well water

soundgeek · 07/09/2006, 08:41 AM

I am moving into my new house soon and we will have well water so what filtration will be needed for my tanks. I move in a month and trying to get everything sorted out. thanks

d.can82 · 07/09/2006, 09:24 AM

If you mean treating the water before mixing it with salt, you should look into getting a reverse osmosis unit with a deionization add on and a tds meter. Some well water is alot worse then others, but a water softener won't take out enough of the bad stuff usually to make it suitable for a reef tank.

outy · 07/09/2006, 02:11 PM

second that get a ro/di

cw150 · 07/09/2006, 06:23 PM

get a 4-stage ro/di so you can use up 2 chambers for sediment filters. You wont burn through DI as fast.

AZDesertRat · 07/09/2006, 06:36 PM

The first thing you need to do is get a complete chemical analysis done on the well. Without that everuone is just guessing at what your needs are. I too say get an RO/DI but not knowing the silica, nitrates, iron etc you don't know which RO/DI to get. I will suggest www.spectrapure.com for an RO/DI system, no others come close when it comes to unique water conditions like from a private well.

soundgeek · 07/09/2006, 07:40 PM

I already have a ro unit at my current house and was planning on adding one to the new one, but i didnt know if i should just use it or what. I definitely think i am going to get a chemical analysis done.

AZDesertRat · 07/09/2006, 07:48 PM

The analysis is a smart thing to do. Its probably great water but you never know. Around here the testing labs charge $150 to $200 for a pretty complete analysis of the common things plus a few other important ones. Well worth the money. Did I say well?
One thing you may have to consider is most domestic water systems operate at fairly low pressures like 30 to 50 psi. For most uses thats fine but you may need a small booster pump for an RO/DI to operate efficiently.

Duchess · 07/09/2006, 11:00 PM

If this is your first well-water home, do get the water tested. I don't know what well water problems there are in Texas, but here in Maryland we have lots of iron in the water.

If you have hard water or iron in your water, you probably will want a home water softener to soften the water and remove the iron (otherwise the water stains everything -- and I mean EVERYTHING -- orange).

Hook up a RO/DI unit somewhere to change your household water into tank water. If you hook it up in the kitchen, you can use the RO water for drinking and cooking and then tap into the RO/DI for the tank.

And as long as you're messing with the plumbing, run a line from the RO unit to the refrigerator so that the icemaker uses RO water to make the ice!

I have a RO unit in my kitchen for my drinking/cooking water and a larger RO/DI unit in my laundry room for fish tank water. I don't have a booster pump and both work well, albeit slowly. But that's ok, I'm not in any hurry.

Enjoy your new home!

godoggo · 07/09/2006, 11:43 PM

My well water is over 990 ppm - and has 3x the limit for sulfur - it will literally make you sick if you drink it.

Call you county/city health department to do your well testing - they don't have a vested interest in selling you treatment systems and it is a lot cheaper.

I too - struggle with r.o. - post water softner. Output is lousy without a booster pump (tack on another 180.00 for that), tons of waste water, and must change filters and membranes twice as often as recommended.

After 6 years, I dumped the R.O. systems for both my reef tanks and drinking water and have Deep Rock delivered.

My TDS on Deep Rock are usually under 5 - it ends up costing me significantly less - tons less trouble and I always have enough water.

4 years later my reef systems are running smoothly - water parameters good.

Good Luck!

AZDesertRat · 07/10/2006, 08:45 AM

Most City or County health agencies will not test private water systems. They will do exactly as I have recommended and refer you to an independent testing laboratory. Labs don't sell anything other than their analysis so they are your best bet. If you get a water conditioner company to do it obviously they will find something and miraculously have something that will fix it for a small monthly fee.

godoggo · 07/10/2006, 10:33 AM

That's too bad, in Colorado it's standard for counties and some cities to do well testing - through their heatlh departments. I paid only $65. for a full spectrum test.
The State requires a well test whenever one is drilled to insure the safety of your drinking water, and I can call the County to do subsequent tests upon request.

