Drexellake Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 What's the best way to get a 25g filled with water when I have no RO? I've been using gallon jugs of distilled water for my 8g tank. Can I use treated tap water to cycle then do changes after that with distilled water for a few weeks until I add livestock? Link to comment
clownfitch Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 It is highly recommended that you use RODI. By using tap water you could be introducing silicates, phosphates etc.. that can create long term cyano - algae issues.. If you are near a fish store you can get RO from them. Worse case scenario is the 1 gallon jugs from the grocery store. Link to comment
markalot Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Keep using distilled. Tap water can contain all kinds of nasties that may take a while to get rid of. If you must use tap, and you do so at your own risk, be sure to use Seachem Prime which will take care of some but not all of the potential bad things. You will have increased phosphates and possibly nitrates and since new tanks are more prone to algae you will be kicking yourself once it takes off. Link to comment
ElmoC Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 No LFS in the area? How about other reefers? Link to comment
markalot Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Bottom line, If you value a good looking tank then you will pay for an RO/DI twice over applying fixes to problems created by not having one. The biggest mistake people make in this hobby is spending money to save money. I've been there and done that. I did a 40 on distilled for a few months, it was a royal pain but it worked. Link to comment
Drexellake Posted October 14, 2014 Author Share Posted October 14, 2014 Just making sure. I'll be getting a R/O system as soon as I figure out which of the many advertised I need. I'll get water from the LFS. It's just that's a lot of water to haul in a 2 seater car. Link to comment
D Z Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Just making sure. I'll be getting a R/O system as soon as I figure out which of the many advertised I need. I'll get water from the LFS. It's just that's a lot of water to haul in a 2 seater car. This is your best bet. As a suggestion, check out this refurbished RODI from Spectrapure. Well worth the price. http://spectrapure.com/Refurbished-90-GPD-RODI-System Link to comment
Drexellake Posted October 14, 2014 Author Share Posted October 14, 2014 This is your best bet. As a suggestion, check out this refurbished RODI from Spectrapure. Well worth the price. http://spectrapure.com/Refurbished-90-GPD-RODI-System I actually saw that on another link a couple weeks ago. I was looking at a 5 stage and wasn't sure how many stages etc I would need. If that all that's required I'm ordering today. Thanks Link to comment
Deleted User 8 Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Just pulled the trigger on one of the refirb units! I have my own well and the water is fairly pure (9-17 PPM on my TDS meter), but I am not sure about silicates and other nasty things. I had planned on not getting an RO/DI unit, but figure it is cheap insurance. Buzz Link to comment
markalot Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 Just making sure. I'll be getting a R/O system as soon as I figure out which of the many advertised I need. I'll get water from the LFS. It's just that's a lot of water to haul in a 2 seater car. SpectraPure refurbished. No brainer Buy a $30 TDS meter off of amazon, TDS3 is temperature correcting. Test the water the LFS gives you and don't pay for anything above 0 TDS. Link to comment
CatfishSoupFTW Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 I used to use tap water, and knew people in person that used tap sometimes for 200 gallon tanks. either when they started or as emergency. Its not recommended but doable. I started buying RO water from a water depot recently though. cheap stuff - havent used RODI, but my params are in check with RO. and I feel yeah about that small car life. I got a two door, and 3 jugs of 20 litres takes up space, and its a pain. but I got a small 10 gallon. Once you fill up the tank, all you really need is another for top offs and water changes. so its not too shabby. But i do wish I had an RODI or RO system, Link to comment
Drexellake Posted October 14, 2014 Author Share Posted October 14, 2014 I used to use tap water, and knew people in person that used tap sometimes for 200 gallon tanks. either when they started or as emergency. Its not recommended but doable. I started buying RO water from a water depot recently though. cheap stuff - havent used RODI, but my params are in check with RO. and I feel yeah about that small car life. I got a two door, and 3 jugs of 20 litres takes up space, and its a pain. but I got a small 10 gallon. Once you fill up the tank, all you really need is another for top offs and water changes. so its not too shabby. But i do wish I had an RODI or RO system, The last time I had a saltwater tank setup RO was a luxury most people didn't have. So most everyone used tap water then. This tank is 17g with a 10 gallon sump. Shopping for trashcans now to hold the RO water in. Link to comment
D Z Posted October 14, 2014 Share Posted October 14, 2014 I bought a 30 gallon Brute from homedepot. You can even order a float switch that will shut off the RODI unit when the can is full. Makes life so much easier. Link to comment
Drexellake Posted October 14, 2014 Author Share Posted October 14, 2014 I bought a 30 gallon Brute from homedepot. You can even order a float switch that will shut off the RODI unit when the can is full. Makes life so much easier. Picking up a 20 gallon Brute, spigot with bulkhead and float valve. Now I'm wondering if I can put this up about 3 feet and run a line under the floor into my sump and have an ATO in there if there's enough pressure. Or I can get a pump and ATO with switch and float. Link to comment
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