making water

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02tts

AC Members
Jul 18, 2008
26
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0
curious....are most of you making your own water and if so are you using RO/DI filters, or using tap water, or mixing 50/50 or are you buying at the store...

also, wondering what it costs you to make your own water on a monthly basis...based on 500 or 1000 gallons...$2-$5 plus salt?

according to my water company, I pay 1.96 for every 1000 gallons of usage...sounds cheap..?
 
I use tap water, from a well, so it costs me the electricity to pump it up, bu thats about it. After I finish my water change, I refill the trash can I use with water, add the salt mix, and put a pump in to mix it, so when I do the change the next week the water is all ready to go.
 
All costs included on a municipal water supply, it costs me roughly $0.22 / gallon to make RO/DI water. Add about $0.25 / gallon to that for salt mix. Considering the LFSs charge a minimum of $0.50 / gallon for fw and no less than $1.00 / gallon for sw, my savings (both in terms of time and money) add up pretty quickly versus making trips to the LFS to buy water.
 
hmm... That actually sounds expensive... Judging by my municipal water co.
I'm going to have to call them again to verify but they said 1.96 every 1k gallons...
 
i buy my ro water from a lfs.
i would suggest buying a ro/di unit beacause its much cheaper in the long run
as far as salt i ususally buy it once in a large bucket or in large bags then mix it for 24 hours ahead of time in bucked with a PH to mix it around and dissolve it all..
 
02tts said:
hmm... That actually sounds expensive... Judging by my municipal water co.
I'm going to have to call them again to verify but they said 1.96 every 1k gallons...
Click to expand...

The water from the city is definitely the cheapest part. Most of the expense in my calculation comes from maintenance of the RO/DI unit itself (cartridge / DI resin upkeep, including shipping costs).
 
gotcha...do you guys feel RO/DI is absolutely necessary or is RO good enough...also, what are most of you guys using, 2,3 or 4 part RO/DI units...
 
02tts said:
gotcha...do you guys feel RO/DI is absolutely necessary or is RO good enough...also, what are most of you guys using, 2,3 or 4 part RO/DI units...
Click to expand...

For aquarium use, I highly suggest RO/DI, since major nutrient ions, like phosphate, easily pass through the membrane. A DI resin will scavenge those excess ions that the membrane couldn't catch. I suggest 4 stage units for most people. That being said, I use a 6 stage unit.
 
I used treated tap for years until finally springing for an ro/di filter. It has made this hobby so much easier, not to mention the piece of mind I get with knowing whats in my water. I no longer have any issues with nitrates or phosphates. As for salt, I use IO reef crystals that I buy in bulk. The bucket is enough for 165 gallons at a price of $35. I was paying almost double this, but recently found a local on-line company that agreed to set aside orders for will-call pickup.
 
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