater costs me a bit less than fifty cents per gallon. I know it is made from 0 tds water. I don’t have to hope that my water source is correctly maintaining their system. Also, I have my water at home when I need it. I don’t have to hop in the car and lug jugs from the LFS.

 

[Billldg]

I used 80 lbs of Carib Sea Special Grade in a 120 gal tank and love it, gives me the natural look of the ocean and doesn't blow around.

 

[JoshH]

Well that answers my question so I just bought a BRS 6-Stage. I want the most successful setup going in so I can avoid as many issues as possible.

Do you guys have any information or opinions on sand? I was thinking 40lbs of both sand and dry rock.

Excellent start with the 6 stage, one thing I highly recommend is taking a good look at what's in your water. All municipalities have information posted about what's in your water and the biggest key piece of info you're looking for is whether or not they use chlorine or chloramine. This is crucial that you know this as each requires a different set of carbon filters to handle them. A quick search should get you the info you need, standard systems are already set up to handle chlorine and if you do have chloramine in your water all you need to do is purchase the correct carbon block (not much money atall) and ideally if you can, run dual of them. If you have chloramines in your water and don't have the appropriate prefilters you will find yourself burning through membranes much much quicker.

 

[Maggie321]

Well that answers my question so I just bought a BRS 6-Stage. I want the most successful setup going in so I can avoid as many issues as possible.

Do you guys have any information or opinions on sand? I was thinking 40lbs of both sand and dry rock.

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?ur...&share_tid=230281&share_fid=1020&share_type=t


Read that about sand.