Water Filter Advice

cmonti

cmonti

Member
I am new to the hobby and have yet to purchase an RO filter unit. I have been using distilled for changes and top off. I just moved into a new home and there is an undersink filter mounted inside my sink base cabinet. I need to advice on the product and would liek to know if its safe to use for my tank. The link below details the filter (it is not intended as a competitive product link to another website, just for information purposes only).. Thanks
http://www.filtersfast.com/Omni-Filter-OCT32-undersink-water-filter-system.asp
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
First I'd recommend actually testing your water and see what your levels are......Most might not agree, but a good place to start IMHO.....Honestly the filter system you listed is great for drinking water for us, but personally I wouldn't use it to fill or top of my aquarium. I would look at an actual RO/DI unit. AirWaterIce Typhoon III makes a very nice unit that could also be used to obtain drinking water through by a flip of a valve.....
 
cmonti

cmonti

Member
My main concern about using the filtered water from an non RO/DI unit was the possibility of it contributing to my nitrate issue. Ive had some trouble in getting my levels below 20. I have 2 clowns that i feed a very small amount twice a day. For filtration, I have 20 lbs of live rock in a 20G tank. Im running a skimmer that has a media chamber currently holding DeNitrate. About 2 weeks ago, I converted my aquaclear filer into a mini fuge with some LR rubble and cheato to hopefully export some nitrates and provide a more natural, biological filtration environment. I just checked the nitrate levels from the water coming from the filter I have and the reading is 0!!. I do understand that getting an RO/DI unit would be ideal but I do nott have an algae problem, just nitrates. The water source really doesnt seem to be causing any problems. Any advice on how to get nitrates down. I really want to add some LPS soon! Oh and I do 20% water changes every week.
 
flower

flower

Well-Known Member

What you want is a 5 stage unit, what is under your sink is a 2 stage, I had one of those at my Moms house...There is one big plus. The unit can be swapped out and a new one installed in it's place, giving you an RO unit right there close at hand and out of the way. Mine had a little faucet on the top of the sink to use, it looks like what you have as well
 
cmonti

cmonti

Member
Im thinking it should be pretty easy to swap out what I have, for a new 5 stage unit. Thanks guys. Any advice on lower nitrates. Seems like there is no secret cure, just a light bio load and frequent water changes.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Good maintenance, watch what you feed, rinse your frozen foods......The swap out of the 2 units will take you 5 minutes.....
 
cmonti

cmonti

Member
rinse frozen food?? Never heard of that. can you explain. The only frozen I feed is mysis. I defrost a about a half cube in water with a few squirts of vitamins. Should be doing something different?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
I rinse all my frozen foods....I put them in a small cup and defrost them in water.....then I drain the water out in a small fish net
some people rinse it more, BUT that is all I do....IF I am going to add vitamins, I put the food back into the cup and add a couple of drops...wait 10 minutes or so....and feed the tanks
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
I drain the liquid off once it thaws and add a bit of RO/DI water and drain off again. Really no need to constantly dose with vitamins. Have you ever tested to see what the vitamins do to your water quality?
 
meowzer

meowzer

Moderator
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///forum/thread/383161/water-filter-advice#post_3350602
I drain the liquid off once it thaws and add a bit of RO/DI water and drain off again. Really no need to constantly dose with vitamins. Have you ever tested to see what the vitamins do to your water quality?
HERE HERE....LOL....I was dosing daily until Acrylic told me to stop.....LOL....my fish are just as healthy and my water quality is much better.....I do use a drop here and there though...just cause I have a lot of vitamins...
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Not advising not to use vitamins.....and there are times and places for everything, but why dose unnecessarily when not needed....
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
I know sometimes it's not easy to put what your meaning on paper at times, or tour mind thinks faster than you type.
 
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