Is RODI needed if running a FOWLR?

[Pazzoman]

Hey Everyone, I used to constantly use RO/DI water, I even used to have my own unit. However I used to use it for when I used to have a reef. Now I have a 150 gallon tank FOWLR and a rose bubble tip anemone...that has been doing great. My cousin is trying to get me back into doing RO/DI water, but I have with this new set up used my tap water mixed with Prime.

Should I really consider going back to RO water?

 

[Boogie]

Tagging along for this ? I asked the same question to a friend today.

 

[duromega]

I use RO/DI on my FOWLR
I suggest using RO/DI for all salt water setups you want optimal water condition even for just fish no?

 

[Ariel110G]

After seeing what a sediment filter looks like after months of use , why would you want your fish to get all that crap!!! And that's only from the sediment filter, the carbon blocks take out alot more crap.
I say go with RO/DI for the tank, and RO for you and your family. Bottled water is one big scam, but that's another topic

 

[piranhapat]

You can run a FOWLR with tap water. I did my first Saltwater tank for over a year. Only problem I remember was algae. But now you can do so many things to control that. So your question is yes you can. Is it the best no but you take proper steps to help with your tap water. Like I said beside high phosphate as long chorine is gone your fish will be fine. You can run carbon in your filters and add GFO to help keep phosphate to get to high. I would get hardy fish that are less prone to ICK too.

 

[Dan_P]

Using RO or RO/DI water gives you one more thing that is under your control. It gives you a bit more peace of mind that you are not randomly adding something toxic to your system.

I might have gotten away with not using RO water for my fish only tank but the cost of an RO buddy versus the worry of randomly adding something to the system pushed me to buy the RO unit.

 

[Boogie]

ok makes a lot of sense so I'll stick with my ro water

 

[Pazzoman]

Hmm now Im debating on going back to ro/di...for the looks I should. However I really don't want to set up an ro/di unit again as it wastes a TON of water which you all know. I would rather grabs 5 gallon jugs for $4...however how would I know that there water is good? Is there something I can get to test there water before routinely buying ro/di water from them?

 

[Dan_P]

Hmm now Im debating on going back to ro/di...for the looks I should. However I really don't want to set up an ro/di unit again as it wastes a TON of water which you all know. I would rather grabs 5 gallon jugs for $4...however how would I know that there water is good? Is there something I can get to test there water before routinely buying ro/di water from them?

Is it the waste of water you are reacting to or the cost of an RO unit?

 

[pecan2phat]

For 2 decades, I ran fowlrs with tap water and water conditioners in NYC, RO units were just not common then. (municipal water supply in NYC is pretty good) So yes you can and I've known a few LFS that use conditioned tap water for their fowlr displays.

 

[pecan2phat]

Is there something I can get to test there water before routinely buying ro/di water from them?

You can use a hand held TDS meter to see if their water is at or close to zero TDS.

 

[Pazzoman]

Hey, the unit is not the problem its just that the waste water is so much in my opinion.