coralline algae growth

[hottielover14]

but i've been saving up to get a refuge. Which one should I get a refuge or a RO/DI.

The base for all reef tanks should be the best water you can give it.
I would go with the RO/DI unit and DIY the refugium with a rubbermaid tub of some kind.

[hottielover14]

i'll think about it. somebody I was talking to uses distalled water. is that good too.

For what you get no.
Penny for Penny the RO/DI unit will out perform anything else offered.
The ro/di will pay for it's self, how will the distilled or tap DI filter do that? They won't.

[Matt Rogers]

Actually I did some research on this a while ago. You can get distillers that will give you very pure water. However. distillers are very expensive and bulky. One reef-safe one I was looking at was over $400 I believe.

I say 'reef-safe' because, as I recall, some distillers use a lot of copper plating or something that leaches.

My memory is a little foggy here, but I believe I am in the ballpark.

The only thing better than RO/DI water is water used for a nuclear reactor MM.

[Matt Rogers]

[smiley=loco.gif] [smiley=stupid.gif]

[hottielover14]

but will distilled work until I get a RO/DI unit. Will a RO/DI with a refuge really help out and keep water clean.

These are conservative % of what RO/DI will take out of your tap water.

Calcium 98%
Sodium 98%
Magnesium 98%
Iron 98%
Potassium 97%
Manganese 98%
Aluminum 98%
Copper 98%
Nickel 98%
Cadmium 98%
Silver 97%
Zinc 99%
Mercury 97%
Hardness 98%
Radioactivity 98%
Chlorine 95%
Ammonium 95%
Virus 100%
Phosphate 98%
Cyanide 95%
Sulfate 98%
Thiosulfate 98%
Silicate 96%
Nitrate 95%
Fluoride 95%
Polyphosphate 99%
Orthophosphate 99%
Chromate 97%
Lead 98 %

bacterial include:

Adipates (diethylhexyl)
Alachor
Aldicarb
Atrazine
Benz (a) anthracine (PAH)
Benzene
Benzo
Butyl benzyl phthalate (PAE)
Cadmium
Carbofuran
Carbon tetrachloride
Chlordane
Chlorine
Chrysene
Dalapon
Di (20ethylhexl) adipate
Dibenz (a,h) antracene
Dibromochloropropane
Dichlorobenzene
Dichloroethane (1,2-)
Dichloroethylene
Dichloropropane
Diethylhexyl phthalate (PAE)
Dinoseb
Diquat
Endothall
Endrin
Ethylbenzene
Ethelene dibromide (EDB)
Glyphosate
Heptachlor
Hexachlorobenzene
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene
Indo (1,2,3-c,d) pyrene (PAH)
Lindane
Mercury (organic complexes)
MethoxychlorMethylene Blue
Monochlorobenzene
Oxymal
Pentachlorophenol
Picloram
PCB's
Simarzine
Styrene
2,3,7,8-TCDD (dioxin)
2,4,5-TP (silvex)
TCB's
TCE's
Tetrachloroethylene
THM's
Toluene
Toxaphane
Vinyl chloride
Xylenes