water

[Luke]

Ive read quite a few times that tap water is not okay to use in reef tanks because of the metals in it... Reverse osmosis water is supposed to be the best? I dont have a reverse osmosis unit, and im not really able to install one where im living... ive heard distilled water works, but i dont like the thought of filling up a shopping cart full of 1 gallon jugs... so my question is... will the little "watermill" places around town work? i hope you guys know what im talking about...

[kentlighting]

what kind of place are you living in? they arnt hard to install, i rent an apartment always have and have installed in in everyplace, easist is to put a T on the cold water line of the cold water line on the washing machine and connect it that way, i can take pictures if you want to see..

are you planing on growing corals or no? that plays a big part in the deciding factor

[RickMartin]

Windmill places will work but water quality is always questionable from them. The most important thing in reefkeeping is water quality and you need to start with the most pure (ultra pure) water you can get. That's why just RO water isn't good enough. You need a RO/DI set up, and need to stay on top of keeping the DI resins regenerated or replaced.

[Luke]

yeah some pictures might be helpful... if its simple plumbing i might be able to manage it.. and yes i would like to grow corals...

in the mean time... here is the link for the watermill express... where they explain the filtration they use...
http://watermillexpress.com/our_proc.html
seems like it would work to me? to fill my tank i borrowed a bunch of 5 gallon jugs and filled it up from there.. for water changes im going to buy my own 5 gallon jug... 5 gallon water changes weekly on a 32 gallon tank should be sufficient?

[Luke]

Windmill places will work but water quality is always questionable from them. The most important thing in reefkeeping is water quality and you need to start with the most pure (ultra pure) water you can get. That's why just RO water isn't good enough. You need a RO/DI set up, and need to stay on top of keeping the DI resins regenerated or replaced.

sounds complicated.

[tomgl]

You would be best served by getting water from a local fish store. They tend to change their filters regularly and use a deionizer. I don't think Watermill can deionize the water it is not good for humans. RO water usually has a TDS reading of 30-40 parts per million, deionized water should be zero or there abouts. The east side stores I know sell water are BTR and Trop. I'm not sure about the store off Charleston.

[Luke]

You would be best served by getting water from a local fish store. They tend to change their filters regularly and use a deionizer. I don't think Watermill can deionize the water it is not good for humans. RO water usually has a TDS reading of 30-40 parts per million, deionized water should be zero or there abouts. The east side stores I know sell water are BTR and Trop. I'm not sure about the store off Charleston.

BTR is on losee? ive been wanting to go there.. maybe this will be a good excuse!

[tomgl]

Beyond the Reef.Gibson and 215 in Henderson. He saved my butt once when I had no water made and my son decided to do a water change with out asking. You are thinking Blue Reef Aquatics, I am not sure if they sell water. Maybe Greg will answer that question soon.

[smellslikefish]

Blue Reef Aquatics is the store on Losee and they have Ro/DI and Saltwater also. If you live in the east, Beyond the Reef is the nearsest for you though

[tomgl]

Thanks for chiming in Greg. It's good info to know.

[RickMartin]

It's not as complicated as it sounds. DI resins change color when they are exhausted. An RO/DI system costs from $150 up and is one of the best investments you can make. I cannot stress enough how important having good water to start with can make a big difference. Most beginners tend to skimp in this area.

[tomgl]

+1. "Why is my new tank all green. I'm going to quit this hobby". How many time have we heard that.

[kentlighting]

Im at work currently i have some pictures up for you tomorrow

[Narazbad]

I don't use the watermill places, but I do use the ones at albertsons by the house. I have no water quality issues, and they are ro and distilled. Never taken a tds meter to it though.

[bigronbo]

i buy mine in 5 gallon jug at Wal-mart culigan water

[Luke]

i buy mine in 5 gallon jug at Wal-mart culigan water
bought one from target tonight... plan is to price out the fish stores.... if reasonable that will work.. if not watermill seems to be working ok?

