RO System

[cjpaske]

I purchased a water filtration unit from Home Depot for about 70$. It only has one filter in it.
Will this system work for my new saltwater tank or will I need to add something else to it?

 

[broncofish]

I use a similar one from lowes. I replaced all the brass fittings with PVC. It works fine, I think a little bit of phosphates still get through because I have a little bit of diatom algae every now and then, the plus side to that is I have figthing conches

 

[dreeves]

If it is a single canister type filter...chances are it is probably some sort of carbon block filter. If this is the case, phosphates, nitrates and silica will pass though it.

 

[slick]

IMO it's better than nothing but not as good as a 4-5 stage RO/DI

 

[broncofish]

I'm not to wise in the ways of ro/di, but is a bare bones single stage Ro just a carbon block? I have testd nitrates and they are 0 coming out of the filter.

 

[cjpaske]

I really appriciate the input, I have a 60 gallon tank with a 20 gallon refuge system that I built. Before the water enters the refuge from the tank I am going thru a filtered sponge. Is there some type of carbon or other filtration granites that I can add to help with the water?
This is my first saltwater reef tank and I do not want to harm the plants or have a bad algae problem.
Thanks again for all your help..

 

[birdy]

I bought a 4 stage RO/DI unit for 99.00, I would shop around and get that, it is well worth the 30 extra dollars.

 

[dreeves]

A barebones RO system is just that...an RO system with no additional, or maybe a sediment or carbon filter.
The RO is a membrane, which water is passed, is a very fine, porous filter which only allows the water molecules to pass. Everything else is filtered.
Each stage in an RO system increases the cost as well as contaminates filtered. RO doesn't filter contaminants such as herbicides and related man made compounds. An addition stage (Carbon) will. Right on down the line...through sediment filter, carbon block filters (sometimes 2) RO membrane, and on through a di-ionization cartridge and possibly even a final stage of a UV sterilizer.
All a matter of what you do not want in your water, and are willing to spend.
As mentioned prior, shop around. RO units made by aquarium orientated companies are usually far more expensive then domestic drinking water orietated companies.