Starting a new tank question

[umbrellacorp]

You guys with 100 gallon+ tanks.. what did you do to start up the tanks as far as getting the water? Did your LFS have enough containers for you to get all the water in one trip? I was going to use distilled because id have to make a dozen trips to the LFS to get all RO due to container issues. Though i know RO is definitely the best, is distilled definitely out of the question?

 

[jef4y]

Pretty much anyone who has a 100 gallon tank also has an RO/DI system in their house and makes their own water.

 

[silver surfer]

Make your own rodi water. It is great way to make sure you have 0 tds. Plus if you have an emergency, you won't have to run to the lfs.

 

[bruce 1]

Make your own it will be way cheaper.

 

[mr difficult]

JeF4y;681940 wrote: Pretty much anyone who has a 100 gallon tank also has an RO/DI system in their house and makes their own water.

+1 I just went over a 150 gallon display love that I was talked into a RODI and they are so easy to install.

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

For what you'll spend in running back and forth, you'd pay for an RO/DI unit probably in the first filling or two of the tank. I'm sure if you look on here, somebody has one to sell. It's an investment you'll never regret. Even on sale, most water is $ .80 to $1/gallon....couple that with your time and gas money.......well you get the picture.

 

[umbrellacorp]

really? i didnt know people actually owned their own RODI systems. I would assume they are very expensive.. though ive never checked. Ill look around. Thanks guys.

So distilled is definitely a bad idea?

 

[kilo32]

UmbrellaCorp;681959 wrote: really? i didnt know people actually owned their own RODI systems. I would assume they are very expensive.. though ive never checked. Ill look around. Thanks guys.

So distilled is definitely a bad idea?

You can do an RO/DI for less than $200 new and even less if you pick one up used. Just keep in mind when you're pricing used ones that you may need to get new filters so factor that in to the final price. The convenience of having water at your disposal is worth the cost as long as you have the space especially if you also get a large holding tank which also adds to the convenience.

 

[gnashty]

If this is your very first fill up of the tank, assuming a 6-8 week cycle period or longer you could probably get away with a portion (like 25% or so)of your water from the tap but make sure you use a conditioner like Prime.

I would still look into an RO/DI. Water changes on a 100+ can be daunting enough depending on tank location and drain/make up water resources. Adding a task like making a special trip somewhere for water would just make water changes that much more "delayable" for me.

 

[qasimja]

i just got a 32G brute trash can and filled with ro/di water mixed with salt and pumped it into the tank took about 3 days for me to finally fill the tank lol

 

[umbrellacorp]

Qasimja;681995 wrote: i just got a 32G brute trash can and filled with ro/di water mixed with salt and pumped it into the tank took about 3 days for me to finally fill the tank lol

Lol how big was the tank?

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

 

[qasimja]

UmbrellaCorp;682007 wrote: Lol how big was the tank?

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

125g

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[wally]

I don't have room to make my own water. Pure Reef sold me all my saltwater to get started. They have enough containers for you to transport your water. You have to buy the containers, but they let you return them for store credit.

Great deal if you don't mind having the store credit rather than cash back in hand.


Wally

 

[umbrellacorp]

Wally;682122 wrote: I don't have room to make my own water. Pure Reef sold me all my saltwater to get started. They have enough containers for you to transport your water. You have to buy the containers, but they let you return them for store credit.

Great deal if you don't mind having the store credit rather than cash back in hand.


Wally

ah great.. thanks. i just really dont think i need my own RO unit. I dont have big enough tanks to justify buying one.

 

[frantz]

unless you plan on getting out of the hobby it will pay for itself before you buy new filters if you are comparing to buying water from LFS

 

[umbrellacorp]

getting paid today.. so ill prolly gonna get the tank started. My filters etc. havent arrived. But i have a used heater and filter i can use until mine get here. Gonna get it filled up and turn on the heater/filter and get some LR in there to get the cycling process started.

 

[sonofdagon]

Air,water and ice ARC sponsor has some good ro/di units. Unless you just want fish only I think they are one of those essential pieces of equipment. I wouldn't keep any kind of invert without one. It will pay for itself in no time.

 

[morganatlanta]

I use an API Tap Water Filter. It produces 0 TDS from my City of Atlanta water at 6 gallons per hour. The filter just screws onto a faucet with an adapter, so you put it on when you need some water, then take it off when you are done. Since it gives a much better production rate than you get from small RODI units, it's a nice option if you don't have a place to store a lot of water. With City of Atlanta water, I get over 200 gallons of water from a $25 cartridge.

 

[jef4y]

For reference, I had an RODI system when I had my biocube 29. Just so much easier than buying water and lugging it around.

Things like RODI, refractometer, test kits, etc are all essential components to the hobby.

 

[acroholic]

UmbrellaCorp;681932 wrote: You guys with 100 gallon+ tanks.. what did you do to start up the tanks as far as getting the water? Did your LFS have enough containers for you to get all the water in one trip? I was going to use distilled because id have to make a dozen trips to the LFS to get all RO due to container issues. Though i know RO is definitely the best, is distilled definitely out of the question?

If you buy 150 gallons of store made salt water at $1 a gallon you have just spend the same amount as you would have on a nice RODI unit.