water

nervous nelly · 03/08/2010, 09:01 PM

fresh tap water , filtered water , or water they sell you at the lfs... which is better ...?

nuccadoc · 03/08/2010, 09:03 PM

The water at the LFS. You want to use RO/DI water exclusively.

Dipandots · 03/08/2010, 10:21 PM

The water at your LFS for sure. Many would suggest never to use fresh tap water in your tank.

Aquarist007 · 03/08/2010, 10:31 PM

I would measure the tds of the water from the LFS. Many times it doesn't even come close to ro/di water(tds of zero)
A pocket tds meter at 25 dollars is a good investment IMO

What size of tank do you have?

bertoni · 03/08/2010, 11:09 PM

Water quality from those sources varies widely. I invested in a RO/DI filter, in the end.

TorisFishes · 03/08/2010, 11:11 PM

Same for me as above, LFS bought water can get expensive in the long run, I save alot just using my own RODI water! And Im guarenteed the quality

TorisFishes · 03/08/2010, 11:12 PM

Oh and you dont have to run out and buy it, is right there when you need to do a top off

mjtncsu · 03/09/2010, 12:52 AM

I agree that a RO/DI is a good investment if you have the space to make and store the water. I've had one ever since I've had my tank and couldn't imagine being in this hobby without one.

If you don't have the space, the water from the LFS is probably the best.

lordofthereef · 03/09/2010, 04:27 AM

What are you considering to be filtered water? Quite literally RO/DI is water filtration and is therefor filtered water. You could probably get away with buying RO water from your local market (so long as the filters are checked regularly) and I bet it would be cheaper than your LFS. That is what I did before getting my own RO unit.

Sugar Magnolia · 03/09/2010, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capn_hylinur

I would measure the tds of the water from the LFS. Many times it doesn't even come close to ro/di water(tds of zero)

I agree with the Cap'n. I ran into some dinoflagellate problems when using water bought from a dinky lfs. I switched to a more reputable store that checks their tds and was able to rid myself of the dinos.

Aquarist007 · 03/10/2010, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lordofthereef

What are you considering to be filtered water? Quite literally RO/DI is water filtration and is therefor filtered water. You could probably get away with buying RO water from your local market (so long as the filters are checked regularly) and I bet it would be cheaper than your LFS. That is what I did before getting my own RO unit.

It goes roughly like this
distilled water has 90 per cent of the tds removed

ro water has 95 per cent of the tds removed

ro/di has 100 per cent removed

03/08/2010, 09:01 PM	#1
nervous nelly Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: New York Posts: 23	water fresh tap water , filtered water , or water they sell you at the lfs... which is better ...?

03/08/2010, 10:21 PM	#3
Dipandots Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: East Lansing, MI Posts: 175	The water at your LFS for sure. Many would suggest never to use fresh tap water in your tank. __________________ Current Tank Info: 24g Nano Cube, 4x24w T5HO, MP10, Aquaticlife 115 Skimmer, CPR HOB Fuge

03/08/2010, 10:31 PM	#4
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	I would measure the tds of the water from the LFS. Many times it doesn't even come close to ro/di water(tds of zero) A pocket tds meter at 25 dollars is a good investment IMO What size of tank do you have? __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

03/08/2010, 11:09 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Water quality from those sources varies widely. I invested in a RO/DI filter, in the end. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/09/2010, 04:27 AM	#9
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	What are you considering to be filtered water? Quite literally RO/DI is water filtration and is therefor filtered water. You could probably get away with buying RO water from your local market (so long as the filters are checked regularly) and I bet it would be cheaper than your LFS. That is what I did before getting my own RO unit. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

03/08/2010, 09:03 PM	#2
nuccadoc Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 482	The water at the LFS. You want to use RO/DI water exclusively.

03/08/2010, 11:11 PM	#6
TorisFishes Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Woodward Posts: 63	Same for me as above, LFS bought water can get expensive in the long run, I save alot just using my own RODI water! And Im guarenteed the quality

03/08/2010, 11:12 PM	#7
TorisFishes Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Woodward Posts: 63	Oh and you dont have to run out and buy it, is right there when you need to do a top off

03/09/2010, 12:52 AM	#8
mjtncsu Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bartlesville, OK Posts: 50	I agree that a RO/DI is a good investment if you have the space to make and store the water. I've had one ever since I've had my tank and couldn't imagine being in this hobby without one. If you don't have the space, the water from the LFS is probably the best.