Alright..im sure this stuff has to get boring to you guys...

[PeeJ]

Butttt...im at aquatic reef systems and they got a good deal on an RO systems....do you gatta have the DI or what? i got a water softener but who knows if that thing still works like it should. i heard they deionize water.

i mean what do i need to get good water? im ganna have an RO for sure cause i mean when i drink tap water here..there is all kinds of junk floatin in it

2 3 or 4 stage? when does the tap water become usable reef water?

 

[Pamela]

Ive been using a three stage (1 mic. pre filter, carbon , R.O.) for 3 years,
havn't had any problems. I personally don't think a D.I. stage is needed.

But then, my water only reads 40 ppm on my tds meter out of the tap.

 

[Anonymous]

I seem to recall somewhere hearing that a 3 stage RO will take the ickies in your water down to something in the neighborhood of 10 ppm. The DI stage then takes it down to zero (or very close to zero).

So what does this mean for you and your tank? To be honest, I'm not quite sure. If cost is a big issue (and when isn't it for all of us!), I can say with confidence that an RO unit is much, much better than using just tap water. Much better.

Isn't it possible with an ARS RO to purchase the RO unit now, and then later add a DI unit to it? I think it is...and if so this would be a serious option to consider.

Good luck!

Chris

 

[MattM]

A water softener really doesn't do anything for your tank - in fact, you should plumb your RO or RO/DI unit before it. A water softener is not a deionizer it is actually an ion exchange reactor. It replaces calcium and magnesium ions in your tap water with sodium and potassium ions. The idea is to prevent the formation of calcium carbonate which builds up as scale in pipes. Of course, calcium and magnesium are two of the ions we most want in our tanks.

As far as the amount removed, a properly adjusted RO unit will take out 90% plus of everything except silicates. RO alone only does about 60% removal of silicates often leading to diatom algae blooms that will not subside. DI will remove virtually everything from the water - including silicates.

Whether you absolutely need it depends a lot on where you live. Here in New England, the silicate levels are so high that we had ARS built a special unit to our specs: http://www.inlandreef.net/nor5staghigs.html

It is designed so the mixed bed DI cartridge is not prematurely exhausted by all the silicate ions that must be removed.

 

[esmithiii]

My tapwater shows about 300ppm. After my 4-stage RO/DI unit I get a reading of 0ppm.

I wouldn't risk it. Pay the extra dough and get a 4 or 5 stage unit. You should see the prefilter after running for a couple of months! It is downright nasty!


Ernie

 

[Micky]

The only good thing with the water sofener is to help remove the calcium from the water. The reason some use a sofener before the ro is get more life out of your membrane. At work here in chicago tap water is great for drinking but we run a softener before our ro to reduce the about of its calcium. 650 gallon membranes can get costly.

 

[PeeJ]

well the only reason i mention is becuase in post a long time ago i read that the softener deionizes...its really a mute question because the damn thing isnt even programmed. who knows if the POS even works. anyway...thanks for a the support and posts