R/O less D/I anyone?

[Matt]

There are tons of FAQs around... short answer is that DI is much more complete in removing contaminates than RO is. You can run DI only, but it is more expensive. My office runs RO, and my TDS reads almost 40, while my RO/DI reads 2. Compare to city water (which I haven't read in a while) of well over 300.

That's a quantitative difference, but I can't tell you what the practical remifications to your reef are. They both run a carbon stage (or two), and that deals with the chlor(am)ine, so the most dangerous stuff for your reef is gone without RO or DI. My guess is that the traces of stuff left after RO is likely not too much to worry about.

Matthew

[Funky_Fish14]

I had been getting just RO water from the store, which was obviously alot better than tap-water. I then purchased an RO/DI unit, which I find the water is fantastic to use as there seems to be alot less algae growth since I have started using it. I never checked up on all that stuff but everything I heard sounds to be the same as what matt said.

Chris

[Saltysteve]

Thanks for the replies guys. I have been using commercial, delivered bottled R/O water in my tank since day 1. I live in the mountains so my "home brewed water" is starting off with a much better chance compared to treated city water etc, or at least my membrane will last longer In using the R/O bottled water I still get diatoms, cyano etc. Wonder if the D/I part of the system is the ticket. D/I filter with canister (holder) lines etc is roughly another 80 to 100 bucks on top of the unit I got.

Anyone do any major water tests between R/O and R/O D/I?

[NanoReef]

RO water has only 95% of impurities taken out were as RO/DI water has 99% of impurities taken out. I myself have an RO/DI unit and love it!

i was using bought bottled ro water and was having cyno problems but ever since i got my ro/di system the cyno has completely disappeared.

[Saltysteve]

This is going to get pricey
How long did it take for you to start noticing a difference?
If the D/I filter takes care of the algae issues, I'm in!

[NanoReef]

it isnt expensive at all. I baught mine on ebay. it is made by a company called Aqua-Safe Systems. It ended up being $100 after shipping and shipping insurance and everyting. It is by far the best purchase i have made!