AZDesertRat · 07/10/2006, 10:49 AM

Thats great. Here and most places I know of they won't touch a private system unless it is considered a public water system which serves 25 or more people at least 3 months of the year. Then they have a Monitoring Assistance Program that picks up a portion of the costs thru a federally funded program if you subscribe to their service.
Most labs I deal with do a basic well scan for about $150 so its still well worth it.

fittdog8848 · 07/10/2006, 10:54 AM

I called a water system place and asked for aa free bid.......They come over and do a chemical analysis and give you the results and then quote you a system. NICE WAY to get it for free.

DamnDamsel · 07/10/2006, 11:17 AM

I do a lot of free tests for people also. You just hope they go with you if they decide to buy

As for having a lab test your water They will not test for anything you can't do yourself for the 150-200 price. You will need to buy test kits for your tank anyway so spend a small amount more and get the iron test.

There is a self test kit called "Pur test" You can get this from many places and it will test everything and more then you will get from a lab test.

soundgeek · 07/10/2006, 02:09 PM

Yes this is my first house with a well, I guess that is the price I have to pay to have a little land away from any traffic. I will look into the testing for sure. I currently live 12 hours away from where I am building which is a pain, but it will all be worth it in the end. I have two tanks and want to stick a top off on both. I was thinking of using an ro into a container and then having two pumps with each one pumping a tank individually. I have more room in the utility closet now that I went to a tankless water heater. Any suggestions on the best way to do this. thanks

07/09/2006, 08:41 AM	#1
soundgeek Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 129	well water I am moving into my new house soon and we will have well water so what filtration will be needed for my tanks. I move in a month and trying to get everything sorted out. thanks __________________ GEAUX TIGERS!!! Current Tank Info: 75gal

07/09/2006, 09:24 AM	#2
d.can82 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 142	If you mean treating the water before mixing it with salt, you should look into getting a reverse osmosis unit with a deionization add on and a tds meter. Some well water is alot worse then others, but a water softener won't take out enough of the bad stuff usually to make it suitable for a reef tank. __________________ Daniel "Sweety, if I get a bigger tank, then can I have a little tang?" Current Tank Info: 40 Breeder w/ 4 x 39w T5 Retro, 20 Long Sump, Super Skimmer 65, DIY Kalkreactor

07/09/2006, 07:40 PM	#6
soundgeek Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 129	I already have a ro unit at my current house and was planning on adding one to the new one, but i didnt know if i should just use it or what. I definitely think i am going to get a chemical analysis done. __________________ GEAUX TIGERS!!! Current Tank Info: 75gal

07/10/2006, 10:54 AM	#13
fittdog8848 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bozeman, MT Posts: 308	I called a water system place and asked for aa free bid.......They come over and do a chemical analysis and give you the results and then quote you a system. NICE WAY to get it for free. __________________ When Chuck Norris falls in water, Chuck Norris doesn't get wet. Water gets Chuck Norris. Current Tank Info: 100g Reef with 50g refugium/sump

07/10/2006, 02:09 PM	#15
soundgeek Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 129	Yes this is my first house with a well, I guess that is the price I have to pay to have a little land away from any traffic. I will look into the testing for sure. I currently live 12 hours away from where I am building which is a pain, but it will all be worth it in the end. I have two tanks and want to stick a top off on both. I was thinking of using an ro into a container and then having two pumps with each one pumping a tank individually. I have more room in the utility closet now that I went to a tankless water heater. Any suggestions on the best way to do this. thanks __________________ GEAUX TIGERS!!! Current Tank Info: 75gal

07/09/2006, 02:11 PM	#3
outy Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: auburn CA Posts: 4,021	second that get a ro/di

07/09/2006, 06:23 PM	#4
cw150 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: nw suburbs chicago Posts: 330	get a 4-stage ro/di so you can use up 2 chambers for sediment filters. You wont burn through DI as fast.

