To buy or not to buy RODI

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spardoin

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So I am going to be purchasing a 65G reef ready tank, when I get the quote on it I'll post that information to see what people think, but I am wondering on your thoughts on whether to buy a RODI water purifier or just go with the local fish store water. Also if I don't purchase the RODI do i just buy the LFS salt water ($1.25 per gallon) or still make my own (there RODI water is .55 per gallon). If you say go with the LFS water, does your suggestion hold true for just my initial filling of the tank or just for later?
In regards to the RODI set up. I don't have plubming skills, so would I need to have a plumber set it up in my house. Another issue is that I would have to set it up in our basement. I will not be able to store buckets and such on the same level as the tank, at least not permanently.
 
I used tap water for a year, I now have an RODI and consider it a great investment.
 
I spent a year getting RO from my local super-market. It was a PITA but worked. Then I got a RO/DI and couldn't imagine being without it. The running around & carrying jugs really sucks.
 
You don't have to plumbing skills. There several types of different units out there. You could just get a plastic threaded garden adapter.
 
If you have any plans to keep the tank past 6 months OR plan to have a heavily stocked tank whether this means corals or fish I would get your own unit. It will pay for itself easily in the first year. Your own unit means 2 things, water on tap in case of emergency, and consistency. Unless your store is offering to show TDS readings on their RODI before they sell it to you; you dont know what your getting. That can compound problems in early tanks and algae. Besides, it feels good to do like a 25-40% water change once in a bit; how many buckets do you like to carry :P. i spent 200$ and got a 4 stage and filters to last me; well 3 years at this rate. Apparently forsyth water stays under 40tds most of the year!
 
I could not imagine having a reef tank without an RODI unit once I have one. I use to work at the lfs i think you are speaking of and I thought it was a pita hauling water when i was at uga even when i was at AO almost every day.

if you need help installing i am sure that jimmie, daniel or chelsea could help you with the installation.
 
Get the RODI, you'll save money over the long haul. I am not a plumbing expert or anything and I set mine up very easily. I put a Y fitting on my washing machine cold line with a valve. Takes about ten minutes visualizing and dry fitting pieces at HD or Lowes. Feel free to PM me with any questions. I also did the the LFS water initially, so so much nicer to not have to drive to get water!
 
If you get your own unit it will get paid itself, compared with the money you could expend on getting water from lfs, filters always last depending on your water source as well you can monitoring the life of them, installing it is not complicated, then there is a company here in Georgia that can beat prices anywhere online and local, I have added mine a float valve, a TDS meter and a pressure gauge, you could find that already installed on a new unit but that of course will increase the price, and I would suggest that if you get little involved with the manuals you will know how to do it.
 
Just to be different.... No I won't go there. Like everyone else said, buy one. It is worth every penny. As for carrying the water up the stairs, you would have to carry it from the LFS so whats the differance. Mine is not on the same floor as my tank either. Although in my case I carry it down the stairs. LOL
 
+1 on getting the RODI. You will not regret it.

I plumbed mine into my hot water heater supply line with the piercing connectors. Took 5 minutes and required a single screw driver to tighten the clamp and my hand to twist the t-valve to pierce the copper. I figure if I ever remove it ill just tighten the valve and disconnect. There are also faucet connectors and other options. Most are pretty simple.

I connected the waste water line the same way but to the the emergency overflow which dumps to a sump outside and pumps to a rain barrel. But if you have a drain somewhere then plumbing it would suffice.

One thing to realize that I did not at first was that only about 20% of the input water gets filtered and the rest becomes waste water. BRS has an optional upgrade if you have the water pressure that adds another membrane and doubles the efficiency. I recently got one and am happy.

Check out bulkreefsupply.com if you have not already. Even my LFS gave me that advice even though they carried RODI units themselves. 4 stage in Forsyth has worked well for me and be sure to get a system with a pressure Gauge and dual TDS as part of it.

I make my water in a 35 gallon Brute trash can from Home Depot, which is fairly common. BRS also sells an inexpensive float cutoff that you can easily install in the can to make the amount you want for water changes.

Also in Forsyth and after 1.5 years I recently replaced my pre filters, which are dirt cheap, just because. TDS still read 0 out and there is 70+ pounds of pressure.

Not going to fight the battle of salt choice es here but I will say I started with Salinity and now use Red Sea Coral Pro and didn't really notice much difference. I'm now dosing two part from BRS but that's another topic for many other threads.

Thumbs tired, sorry if you knew all this already. Good luck.
 
I currently get RO from Aquarium outfitters myself as I do not have a rodi. But hope to get one soon. I enjoyed going to the store and picking their brains when I had no experience in this hobby. But in emergencies having your own is priceless, plus not having to make the trip and lugging buckets is another plus IMHO.
 
Regarding the basement. Any way to run a hose or two through the floor to your tank? Get a pump capable of pushing/pulling the distance and you're on your way to much quicker and easier water changes. Personally I wish I had a basement, my first thought is putting the sump and equipment below the tank and have the overflow and return lines running through the floor. Then the water station could be next to the pump.
 
Thank you all for the advice, i'm definitely convinced and I'll be purchasing a RO/DI. K3NNYP along with my lack of plumbing skills come a lack of carpentry skills. The idea to go through the floor to the basement is a great one, but not one that I would even suggest to my wife.
 
I know when I was considering getting my RO/DI, I actually worked it out that it would pay for itself in around the 4 month mark or so between making water for water changes and the top off water. This included the cost of the unit and the cost of water needed from the county.

The single biggest thing in getting one up and running to make sure one way or another there is an automated way of turning it off. Either through a float valve or the use of a timer. The last thing you want to do is forget to turn it off and it go through a ton of water and getting hit a nice water bill.
 
+ what everyone else said. I couldn't imagine not having one. It my seem more expensive but I bet by the time you calculate your gas, time, and money spent on buying from lfs the unit will pay for itself in what you will save
 
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