[lvsuckerfish]

well about the whole use RODI water to start up a tank...... now this is my personal opinion on this water and starting a tank....

i just filled my 240 a few months ago or so 3 days of waiting to make water brand new rodi system that i broke in. before hand.... tank cycled never tried this method I will say this I will not do it this way again. I have gone from green algea blooms to where I can not see through the tank 6 inches from the front panels to now cyano.....
I started all my other tanks with tap with decloranator and never had this issue until i wanted to so call do it the correct way this time.... I do top off and do water changes with rodi water but I believe I will stick to my plan that I know works.... I believe Lee had this problem also in his old house.

[lvsuckerfish]

I don't use the watermill places, but I do use the ones at albertsons by the house. I have no water quality issues, and they are ro and distilled. Never taken a tds meter to it though.

water can't be both ro and distilled in the same machine......
Distilled water is a heat process to make it pure
DI is a chemical process to make it pure

Distilled water is just as bad for you as rodi water.

[Luke]

well about the whole use RODI water to start up a tank...... now this is my personal opinion on this water and starting a tank....

i just filled my 240 a few months ago or so 3 days of waiting to make water brand new rodi system that i broke in. before hand.... tank cycled never tried this method I will say this I will not do it this way again. I have gone from green algea blooms to where I can not see through the tank 6 inches from the front panels to now cyano.....
I started all my other tanks with tap with decloranator and never had this issue until i wanted to so call do it the correct way this time.... I do top off and do water changes with rodi water but I believe I will stick to my plan that I know works.... I believe Lee had this problem also in his old house.

one week in and ive had no problems at all with algae or water clarity? i assume theres other factors involved though

[lvsuckerfish]

I seen tanks with not even ro water used and did not have an once of algea no fuge just a skimmer and a cannister filter and lights she had sps softies Lps everything in the tank water was clear all water changes where done with water from the spickett and salt added first. I laughed my but off when I watched her do a water change took her all of five mins. Granted she had cloudy water until I told her how to properly do a water change then all was good from there. but many situations and filteration will play a big factor in algea issues not just quality of the water do I promote using rodi YES in a big way will I start a tank up with it again there is no way in He!! i will do it again. over water changes it will cycle it's self out....

[RickMartin]

In 25 years I have never see a long term successful reef run off tap water. You can get away with all kinds of things for a little while but it will all bite you in the a@@ First I don't think there is anywhere in the US that has 0 phosphates from the tap. With a low light setup you can get away with it because your lights aren't strong enough to grow algae. Corals might survive but not thrive and the phosphates will inhibit growth. And phosphates will bond to your sand and rocks. Then when you do upgrade your lighting you will fight algae problems for months maybe even years, better to throw away the rock and sand and start over. I have heard that cooking it doesn't really work either.
And thats just one of the things we measure, what about all the heavy metals and other elements we don't test for?

[wazupjames]

Beyond the reef won't always sell you water. Call in advance.

[lvsuckerfish]

Beyond the reef won't always sell you water. Call in advance.

why not?

[kentlighting]

Here are the pictures


the systems its self, the clear lines are the pure water i have the line split into two, one goes to my auto top off bucket so i dont have to carry buckets across my apartment the other is to fill buckets in my laundry room to make salt water, the yellow waste line is run into the drain for the washer or into the washer itself to be used to wash clothes with
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4759859796_95330fceba.jpg


Here is where the water enters the system
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4759869292_e7c7b9a04c.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4759847540_d836c1d1c5.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4759847702_8b0e4bf5b4.jp

[kentlighting]

well it would seem like we censor part of T I T L E

[kentlighting]

for the time being look here for the pictures http://www.flickr.com/photos/24847294@N04/

[tomgl]

Email me the link so I can find out what it hit on please.

[tomgl]

I have a question. Is there any issue to having the ro/di plumbed into the water softened side on the house plumbing?

[bigronbo]

I would think if you have salt softener it cay mess with the filtration media quicker but not sure.