tap water purifier

[iamjoshieg]

Is a RO/DI unit really necessary, or will a unit like this be sufficient for a reef tank?
Out of respect to SWF please do not post links.

 

[reefpro]

I dont think we're supposed to post links but an RO/DI is really necessary unless you want to buy your water.
I wouldnt suggest that unit though... If I were you I'd look at something made by SpectraPure. I've got one of their units and it's really great!

 

[iamjoshieg]

Oh ok thank you. I am sorry for posting the link, I forgot about that

 

[mopar9012]

I just buy my water from the LFS....

 

[michaeltx]

for what you pay for those types of filters its best to just add a little to the pot and get a good RO/DI unit and be secure in what you use on your tank.
Mike

 

[chinpokomon]

Making water is generally much cheaper than buying it. My RO unit was about $150 and I get about 3000 gallons per $75 filter membrane but your mileage will vary depending on your water pressure and quality. My first 3000 gallons ran about $.05 a gallon. Every 3000-gallon filter change after that runs about $100 ($75 membrane, $10 prefilter and $10 carbon) a little over $.03 a gallon and no more trips to tote water. It is hard to beat the price and convenience.

 

[aztec reef]

I would recomend an ro/di unit as well, you don't have to get an expensive one. It just has to be 4 stage ro/di unit(any brand would work) But if your looking for the best i wouldn't look farther then spectrapure..

 

[uberlink]

That unit works completely fine. It is a DI only unit, meaning that it takes everything out of the water exactly as an RO/DI unit would. The downside is that the DI is usually used only for the final stage fine filtering. As a result of having no RO element, that unit's filters wear out incredibly quickly. You only get 50-100 gallons out of a $15-20 filter. Not horrible for top offs only, but not great. You'd be better off with an RO/DI unit, which can be had in a lot of places for 100-150 bucks.

 

[joe 09]

i have a ge whole hse water filter connected to the kitchen spray. i put the carbon cartridge in it.it takes out the chlorine and rates.i did not want a large garbage can in the kitchen to store water in.the ro/di units also waste more water then it makes.i have been using it for 2 yrs.and it works great.the whole set up cost about 50$ and the cartridge last about 6 mos.

 

[reefpro]

Originally Posted by uberlink
That unit works completely fine.
We'll have to agree to disagree on that one.
Regardless I think he's gotten his answer and I hope he made an informed purchase.

 

[uberlink]

The unit he is describing is not a charcoal unit, if it's the one I'm thinking of. It is a deionizing unit, and they do work fine--even on a TDS meter. But only for a fairly short period of time, like 50 gallons. But, as I said, he'd be much better off in the longer run with an RO/DI unit.