RO/DI water why?

[treeoflife]

I have been reading a lot and it comes highly recomended to use RO/DI water for a salt tank... why? I have been using well water for 2 years and have not had any problems.

[CarmieJo]

Modern synthetic salts are formulated to mix with RO/DI water. Tap water, whether city or well, can be contaminated with undesirable elements or compounds. Even water that has yielded satisfactory results may become contaminated and create problems in your tank. When the filter is properly maintained RO/DI water is very pure and you are assured of consistent quality.

[AZDesertRat]

The simple answer is consistency. With a properly maintained RO/DI system you get the same water quality every time. Your well could be influenced by minerals, sand and silt, clay or particulates, nearby septic systems or leachbeds, herbicieds, pesticides, fuels dropped on the ground, stormwater runoff and leachate, nearby surface water impoundments or any number of things. The RO/DI takes all those out opf the equation.

[ScubaBosh]

I highly recommend using RO/DI; however, my friend has been using his well water for 3years now on 3 different tanks and has outstanding color and growth. He does not check his parameters at all (I do not recommend that at all) but he seems to have very good well water and has no problems. either way, Good luck

[Amphibious]

While Canada is generally blessed with good ground water, the fact is you don’t know for sure if YOUR ground water is good. A simple test will confirm it or could warn you of problems. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) is one measurement of contaminants. Buy a TDS meter and test your water. The number on the meter tells you if you need a RO/DI unit. If it reads 0 you are among the luckiest people on earth. I know of nowhere that has unfiltered water that pure. My well water measure 578 ppm TDS. Horrendous water! After running my well water through my RO/DI unit, the reading is 0 ppm. Zero ppm of RO/DI water is considered Laboratory quality water. That is what is best for your SW aquarium.

Dick

[AZDesertRat]

I wish mine was only 578 . Its usually over 800 and can get to over 1200 at times depending on the source blend and treatment plant and method being used. I wouldn't even be in this hobby if it wasn't for RO/DI water.

[V]

I have been reading a lot and it comes highly recomended to use RO/DI water for a salt tank... why?

Because if you pass up the chance to body surf to the front letter box, then your just letting the best things in life pass you by!!!!

[AZDesertRat]

Here are a couple reasons why i recommend RO/DI.
The first photo is a water treatment plant innundated by flooding in Atlanta GA.



The next one is from one of my recent projects where a contractor dug into a water main.




This one is a fire hyrdant that got hit by a car, look at the buildup inside the hydrant.

[Amphibious]

I wish mine was only 578 . Its usually over 800 and can get to over 1200 at times

800 to 1200 YIKES!!! That’s a huge task for any RO/DI unit.

Not sure if treeoflife can relate to your pictures. He’s asking about his well water. He needs a TDS meter to be sure. Plus he states he’s not had any problems in 2 years.

[treeoflife]

I have sent a sample to a lab for full analysis to find out what the break down of my TDS is it tested at 187, i know we have calcium, lime and a bit of iron but i don't see how these are harmful to a tank

[Amphibious]

Great. Keep us posted.

[treeoflife]

found out today that i have 158 ppm Ca, 21 ppm Mg, 26 ppb Fe, and 19 ppm Mn

[CarmieJo]

I would be concerned about the Fe, it is several orders of magnitude higher than in the ocean where it is 0.006 ppb. But presumably that is not a number that fluctuates so it has been working for you. You may need to dose extra alk to balance the Ca in your water. Of course, I guess we don't know if the Ca is actually available.

[treeoflife]

i knew my iron was a bit high before the test as you can taste it in the water the ph of my water ph is 8.3 so I have to assume that a fair amount of Ca is availible

[Amphibious]

Ryan, you might just be one of the lucky few with nearly perfect well water. Mineral content of water sources varies greatly around the globe. It is what causes varying degrees of problems for reefers. In order to gain consistency of water quality with the least amount of variance, artificial salt makers formulate their product to give known results using pure water (TDS 0 ppm) as a base. The vast majority of people who reef will benefit greatly from utilizing a RO/DI unit to produce as pure a water as possible. Owning a RO/DI unit is the best way of accomplishing that. You, Ryan, may be one of the few who don’t need to follow that rule. Accurate testing of your freshly mixed SW would give you the answer. Using it for two years without trouble is another way.


For the rest of us, we are better served with our own RO/DI unit. Buying “pure” water at various outlets that sell it by the 5 gallon jug is not wise because they don’t remove the TDSs. I’ve tested bottled water and found TDS readings in the 100s. Not acceptable for reefing. Even buying RO or RO/DI water at your LFS is not wise. First, the on going cost. Second, your time and fuel to get there. Third, have they maintained their RO/DI pre-filters and membrane in top working condition? The only sure way to pure water is to own your own unit.

Dick

[CarmieJo]

Last year I tested the RO/DI water from a LFS that I no longer go to for multiple reasons and it was 10!

[sunny d polyp]

Carmie did you say 10? hehe.

[V]

Yet another great reason to choose RO/DI water.

The waste water can be used to grow your very own Rocky Horror Picture Show Plants, that admittedly display unusual sexual cognations, but great conversationalists just the same... lol

[SLICKtopPOMP]

Hi everyone. I'm really new to saltwater terms and abbreviations and was just wondering what exactly does RO/DI stand for?? I'm pretty sure it has something to do with water. Forgive my ness.

[CarmieJo]

Reverse Osmosis/DeIonized It is pure water and, in 99% of the cases, is the best basis for your aquarium.