How essential are RO/DI Units for SW Tanks?

mademperor

mademperor

Go Go Rock Bass!
Jul 5, 2007
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Buffalo, NY
My knowledge is just in FW, but I tend to read these forums a bit out of curiosity. My father used to have a 90g Reef, but after about 5yrs it crashed and pretty much everything died.

Just recently he decided to setup a 56g Fish/Live Rock tank.

I read that a RO/DI unit is pretty essential for SW
He Claims that "Technical" Support at Dr. Foster & Smith said his well water is good enough to use.
-He said he would Pre-Filter the water by letting it sit in a 10g tank for awhile with a HOB on it. I don't know how this will really help clean well water.

I just don't want to see this tank crash like his last.
Is a RO/DI unit required for SW Fish/Live Rock?
 
Depends on your local water. Personally I wouldn't setup a marine tank without one even if your water quality was "okay." Because your local water quality can change, RO/DI will always be the same.
 
they really bit the bullet when building homes.... I should have 3 tap handles in my house 1 hot 1 cold and one perfect marine water
 
Personally, I would say they're totally essential.

And I learned that the hard way. I was algae master for quite some time.

Even now, I'm still an expert witness to the algae defense team...
 
PS - I used to use well water.

Please see picture below:

IMG_2956.jpg


YMMV. :)
 
kryptic4l said:
they really bit the bullet when building homes.... I should have 3 tap handles in my house 1 hot 1 cold and one perfect marine water
Click to expand...


:grinyes: I 2nd that!

I would still be using RO/DI or RO water the min. Can easily get RO by 5gallon jugs at wally world.
 
I talked to someone at my LFS. He said that if you can't do RO then the next best was to use:

Poly Filter (in a Hob ect)
and this other stuff that lasts 6weeks I forget what it was (not carbon)
 
How much does a bag of phosban or whatever and a HOB filter cost?

$50? More?

$100 will get you a really nice Ro/Di unit on ebay from filtersdirect (do a search on here for it, and you'll find it).

I have mine in my garage, and i screw it onto my garden hose faucet whenever i use it, and unscrew it when i need to wash a car or mow the lawn.

I think that adapter was like $5 from the same company.

Honestly, I wouldn't even start a tank without one anymore...and certainly don't see how one can go not recommended as a vital part of the aquarium system.
 
Subliminal said:
How much does a bag of phosban or whatever and a HOB filter cost?

$50? More?

$100 will get you a really nice Ro/Di unit on ebay from filtersdirect (do a search on here for it, and you'll find it).

I have mine in my garage, and i screw it onto my garden hose faucet whenever i use it, and unscrew it when i need to wash a car or mow the lawn.

I think that adapter was like $5 from the same company.

Honestly, I wouldn't even start a tank without one anymore...and certainly don't see how one can go not recommended as a vital part of the aquarium system.
Click to expand...

He is convinced that he doesn't need one. Instead he is dropping $400 on Live Rock and hundreds on 10g tank to prefilter water and UV Light

:wall:

When his $2,000 tank dies like his last I can say I tried to help lol.
meanwhile my $50 Rubbermaid continues on strong.
 
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