RO/DI....Why?

[centrek]

Hey all. Well, i keep hearing all this about using RO/DI water and everything. Everyone that is in this hobby for long seems to tell me to get an RO/DI machine or at least use the water from one. And well, since i'm easily influenced in this hobby still, because my tank is kinda shabby, i really want to get one and use water for my tank. Well, my dad on the other hand thinks that using RO/DI water is a bunch of "whoooee." (that's what it sounds like, not sure on the spelling) lol. I keep telling him whenever another person suggests using RO/DI water, he doesn't care though. He still thinks that it isn't needed.

So what i want from you all, is some concrete evidence that using RO/DI water is helpful.
Does anybody have any data from controlled trials using RO/DI water vs. water that has been de-chlorinated and supplimented with Ca and I, to refute my father's contention that RO/DI water provides no additional benefit. All this provided that Nitrate/ite, Phosphate, and Silicate levels are all acceptable. My father thinks that my city's water has low levels of Phosphate and Silicate, so that is why i'm looking for more information.

This is all because i have slight algae problems in my tanks, so i'd like to fix it. Any concrete evidence would be extremely helpful. I'd also like to see the difference in Phosphate and Silicate levels of water that went through RO/DI and water that didn't, from the same source. And any other compounds that would affect algae growth and overall tank health.


Thank you all for your time. I'm eager to see these results and to share these results with my father.

 

[Anonymous]

i don,t have any links or graphs for you, but i can say that i originally tried reefing w/out. i did well until i purchased lighting w/significant output. so in reality i didn't succeed at all.

the only proof i need is to look at a large scale of water (not real large, a small aquarium) that comes out of your tap and compare it to the same amount of ro/rodi. here locally in portland or, my water is most definately green, not so w/the water from an rodi unit.

besides your piping in your home may be copper or the main from the street or a multitude of other possible places.

 

[Anonymous]

centrek-
the best logical argument i can offer you to deal with your dad is:

the water is to your tank, what the air you breathe is to you- it's the most fundamental part of your tank's environment that your critters are dependent upon for their QUALITY OF LIFE.it makes perfect sense, therefore, that in order to provide the best quality environment, one should provide the best quality water, especially with a marine tank, where the various contaminants can have a drastic effect on that quality of life, in relatively small amounts.

1)-test your tap water for the known contaminants that are harmful, and testable relatively easily-ammonia, nitrite,nitrate,phosphate, etc.

2)get a hold of the tap constituents from your local borough.you can find out who to ask by contacting your local city hall and asking to speak to those in charge of water management for your area, and asking for a copy of the epa mandated tap water analysis.

3)compare those results with what 'pure' water should be

4)rodi water gives you a 'pure' base to start with-ensuring that the salt water you mix is true to what the mix says you should end up with (for all practical purposes)-if this preventive measure helps keep you from losing some fish, or inverts, it's worth the financial investment.it also eases your maintenance workload!

5)the investment, spread over time, isn't that great.

6)have him try a cup of coffee made with rodi water-i guarantee it'll be the best coffee he's ever tasted!!

hth...

 

[Bob Gardner]

See if you can borrow a TDS meter (total disolved solids) and use it to check water out of the house supply and then compare it with a test on some RO/DI water from any source. In my case I get a reading of up to 348ppm from the supply and Zero from the DI unit. I get a slight reading from the RO unit which is filtering the water prior to the DI. When the membranes are new you can expect a minimum of a 98% reduction in solids in the water. If ,as has been suggested, you get an analysis of your local water supply, I bet your Dad will stop drinking it without it being filtered :lol:

 

[quazi]

My tank has been up for over 15 years. About 10 years ago, I got a RO unit and did a large RO water change (about 60%) and have never had a hair algae problem nor a tank crash again. I got a RO/DI unit 2 years ago, and now the diatoms are nearly gone.

There is no doubt about it, an RO filter is a best investment you can make for your tank.

I have recently started to drip kalk. This has been the best thing since the RO filter.

 

[Anonymous]

I could send you a used micron filter from mine. It has made me stop wanting to drink from the tap.

 

[Robf]

A reeftank is a considerable investment, both in time and money. There is also the matter of ethics: We are providing the best possible conditions in order to maintain a small captive ecosystem.

An RO/DI unit is a must, otherwise, you are plaguing yourself with problems right from the start. A reef tank without an RO filter is a terrible waste of money.

I walked to the supermarket with a 5 gal jug for years before I got an RO unit. It was without a doubt the BEST investment in my tank. It's not a matter of preference, but necessity.

I found out (the hard way) that supermarket RO machines generally aren't kept up very well. Prefilters/membranes are not replaced as they should be (this was my case). If you want some cold hard facts, Do a TDS test on both your tapwater, and some quality RO/DI water. You will see the difference.

JMHO,

Rob