What is RO water?

[zanoshanox]

What is RO water?

 

[subvillian]

reverse osmosis, type of filtration. there is also distilled, you can find both in your local grocery store. they are both drinking water

 

[zanoshanox]

Oh. Is it completely neccesary in SW tanks?

 

[reefnut]

Originally Posted by zanoshanox
Oh. Is it completely neccesary in SW tanks?
It is VERY highly recommended. You can buy home units to make your own or buy it from a store. Tap water is typically not suitable for sw aquariums.

 

[zanoshanox]

Does distilled water serve the same purpse effectively?

 

[dragonladylea]

Not sure where you are located but in Michigan I get my RO water at the grocery store and its cheaper than the distilled water.

 

[zanoshanox]

California. I was thinking of just getting an RO unit. They have pretty good deals on them at my LFS.

 

[viper_930]

Tap could be ok for fish only tanks depending on how clean your area's water is. But I'd use nothing but RO water for a reef tank.

 

[fadec40]

You could do the math. Buying a RO system will pay for itself in well less than a year.
Average store price is $.60 a gallon. Take that number and use it against the % of gallons of water changed in a month, then a year.
It may seem like a big expense, but over the long term, you're saving $$$ big time even when you add in the cost of filter/cartdrige replacement.

 

[zanoshanox]

I see. I'll have to look into this. Thanks guys!

 

[ktsdad]

You can also check at your local home improvement warehouse store, sometimes they have good units for a good price.
I think mine has already paid for itself in the last year since we put it up.

 

[zanoshanox]

Where do you set them up into? Your tank? Or a container of water?

 

[viper_930]

Set it up where ever you have space, such as in your tank stand or bathroom.