RO Question

Brandon1023 · 05-14-2008, 01:33 PM

Hey guys and dolls!

So as some of you know I got a 125 Gallon Tank the other day. Now with filling it the obvious first choice is with RO water. However I only have about 47 gallons worth of buckets and jugs and no RO unit of my own (PLEASE PLEASE VOTE FOR MY VIDEO!

)

So my thought here is this (ugh I feel like such a noob!! ...not that there's anything wrong with that). I have a 20 gallon refugium running on the 72 right now. I should be ok just using tap water and hooking up the fuge, yes? That will export my phosphates and nitrates from the tap water.

Is there something else I should consider? Something else I could try? I just don't want to make THREE trips to the LFS buying and hauling water the entire time...my instinct tells me this plan is fine, but what say you?

And then of course if/when I get an RO unit (PLLEEEEEEEASE vote for me!

) I can drain a bunch of water and replace it...

Stingray · 05-14-2008, 01:52 PM

I filled my 55 with water from the tap, and added some phos zorb to the filter, phosphates are at a low 0.03 tanks been running 8 weeks now, in the long run who knows but at the moment tank and live stock are doing great, but if the refugium will take the nitrates & phosphate out of the tap water that quick i would go with that , i only filled it with tap water at the time because i was a nooooooooobie lol....

missionsix66 · 05-14-2008, 01:57 PM

You've gotta do what you gotta do. However, living on a well here in Oregon, I didn't have the choice to use tap water. When I initially set-up my tank I bought 2 very large rubbermade containers and hauled the water that way. 40+ gallons each. I did get some water in the car, but, I feel it was worth it. Being that you are going to start a very nice tank, I feel that starting from scratch you've got a great opportunity. You will feel much better about your tank in the long run. I'm not sure if your idea will work, but, would hate to see it cause an issue down the road. The gist: SHORT TERM GAIN (MAY) CAUSE LONG TERM PAIN, SHORT TERM PAIN (MAKING EXTRA TRIPS) WILL CAUSE LONG TERM GAIN.
Good luck 1023. (probably not the answer you were looking for?)
MISSION

Brandon1023 · 05-14-2008, 01:58 PM

Yea that stuff really works. And the other consideration is that even when I had my 46g all I ever used was RO. It wasn't until the fuge came along that my algae problems started to go away...

So what's the major benefit of RO anyways? I guess I don't honestly know...

Brandon1023 · 05-14-2008, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by missionsix66

The gist: SHORT TERM GAIN (MAY) CAUSE LONG TERM PAIN, SHORT TERM PAIN (MAKING EXTRA TRIPS) WILL CAUSE LONG TERM GAIN.
Good luck 1023. (probably not the answer you were looking for?)
MISSION

LoL no not the answer I was looking for but you make a strong point. A VERY strong point actually....bollocks!

missionsix66 · 05-14-2008, 02:09 PM

Copied from wikipedia.Reverse osmosis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[edit] Reef aquariums

Typical RO/DI unit used for an aquarium

Many reef aquarium keepers use reverse osmosis systems for their artificial mixture of seawater. Ordinary tap water can often contain excessive chlorine, chloramines, copper, nitrogen, phosphates, silicates, or many other chemicals detrimental to the sensitive organisms in a reef environment. Contaminants such as nitrogen compounds and phosphates can lead to excessive, and unwanted, algae growth. An effective combination of both reverse osmosis and deionization (RO/DI) is the most popular among reef aquarium keepers and is preferred above other water purification processes due to the low cost of ownership and minimal running costs. (Where chlorine and chloramines are found in the water carbon filterion is needed before the membrane as the common residential membrane used by reef keepers does not cope with these compounds.)

ReefSparky · 05-14-2008, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brandon1023

I should be ok just using tap water and hooking up the fuge, yes? No.

That will export my phosphates and nitrates from the tap water. That's a hefty assumption. The macroalgae you nurture in the 'fuge is probably no match for the phosphate and nitrate load you'll introduce using tap water. (Of course your mileage will vary with where you live).

Is there something else I should consider? Something else I could try?

Well, yea. How much will it cost for the water and gasoline for 3 trips to your LFS? It just CAN'T be that much less than a $150 RO/DI unit.

I just don't want to make THREE trips to the LFS buying and hauling water the entire time...my instinct tells me this plan is fine, but what say you?....

I say bite the bullet and buy an RO/DI unit. Forget for a minute the gasoline and SW costs from the LFS. Consider the time you won't be spending doing the above. ....

And then of course if/when I get an RO unit (PLLEEEEEEEASE vote for me!

) I can drain a bunch of water and replace it...LOL. You still have to pay for the salt!!

good luck!

Brandon1023 · 05-14-2008, 02:21 PM

Good points made by all. It's clear that I better just go with RO. Karma! And thanks!

Tangster · 05-14-2008, 04:30 PM

Also the metals in the water copper pipe is what many have as well as the old solder with lead and many older cities on the east coat have 100 +yr old pure lead mains in the street that deliver the water to homes . On many wells with copper I have seen the water to totally dissolve and eat the copper pipe up.

lunatik_69 · 05-15-2008, 02:58 AM

If this tank is the dream tank that you said before, why are you willing to cut corners so early in the game? When I transfered from my 45g to my 90g, I made like 4-6 trips to the LFS(5-5g jugs) to fill it up with NSW. Your setting yourself up for failure if you do it this way. Remember, "go slow". Just my 2 cents. Luna