RO water to aquarium

Profiler · 02/10/2008, 04:34 PM

I just purchased a 4 stage RO unit. My question is I have a fowlr tank that I have been just using tap water + conditioner. With the RO unit is there any need to use any type of conditioner (api stress coat is what i used for the tap water) or can I just use the RO water as soon as its available for top offs and water changes?

drparker · 02/10/2008, 04:37 PM

You can just use the RO water for top-off and to make saltwater for changes. Do you have a TDS meter?

atvdave · 02/10/2008, 04:38 PM

Yes you can use the RO water right from the unit it self with out any conditioners.

Profiler · 02/10/2008, 05:10 PM

Yes I ordered a TDS meter with the unit. A guy at a lfs had told me he didnt believe RO units would remove chloramine and said to stick with the api conditioner anyway. Thats why I asked, thank you for the info.

rcgates · 02/10/2008, 05:31 PM

no conditioner needed if you have an RO or RO/DI unit.

If you start getting corals, add a DI stage to your RO setup, it will make a difference.

Here is one:
http://www.airwaterice.com/c=FuNMPjH...F/category/11/

The Saltman · 02/10/2008, 05:33 PM

Agreed, always make sure your RO unit is working like it should with a TDS meter.

Profiler · 02/10/2008, 10:52 PM

Thanks for the info. I ordered this unit since access to the basement was limited for the time being. http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/ro-counter-detail.htm

I dont have plans to add coral at the moment (may change in years to come I'm sure). But I know my tap water does have high phosphates. Wil the RO unit take care of that or would I need to add a DI for them? and if so would I be able to add something like this? http://www.airwaterice.com/product/A...Adder_Kit.html

rbursek · 02/11/2008, 12:09 AM

LFS is just trying to make a sale! You will be fine.
Bob

AZDesertRat · 02/11/2008, 09:24 AM

The LFS is correct.
To remove chloramines you will need a better carbon filter and a full size DI filter. The unit you have has a very small granular carbon cartridge. It may last a couple hundred gallons at best and that includes the waste stream so figure 60 gallons of RO water and 240 gallons of waste and it will be exhausted. Compare that to a Matrix Chlorine Guzzler carbon block that will last for 20,000 gallons and actually remove the chlorine portion of chloramines, thats 4,000 gallons of RO and 16,000 gallons of waste both witn no chlorine.
A full sized vertical DI with 20 oz of mixed bed nuclear grade resin should remove the ammonia portion and last for a significant amount of treated water provided your RO is functioning well.

I really hope you didn't pay anywhere near the retail price for that RO unit? You can get the same thing for $99 all over the place but I still would not recommend it. Any full size RO can be portable and will run circles around the mini type units and only cost you $161 including everything you need to hook it up, a TDS meter, pressure gauge, RO bypass, full size DI, Matrix carbon etc.

02/10/2008, 04:34 PM	#1
Profiler Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New England Posts: 6	RO water to aquarium I just purchased a 4 stage RO unit. My question is I have a fowlr tank that I have been just using tap water + conditioner. With the RO unit is there any need to use any type of conditioner (api stress coat is what i used for the tap water) or can I just use the RO water as soon as its available for top offs and water changes?

02/10/2008, 04:37 PM	#2
drparker Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Palatine, IL Posts: 2,652	You can just use the RO water for top-off and to make saltwater for changes. Do you have a TDS meter?

02/10/2008, 04:38 PM	#3
atvdave Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Newburgh, IN Posts: 1,763	Yes you can use the RO water right from the unit it self with out any conditioners.

02/10/2008, 05:10 PM	#4
Profiler Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New England Posts: 6	Yes I ordered a TDS meter with the unit. A guy at a lfs had told me he didnt believe RO units would remove chloramine and said to stick with the api conditioner anyway. Thats why I asked, thank you for the info.

02/10/2008, 05:31 PM	#5
rcgates Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Central Coast CA Posts: 319	no conditioner needed if you have an RO or RO/DI unit. If you start getting corals, add a DI stage to your RO setup, it will make a difference. Here is one: http://www.airwaterice.com/c=FuNMPjH...F/category/11/

02/10/2008, 05:33 PM	#6
The Saltman Moved On Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Northwest Ohio Posts: 1,642	Agreed, always make sure your RO unit is working like it should with a TDS meter.

02/10/2008, 10:52 PM	#7
Profiler Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New England Posts: 6	Thanks for the info. I ordered this unit since access to the basement was limited for the time being. http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/ro-counter-detail.htm I dont have plans to add coral at the moment (may change in years to come I'm sure). But I know my tap water does have high phosphates. Wil the RO unit take care of that or would I need to add a DI for them? and if so would I be able to add something like this? http://www.airwaterice.com/product/A...Adder_Kit.html

02/11/2008, 12:09 AM	#8
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	LFS is just trying to make a sale! You will be fine. Bob

02/11/2008, 09:24 AM	#9
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	The LFS is correct. To remove chloramines you will need a better carbon filter and a full size DI filter. The unit you have has a very small granular carbon cartridge. It may last a couple hundred gallons at best and that includes the waste stream so figure 60 gallons of RO water and 240 gallons of waste and it will be exhausted. Compare that to a Matrix Chlorine Guzzler carbon block that will last for 20,000 gallons and actually remove the chlorine portion of chloramines, thats 4,000 gallons of RO and 16,000 gallons of waste both witn no chlorine. A full sized vertical DI with 20 oz of mixed bed nuclear grade resin should remove the ammonia portion and last for a significant amount of treated water provided your RO is functioning well. I really hope you didn't pay anywhere near the retail price for that RO unit? You can get the same thing for $99 all over the place but I still would not recommend it. Any full size RO can be portable and will run circles around the mini type units and only cost you $161 including everything you need to hook it up, a TDS meter, pressure gauge, RO bypass, full size DI, Matrix carbon etc.