R/O questions!!

What are the recommendations?!?!?! I do not want to spend another 300 bucks on anything right now (R/O) equipment. One of the LFS said to fill up a 10 gallon bucket and drop tablets to get rid of the chlorine and test the levels then keep it covered. is it really that simple? It looks like my water is evaporating 1/2 inch perday After two weeks my skimmer is getting louder and the water level gets real low. I know I know this is a major factor and I complete overlooked it. Give me some help fellas without having to spend a lot whats some of the methods you guys have come up with either creating a top off or keeping R/O

 

To store RO, you just need buckets or jugs.

You shouldn't just use chlorine removing tablets, though. Chloramine breaks down to ammonia, and that won't leave the water. Any pollutants or contaminants in the water, like coppper, phosphate, nitrate, and estrogen, among many, many others, won't be removed by the tablet, and will end up in your tank.

Buy an RODI unit, or just RODI water from your LFS (not the one that gave you this horrible advice to use tablets/stress coat), and store it in buckets or jugs.

For a top off, just buy something cheap. For $50, you can get a Blueline Tsunami ATO. Another $20 gets you the pump to use with it, $10 for the tank (or less for a jug), and about $6 in plumbing supplies later, you have an ATO.

 

+1 blackraven

 

awesome! this board has been the best! Everyone is always willing to help Newb's! I appreciate it! I'll wait for Friday's check and start ordering my Tsunami ATO!

 

Get a used rodi if you can, its worth its weight in gold.

airwaterice.com has great prices on new rodi systems.

 

Aquarium Water | Reverse Osmosis | RODI Water | ReefKeeper Water | Typhoon 5 stage RODI Reefkeeper 75 GPD

$150.00. you cant lose

 

I recently bought an Air Water and Ice ReefKeeper RODI system. I LOVE it! I have been using it for several months. 0 TDS water all day long and their customer service is fantastic.
Hint....If you decide to buy a unit call them in person. Tell them you want the free TDS meter with your purchase. They will gladly help you out.

 

Tap water is never a substitute for RO or RO/DI water.

The idea behind RO/DI is consistency, you get the same high purity water every time while tap water changes day to day depending on the sources, blends, operator on shift and treatment techniques.

Check out the CSP-DI found on sale here:
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Unlike the others you get a treated and tested RO membrane, custom blended fresh reef specific DI resin, a TDS meter standard without asking, a pressure gauge and a much better capillary tube type flow restrictor so you can fine tune the system for your exact water conditions.

Others to look at are the 75 GPD Premium found at www.buckeyefieldsupply, the reefkeeper from www.melevsreef.com and the Optima series from www.purelyh2o.com . Whatever you get make sure it has a name brand RO membrane like Dow or GE, full size 20 oz vertical refillable DI filter, TDS meter and pressure gauge and I would suggest the capillary tube restrictor too as it will save you money in the long run.

Be very very cautious when buying used systems, almost always you are buying someone elses headache. They usually need new filters, resin and often a new membrane which will all end up costing you almost as much as a new unit, you will certainly have more invested between the used system and the new replacements than if you had bought a new reef quality system to begin with. The only way to tell if its worth the price is a pressure gauge and TDS meter and usually used systems don't come with those.

 

I have an airwaterice typhoon system. Works great and came basically set up. All I had to do was connect the three tubes. Used ones are usually well worth it, even if you have to replace the filters. I lost the auction on ebay and I really needed one so I just bought one new. Haven't had any problems

 

Again, in most cases when you buy used, you inheret someone elses problem. The cost of a used system plus new membrane, filters and DI often exceeds the cost of a new reef quality system. I am very cautious with used RO/DI and won't even think about it if it does not have a TDS meter and I know the history of the system.