How important is RO water for a REEF?

Tate · 06/26/2006, 09:46 AM

I've had fowlr tanks for a long time now using tap water. Some say this is bad, but I have had great success over the years. Tap water must be decent around here because I've never had a problem with algea. I assume it's low in phosphates, but I've never tested for them.

After reading these forums everyday for the past year I've decided to try my hand at starting a reef. I want to know if I can continue to do what I have always done, or if my success at reefing depends on making RO water.

FYI the reef I am starting is a 20g under 130w of PC's. I'm going to start with easy ones (mushrooms, zoas, rics, xenia, ect.)

Sk8r · 06/26/2006, 10:33 AM

You're in an area that has pretty good water flowing through limestone...you may be one of the rare lucky ones.
Be alert to problems: if you get an algae bloom or your alk/cal won't stabilize, you might have a water problem and need to go ro/di.
You have the right to ask your water company for a full readout of what's in the water, down to the ppm stuff. This can occasionally turn up small surprises: arsenic, etc., in a place where I was. It will at least put you onto what you need to watch. Weekly water changes help, and a refugium helps, because you toss or sell the extra weed and some pollutants go with it.

xtrstangx · 06/26/2006, 10:41 AM

For a reef, RO/DI is very important.

Try getting a TDS meter and testing your tap water. If its less than 10, its fine to use, IMO.

rodgod20 · 06/26/2006, 10:49 AM

I would just stick to the RO/DI, it would be better for both tanks imo

Tate · 06/26/2006, 03:10 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll look into getting a RO unit before I bring some corals home.

Dert42 · 06/26/2006, 03:47 PM

the ones off of ebay are cheap and great!
easy to install too.
your tap water might be ok, but the R/O would be better.

AZDesertRat · 06/26/2006, 04:36 PM

You are right in that the ROs on e-bayare cheap, but they leave a lot to be desired and are by no means great or even close to it. Mediocre at best. With RO and especially RO/DI you get what you pay for and cheap isn't where its at.
The best thing about owning your own RO/DI unit is consistency, you will always know your water quality. Or at least you should if you get a good unit and a TDS meter.
Look at:
www.purelyh2o.com
www.airwaterice.com
www.buckeyefieldsupply.com
and
www.thefilterguys.biz
for very good units at good prices.
Always look for a true Dow Filmtec 75 GPD RO membrane, most e-bay vendors don't give you this.
Also look for a standard sized 10" canister and refillable cartridge type DI filter containing 24 oz of nuclear grade resin, again most e-bay vendors give you a little hollow horizontal clear tube with about 6 or maybe 12 oz of unknown quality resin in it.
Get a handheld TDS meter and pressure gauge to help you determine how well your unit is working.
Get good quality pre and carbon filters, preferrably solid carbon blocks and not granular carbon like lots of e-bay vendors supply.

Again there is a difference and be sure to do some research before buying or you will spend much more in upgrades to a cheap unit than the $150 to $200 a good unit would have cost to begin with.

06/26/2006, 09:46 AM	#1
Tate Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri Posts: 388	How important is RO water for a REEF? I've had fowlr tanks for a long time now using tap water. Some say this is bad, but I have had great success over the years. Tap water must be decent around here because I've never had a problem with algea. I assume it's low in phosphates, but I've never tested for them. After reading these forums everyday for the past year I've decided to try my hand at starting a reef. I want to know if I can continue to do what I have always done, or if my success at reefing depends on making RO water. FYI the reef I am starting is a 20g under 130w of PC's. I'm going to start with easy ones (mushrooms, zoas, rics, xenia, ect.)

06/26/2006, 10:33 AM	#2
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	You're in an area that has pretty good water flowing through limestone...you may be one of the rare lucky ones. Be alert to problems: if you get an algae bloom or your alk/cal won't stabilize, you might have a water problem and need to go ro/di. You have the right to ask your water company for a full readout of what's in the water, down to the ppm stuff. This can occasionally turn up small surprises: arsenic, etc., in a place where I was. It will at least put you onto what you need to watch. Weekly water changes help, and a refugium helps, because you toss or sell the extra weed and some pollutants go with it. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

06/26/2006, 10:49 AM	#4
rodgod20 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Charleston, SC Posts: 459	I would just stick to the RO/DI, it would be better for both tanks imo __________________ "If your going through hell, Keep going" -Winston ChurchHill- Current Tank Info: 65G (90lbs of LR, CSS125, ATO,Oceans Motions, 33x turnover) LPS tank

06/26/2006, 03:10 PM	#5
Tate Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri Posts: 388	Thanks for the replies guys. I'll look into getting a RO unit before I bring some corals home. __________________ 100g long FOWLR Current Tank Info: 100g fowlr and NanoCube 6g

06/26/2006, 03:47 PM	#6
Dert42 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lake St.Louis, MO Posts: 1,363	the ones off of ebay are cheap and great! easy to install too. your tap water might be ok, but the R/O would be better. __________________ if($saltwatertank =='yes') { $bankaccount--; } Current Tank Info: 65g

06/26/2006, 10:41 AM	#3
xtrstangx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shawnee, Kansas Posts: 4,568	For a reef, RO/DI is very important. Try getting a TDS meter and testing your tap water. If its less than 10, its fine to use, IMO.

06/26/2006, 04:36 PM	#7
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	You are right in that the ROs on e-bayare cheap, but they leave a lot to be desired and are by no means great or even close to it. Mediocre at best. With RO and especially RO/DI you get what you pay for and cheap isn't where its at. The best thing about owning your own RO/DI unit is consistency, you will always know your water quality. Or at least you should if you get a good unit and a TDS meter. Look at: www.purelyh2o.com www.airwaterice.com www.buckeyefieldsupply.com and www.thefilterguys.biz for very good units at good prices. Always look for a true Dow Filmtec 75 GPD RO membrane, most e-bay vendors don't give you this. Also look for a standard sized 10" canister and refillable cartridge type DI filter containing 24 oz of nuclear grade resin, again most e-bay vendors give you a little hollow horizontal clear tube with about 6 or maybe 12 oz of unknown quality resin in it. Get a handheld TDS meter and pressure gauge to help you determine how well your unit is working. Get good quality pre and carbon filters, preferrably solid carbon blocks and not granular carbon like lots of e-bay vendors supply. Again there is a difference and be sure to do some research before buying or you will spend much more in upgrades to a cheap unit than the $150 to $200 a good unit would have cost to begin with.