07/09/2006, 06:36 PM	#5
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	The first thing you need to do is get a complete chemical analysis done on the well. Without that everuone is just guessing at what your needs are. I too say get an RO/DI but not knowing the silica, nitrates, iron etc you don't know which RO/DI to get. I will suggest www.spectrapure.com for an RO/DI system, no others come close when it comes to unique water conditions like from a private well.

07/09/2006, 07:48 PM	#7
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	The analysis is a smart thing to do. Its probably great water but you never know. Around here the testing labs charge $150 to $200 for a pretty complete analysis of the common things plus a few other important ones. Well worth the money. Did I say well? One thing you may have to consider is most domestic water systems operate at fairly low pressures like 30 to 50 psi. For most uses thats fine but you may need a small booster pump for an RO/DI to operate efficiently.

07/09/2006, 11:00 PM	#8
Duchess Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Maryland Posts: 165	If this is your first well-water home, do get the water tested. I don't know what well water problems there are in Texas, but here in Maryland we have lots of iron in the water. If you have hard water or iron in your water, you probably will want a home water softener to soften the water and remove the iron (otherwise the water stains everything -- and I mean EVERYTHING -- orange). Hook up a RO/DI unit somewhere to change your household water into tank water. If you hook it up in the kitchen, you can use the RO water for drinking and cooking and then tap into the RO/DI for the tank. And as long as you're messing with the plumbing, run a line from the RO unit to the refrigerator so that the icemaker uses RO water to make the ice! I have a RO unit in my kitchen for my drinking/cooking water and a larger RO/DI unit in my laundry room for fish tank water. I don't have a booster pump and both work well, albeit slowly. But that's ok, I'm not in any hurry. Enjoy your new home!

07/09/2006, 11:43 PM	#9
godoggo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Weld CO Posts: 198	My well water is over 990 ppm - and has 3x the limit for sulfur - it will literally make you sick if you drink it. Call you county/city health department to do your well testing - they don't have a vested interest in selling you treatment systems and it is a lot cheaper. I too - struggle with r.o. - post water softner. Output is lousy without a booster pump (tack on another 180.00 for that), tons of waste water, and must change filters and membranes twice as often as recommended. After 6 years, I dumped the R.O. systems for both my reef tanks and drinking water and have Deep Rock delivered. My TDS on Deep Rock are usually under 5 - it ends up costing me significantly less - tons less trouble and I always have enough water. 4 years later my reef systems are running smoothly - water parameters good. Good Luck!

07/10/2006, 08:45 AM	#10
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Most City or County health agencies will not test private water systems. They will do exactly as I have recommended and refer you to an independent testing laboratory. Labs don't sell anything other than their analysis so they are your best bet. If you get a water conditioner company to do it obviously they will find something and miraculously have something that will fix it for a small monthly fee.

07/10/2006, 10:33 AM	#11
godoggo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Weld CO Posts: 198	That's too bad, in Colorado it's standard for counties and some cities to do well testing - through their heatlh departments. I paid only $65. for a full spectrum test. The State requires a well test whenever one is drilled to insure the safety of your drinking water, and I can call the County to do subsequent tests upon request.

07/10/2006, 10:49 AM	#12
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Thats great. Here and most places I know of they won't touch a private system unless it is considered a public water system which serves 25 or more people at least 3 months of the year. Then they have a Monitoring Assistance Program that picks up a portion of the costs thru a federally funded program if you subscribe to their service. Most labs I deal with do a basic well scan for about $150 so its still well worth it.

07/10/2006, 11:17 AM	#14
DamnDamsel Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York Posts: 176	I do a lot of free tests for people also. You just hope they go with you if they decide to buy As for having a lab test your water They will not test for anything you can't do yourself for the 150-200 price. You will need to buy test kits for your tank anyway so spend a small amount more and get the iron test. There is a self test kit called "Pur test" You can get this from many places and it will test everything and more then you will get from a lab test.