BRITA water purifier?

[d0 thy d3w]

is it ok to use those water purifiers taht alot of people keep on their sinks instead of an RO unit? cuz if so..the savings are huge..i took a quick peak at those Brita tap water purifiers at fred myer the other day...they claim to take out all the lead, chlorine, and a good sized list of other stuff that i didnt take the time to remember..but they range from like 18-30 bucks..any opinions? experience? or suggestions?

 

[griffiscustoms]

I'd like to know the answer to this myself. Can't hardly see paying $200-300 or more for a RO/DI unit and replacing cartridges once a month or more at $30 each per pop (or more).
I realize this is an expensive hobby, but is ro/di water really that much different than water ran through one of these faucet filters that claim to do so much?

 

[reefkprz]

those brita filters are just charcoal filters thats all, they do not remove disolved solids, or de ionize your water. ro/di is far better

 

[boozzbro]

they do remove chlorine though which is the main thing you really need to be doing with tap water. Doing the Brita or Pur thing is better than nothing. But once you get a big tank youll probably be goign through the filters so fast you might end up getting a RO Unit.
Personally i would get just the RO not the RO/DI. RO will get you good enough water to where it wont really matter and its not too expensive. Also you dont have to worry about aeration as much because most of the dissoved oxygen is still in the water.

 

[reefkprz]

thats true they do remove clorine but why spend 18$ for charcoal you use a powerhead to mix your salt just throw a bag of cheap charcoal from the fish store in the bucket for a while with the power head blowing through it? then it only cost like five bucks for three times as much charcoal. but seriously I still recomend ro water over just charcoal filtered.

 

[laddy]

Don't skimp on water.
Don't skimp on proper/varied diet.
That's 90% of the hobby.
DO skimp on suppliments you don't need in the first place that advertisers tell you that you need.

 

[fishguy56]

I use walmart water 33 cent a gallon, works well for me!!!

 

[efishnsea]

Originally Posted by griffiscustoms
I'd like to know the answer to this myself. Can't hardly see paying $200-300 or more for a RO/DI unit and replacing cartridges once a month or more at $30 each per pop (or more).
I realize this is an expensive hobby, but is ro/di water really that much different than water ran through one of these faucet filters that claim to do so much?
Mine was $150, and I replace the TFC once a year and the carbon and sediment mabey every 6 mths, or whenever my TDS meter tells me to. FYI I add 2g/day top off water in my 210.....

 

[ophiura]

Originally Posted by boozzbro
they do remove chlorine though which is the main thing you really need to be doing with tap water.

I disagree on this point. This is not the main thing you would remove with tap water. It is easy to remove chlorine...far more difficult to remove things like copper, and various other minerals in the water.

 

[d0 thy d3w]

maybe next time i have a chance ill take the time to really check one of those things out and maybe jot sun notes down on a "sticky note" or something..ill tell you all what they "supposedly" filter out and ill give sum more info....or maybe..ill try applying for a job at my lfs to make sum money and buy one..but the last time i tried to apply the lady i asked told me i had to be 18..thats 3 years away for me...i love the hobby and i know it is expensive..but ive been doing ok so far...and im still learning as we all are...but..im gunna try to talk to the manager and see if i could possibly get a job in aquatics..even if i have to be that guy that catches and bags fish for people..and does water tests or whatever...whats suprising..or maybe not surprising really is that i know more about fish than most of the peopel who work there..so..ill give it a shot..

 

[geridoc]

I just ran a test on my water from various sources. Here are the results:
Tap water entering my Typhoon III: 185 ppm TDS
RODI water from Typhoon III: 0 ppm TDS
Tap water in kitchen, next to nano tank: 205 ppm TDS
Tap water filtered though Pur filter (2 week old filter cartridge): 195 ppm TDS
Like the man said - RODI, save your money and skip the Brita/Pur charcoal filter.

 

[d0 thy d3w]

gah...looks like i need to find a job.oh well in few hours ill be leaving to take care of my horses..and hopefully stop at the lfs to pick up few things i need..
so ill try to talk to the manager and see if i can get myself hooked up...you never know..i might get lucky.