Tap Water Filter VS RO water

[cenzo]

I know RO water is the best for a reef tank, anyone know about or use a Tap Water Filter Like this one

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/p ... &N=0&Nty=1

Is it close to RO water or just a waste of money? the water im using now is spring water for top offs I have a small problem with algae not bad but I know spring water is not the best way to go, looking to see what the best way to go is

A. Trips to the LFS for water :x

B. Tap Water Filter

C. Spend money I dont have on a RO unit

 

[jdeets]

That unit says it only makes 25 to 125 gallons per filter. Therefore, you'd be spending a bundle on filters going forward.

I'd recommend an RO unit. I have one from here. They have a 5-stage on sale for $119, and it can make 75 GPD. There are others out there as well. I actually bought the one that doubles as a drinking water unit--with the storage tank and faucet. That's a little more, though.

With my RO/DI system, I only change the filters every 4 months--a full set is about $59.

I would think not only about the initial outlay, but about ongoing cost. That filter you found would be really expensive to operate. RO/DI is going to be much more cost-effective in the long run.

 

[cenzo]

Thanks Im going to look into your link

 

[waymack97]

i rented my ro/di from my culligan water store for 8 bucks a months and they come out every 6 to 8 months to change the filter. last month they offered to sell me the unit for 25.00 dollars. i jumped on that. something to think about.
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[ChrisRD]

Cenzo, the unit in your link is a typical countertop DI unit. The product water from a unit like that is excellent but as already mentioned, they're more costly to run than an RO or RO/DI setup in the long term. One advantage of these over RO units is that they do not waste any water. If you have a small tank (don't need much water) and relatively pure tapwater (so you get reasonable cartridge life) they can be an OK choice, but for most, an RO or RO/DI unit makes more sense.

 

[Lutra1]

I buy my RO premade with salt and all (benefits of a nano) and have had excellent experiences with this. I think it depends on the quality of your tap, if you're on a well, etc. A filter will not take out everything, and may take out helpful agents as well. You can look up your community's water supply online and find out exactly what's in it, I think that'd be a good first step. I know my area's water is sketch as anything and I would never trust it even for my other pets.

 

[clydescove]

haha i bought one of those damned tap water filters..the refill cartridges were like 30 bucks a pop, and were used up in no time..its been sitting in my closet for years :}. I not rich myself, so I look at my trips to the FS as free exercise..

 

[Meloco14]

Yeah nothing beats a real RO/DI unit. In the meantime I would stay away from spring water. Spring water tends to have a lot of minerals in it, which can cause algae outbreaks. Either make the trip to the LFS for water or buy distilled water until you can afford an RO/DI.

 

[cjsrch]

isnt spring water usualy more expensive pergallon in the long run anyways

 

[SnowManSnow]

check out www.buckeyefieldsupply.com for a good RODI system. I bought mine from there a year or so ago, and it does a GREAT job.

B

 

[fyrefysh]

I've got one of those DI units, I used it to fill my 40g. If you do go this route, make sure that you don't push water through it too fast. I got impatient with mine and had a diatome bloom in the end. I put that thing under my bathroom sink and bought this RO filter http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7725305439&rd=1&sspagename=STRK:MEWN:IT&rd=1. It's relatively inexpensive and works like a champ, 110GPD and 5 stages, you can't beat the price.

 

[fyrefysh]

Sorry, SIX stages.