Should I invest in an RO/DI filter or just buy other stuff?

[celbrise]

I have a really bad diatom problem at first it went away all on it's own until we went away for vacation and the pet sitter didn't do as I told them to do so my parameters were screwed. Few months later it won't go away. I know it's not the substrate because i've had the same substrate in for a year or more now in this tank so it must be the water supply.

I am looking at 2 options. 1. Buy an RO/DI filter which i am greatly considering because i want to get into Corals ( not sure if they are even legal in my state some say yes some no ) or 2. Buy some sort of thing to put into my cannister filter to remove the silicate. this is a cheaper alternative but im going to have to constantly be buying this idk how often every month perhaps.

 

[bang guy]

RO/DI is a great investment. Silicates are not the only thing you don't want to add to your tank every week.

 

[flower]

I second that... Your water quality is the #1 priority. Here where I live you can get RO water from the grocery store at the refill station, it's at least better then tap or well water, if you can't afford a unit just yet.

 

[beaslbob]

IMHO RO/DI will not affect diatoms and other algae/cyano problems.

The problem is light and nutrients. The nutrients IMHO come overwhelming from the bioload not the input water.

So I kill the lights and suspend feeding until it clears up. (well I get do feed 2 per week lightly if it lasts longer then a week).

I also recommend macro algaes in the refugium as well.


my .02

 

[celbrise]

IMHO RO/DI will not affect diatoms and other algae/cyano problems.

The problem is light and nutrients. The nutrients IMHO come overwhelming from the bioload not the input water.

So I kill the lights and suspend feeding until it clears up. (well I get do feed 2 per week lightly if it lasts longer then a week).

I also recommend macro algaes in the refugium as well.


my .02

I don't have a refugium just a cannister filter and circulator at the moment. this tank also has no lighting at all the only light it does get is indirect sunlight.