Water filtering

[jmike50]

Hi everyone,
Its me again reefer on a budget....I was wondering since I could not afford a ro/di system and have no way of really connecting it...if one of those water purifying pitchers that you use for drinking water would work for purifying well water to use to top off my tanks? I known it would take several times to do this...but I thought about purifying it and storing it in gal. jugs. Thanks for all input in advance...Mike the poor reefer:fish:

 

[rodasphoto]

I don't think it would get TDS (total dissolved solids) to acceptable levels, 0. Most of the filters in pitchers are activated carbon. RODI which is what you should use is reverse osmosis deionized water. When the water is passed through this filter system you are left with only H20.

My advise is to get RODI water from LFS or I have read here that the water purifying machines at Publix use a RODI filtration.

 

[jmike50]

thanks Roda.....anyone else chime in about the publix water?

 

[heathlindner25]

Publix water isnot rodi, it is only ro

 

[jmike50]

Thanks Heath

 

[jmike50]

Does anyone know if the water at Wal-mart is rodi? thanks

 

[cdavidson]

jmike50;842926 wrote: Does anyone know if the water at Wal-mart is rodi? thanks

I believe all grocery store filtered water is RO but not DI. I think this is because the DI would have to be replaced frequently with the volume of water they filter.

 

[hiimsean]

even if you have no place to permanently mount and RODI unit you can get one. I pull mine out of the closet and hook it up to the faucet with an adapter every time i need to make some water. It's a PITA but at least I know I'm getting good water.

 

[ichthyoid]

Mike, how much water do you need per week?

There are small DI only units that work great for nano tanks. You can buy (or build) DI only units for larger volumes, as well. RO is not an absolute necessity in GA. Our water is low enough in TDS that all but the bigger (100-150+ gal) systems can get by fine without it. At that size the RO begins to make sense from a $$ return perspective (it saves on DI resin).

My $0.02

 

[heathlindner25]

hiimsean;842934 wrote: even if you have no place to permanently mount and rodi unit you can get one. I pull mine out of the closet and hook it up to the faucet with an adapter every time i need to make some water. It's a pita but at least i know i'm getting good water.

+1

 

[jmike50]

I have a 10gal with corals and a pair of clowns and a 40gal with FOLV. Thanks guys.

Edit: Hey guys I found one on the internet that is very simple DI unit and you cna make has much has you need and store it.

 

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

Rodasphoto;842896 wrote: I don't think it would get TDS (total dissolved solids) to acceptable levels, 0. Most of the filters in pitchers are activated carbon. RODI which is what you should use is reverse osmosis deionized water. When the water is passed through this filter system you are left with only H20.

My advise is to get RODI water from LFS or I have read here that the water purifying machines at Publix use a RODI filtration.

The machine in Publix where you can bring you 5 gallon water jug does use the RO technique. It is also run through two carbon filters as well as a UV to kill bacteria. I don't believe the the end result water is De-ionized. The water is for human consumption; not for other purposes like aquariums.

I'm not a scientist, not even close; but I think de-ionized water would not be beneficial to us if we drank it. Maybe someone else could chime in on the scientific differences between just RO water compared to RODI water.

Wannabee

 

[ichthyoid]

jmike50;842966 wrote: I have a 10gal with corals and a pair of clowns and a 40gal with FOLV. Thanks guys.

Edit: Hey guys I found one on the internet that is very simple DI unit and you cna make has much has you need and store it. http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/makeupwater/ht/htdiytapfilter.htm">http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/makeupwater/ht/htdiytapfilter.htm</a>[/QUOTE]

You can also just buy some filter cannisters (HD or Lowe's) and build a nice one yourself. I would do a 4 stage min. Sponsors can get you a DI only unit for a pretty reasonable price if you ask. That saves you the DIY. You can also get adaptors for it to connect to a garden hose fitting or the kitchen sink. That saves cutting into your plumbing (which is pretty simple, IMO).

 

[ichthyoid]

Wannabee,

You would be correct. Drinking deionized water is not recommended.

While small amounts may be tolerated, you risk what is known as hyponatremic shock (low electrolytes in your blood). Consumption is also known to increase morbidity (disease) and mortality (death) from all causes.

Reversing hyponatremic patients too rapidly can cause cerebral edema (inflammation of the brain). FWIW- I just had this discussion with two surgeons in the past week.

If consumed in large enough volume, especially after strenuous physical activity, intoxication and/or delirium may result (not the 'fun' kind either). Death is a possibility. In short, you can end up in an ER.

See below for more:

 

[cedzaquaddiction]

WannabeeaReefKeeper;842968 wrote: The machine in Publix where you can bring you 5 gallon water jug does use the RO technique. It is also run through two carbon filters as well as a UV to kill bacteria. I don't believe the the end result water is De-ionized. The water is for human consumption; not for other purposes like aquariums.

I'm not a scientist, not even close; but I think de-ionized water would not be beneficial to us if we drank it. Maybe someone else could chime in on the scientific differences between just RO water compared to RODI water.

Wannabee

+1. Was thinking the same thing. DI water in not healthy for human consumption.

Also: If you go the Publix water route, make sure to test it when you get it home. Heard some success and forror stories about that stuff...

Best of luck!!!

Edit:

ichthyoid;842976 wrote: Wannabee,

You would be correct. Drinking deionized water is not recommended.

While small amounts may be tolerated, you risk what is known as hyponatremic shock (low electrolytes in your blood). Consumption is also known to increase morbidity (disease) and mortality (death) from all causes.

Reversing hyponatremic patients too rapidly can cause cerebral edema (inflammation of the brain). FWIW- I just had this discussion with two surgeons in the past week.

If consumed in large enough volume, especially after strenuous physical activity, intoxication and/or delirium may result (not the 'fun' kind either). Death is a possibility. In short, you can end up in an ER.

See below for more:

http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/nutdemineralized.pdf">http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/dwq/nutdemineralized.pdf</a>[/QUOTE]

Yeah. What he said...

 

[jmike50]

Hey guys thanks for all the advice..........put a WTB ad in the correct forum.