tap water

[Proteus]

+100

I have only been in the hobby for a year and just in the last few months have aquired Sps. And now that the tank is worth as much as it is I will be getting ro. My worry isn't everyday water but during spring breakup when water quality goes down. I would cry if I lost my reef.

[Reef Pilot]

I check my tap water in Langley every once in while, and most times it is near 50. I know here they also use ground water, so maybe our water isn't quite as good as elsewhere in Metro Vancouver.

But what really surprised me just recently, is when I changed my 10 micron sediment filter (1st filter). It is usually brown, but this time (after about 4 months use) it was also covered with a brown/reddish slime. My flow had suddenly slowed, which is the usual clue to change that filter, but I have never seen it this bad.

So my guess is that sometimes the water quality may vary, for some reason, maybe because of construction in the area. But at least my RO/DI filter always does the job, where the final water is 0 or 1 at worst.

I have a before and after TDS meter on my filter system to measure RO output and DI separately. Usually my RO water is 0 or 1, but it does rise to 4 or 5 sometimes (DI still mostly 0). Then I open my RO flush and DI bypass valves for about 10 minutes or so, and the RO goes back to 0 or 1 after that.

[Proteus]

What is the benifit of DI. Is RO enough

[Reef Pilot]

DI is the final step to get it down to 0 consistently. When it gets used up (resin color changes), the final output may be 1 or higher, and then you have to change it.

[Proteus]

I have been looking at different models and I see 5 stage and 7 stage. Is the seven just a longer lasting system. Sorry for my ignoance.

[Reef Pilot]

I use the 75 gpd Typhoon III model here, but with a few extra features, incl before/after TDS meters, 2 pressure tanks (so you can get quick flow for about 5 gals or so) and a pressure meter.
http://www.airwaterice.com/category/1/

A couple things I really like about it are; clear canisters to check on filters, flush and bypass valves (prolongs life of RO memebrane), the meters, separate RO line for drinking water, and the pressure tanks for quick flow (great feature). And the filters are just all standard which you can buy anywhere.

I don't think you need a 7 stage system unless you have really bad water.

[Proteus]

Thank you. My TDS is 127. But it's coming on spring. So there is dirty runoff

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by Titus99

Thank you. My TDS is 127. But it's coming on spring. So there is dirty runoff

If it's really bad, your sediment filter (1st one) will have to be changed more frequently.

[Cubeman]

Reef Pilot - thanks for the info on Langley water. I just moved here in December and am amazed at how quickly my RO/DI unit got dirty. I could go over a year on Vancouver Island without giving the unit a second thought. I don't have an inline TDS meter but think I'm going to have to spring for one.

[paddyob]

Originally Posted by mat20040

Does anyone have success in keeping coral reef tank with just tap water?

Yes. Never have, never will use RO/DI.

Treat with prime or aqua vitro and thats it.

I am anti-RO.

6 years and counting, no tap water issues. No algae blooms thats everyone swears I should have.

Marketing convinces people that its required.... so do sales people. Lots of hooey.

Tap water is fine.

Here is a link to a poll I posted. More people NOT using RO.

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=82866