Will I Need A Ro Unit?

[blackiwoods]

Hi All,

Just about to set up my first Marine Fish Tank. Its a 300 litre tank and I only want a few Clown Fish (and similar beginners fish) which I've been told are easy-ish to start with, a few invertebrates, some live coral etc (maybe a shrimp or two). Whats really putting me off is that I cant use tap water. Will I really need a RO unit?

Please help.

 

[raptorrex]

Hi All,

Just about to set up my first Marine Fish Tank. Its a 300 litre tank and I only want a few Clown Fish (and similar beginners fish) which I've been told are easy-ish to start with, a few invertebrates, some live coral etc (maybe a shrimp or two). Whats really putting me off is that I cant use tap water. Will I really need a RO unit?

Please help.

looking at what you wish to keep. i cant see any way around it.

 

[FishAreFriendsNotFood10]

my m8 used to go up to his LFS and they charged him £2 for a 25litre drum of RO water ... i guess its not as cost affective tho?

 

[Aqua Tom]

to keep salty fish you need a RO unit.

 

[jaylam]

You will get a lot of mixed opinions regarding this.

Some people say defo no and some say yes but you need to decorline it first.

This also depends on what your tap water is like, you may want to run the same tests as you would do on tank water on your tap water it may be the case that your tap water is not good enough to use.

If you were planning on just fish only you might be able to get away with it you may just see more algae growth with tap water (I did) but as your planning on keeping corals I would have to agree with the other replies and say no.

My lfs sell me 25lt of ready mixed saltwater for £8, which is pricey but it means I dont have to leave it mixing over night, test it then add more salt or water depending on the result then wait and re test before adding it.

In my opinion £8 for 25lt is well worth it if I can get my water changes done within 1 hour rather than spread over 2 days.

 

[blackiwoods]

Thanks all. You're a helpful bunch.

Does anyone know where is the best place to find out info on which is the best RO product for me?

Thanks again

 

[Lolly123]

You've already got good advice and its very true about the mixed reviews on RO water. I saw a lot of algae growth when I used tap water and as stated before as you want corals I would suggest that you do use RO water. And we all know that marines are not as forgiving as some tropicals can be.

I cant think of the sites right now but I have seen some RO units online that have been fairly reasonable. You could always have a look in the buy swap and sell areas and ask around, i've seen one or two going when people have broken down their marine tanks.

Best of luck.

- To add, i've just had a brief look online at units, it depends what your budget is, because there are 3,4, and 6 stage RO units, i assume the more stages the more superior the filtration will be. However, I found a 3 stage compact RO unit for 65 pounds. I couldn't tell you how effective it will be, but just to give you some ideas. I guess it will also depend on the volume of water they produce as your aquarium is quite large. Anyway, hope it helps a little.

 

[blackiwoods]

You've already got good advice and its very true about the mixed reviews on RO water. I saw a lot of algae growth when I used tap water and as stated before as you want corals I would suggest that you do use RO water. And we all know that marines are not as forgiving as some tropicals can be.

I cant think of the sites right now but I have seen some RO units online that have been fairly reasonable. You could always have a look in the buy swap and sell areas and ask around, i've seen one or two going when people have broken down their marine tanks.

Best of luck.

- To add, i've just had a brief look online at units, it depends what your budget is, because there are 3,4, and 6 stage RO units, i assume the more stages the more superior the filtration will be. However, I found a 3 stage compact RO unit for 65 pounds. I couldn't tell you how effective it will be, but just to give you some ideas. I guess it will also depend on the volume of water they produce as your aquarium is quite large. Anyway, hope it helps a little.

Cheers Lolly,

After the advice I knew I would need a RO unit. The problem then changed from do I really need one to what type, which stage etc. I have seen a stage 4 unit (new) on ebay for £38 buy it now but the problem I have new is it goin to be any good, i.e is the brand good enough and is the stage good enough.

I could really do with a good website or someone who really knows their stuff when it comes to RO unit or am I just worrying too much!

Thanks all again

 

[Lolly123]

I guess the cost of the RO when bought from shops will get quite pricey over the length of time that you have the tank, also topping up etc etc. I'm in no way a marine expert, but I think if I were to setup marine again, it'd be RO all the way.

I've had a look on some other forums and apparently RO Man is a good choice, quite a few people have said that his units are good quality, most commonly mentioned was the 4 stage 75gpd.

Im sure if you type in RO man or browse some marine forums you'll be able to make a well informed judgement.

All the best.

 

[raptorrex]

You've already got good advice and its very true about the mixed reviews on RO water. I saw a lot of algae growth when I used tap water and as stated before as you want corals I would suggest that you do use RO water. And we all know that marines are not as forgiving as some tropicals can be.

I cant think of the sites right now but I have seen some RO units online that have been fairly reasonable. You could always have a look in the buy swap and sell areas and ask around, i've seen one or two going when people have broken down their marine tanks.

Best of luck.

- To add, i've just had a brief look online at units, it depends what your budget is, because there are 3,4, and 6 stage RO units, i assume the more stages the more superior the filtration will be. However, I found a 3 stage compact RO unit for 65 pounds. I couldn't tell you how effective it will be, but just to give you some ideas. I guess it will also depend on the volume of water they produce as your aquarium is quite large. Anyway, hope it helps a little.

Cheers Lolly,

After the advice I knew I would need a RO unit. The problem then changed from do I really need one to what type, which stage etc. I have seen a stage 4 unit (new) on ebay for £38 buy it now but the problem I have new is it goin to be any good, i.e is the brand good enough and is the stage good enough.

I could really do with a good website or someone who really knows their stuff when it comes to RO unit or am I just worrying too much!

Thanks all again

RO unit costs are quite reasonable. but, if you are on a meter, its ridicules waste will cost a bob or two. you get 1l of RO for every 5l, of tap, you put in. ( there are some units now, that return up to 1-2, possibly even better, but they are very expensive units.) so, maybe, you may be as well off buying it. only problem with that is, do you trust your LFS? I'm sure it varies but the common cost seems to be, about, £2.50 for 25l of water and £5 up for ready mixed marine.

 

[Lolly123]

Thats a good point, i guess you have to look at the wastage that comes with RO. Either way, RO or not, marine fish are an expense, but worth it if you got it!

 

[Whitey_144]

Hi Blacki.

Are you on a water meter?

I've kept marine fish, live rock and hard corals in dechlorinated tap water fine before. same setup as my tropicals except with a UV steriliser in line with the external filter and a protein skimmer.

I have just bought a RO unit which arrived today, because my tap water is hard and high PH but i want to keep soft water fish. So basically last week i went through what you are now.

I did get advised not to buy a non branded cheap one off ebay for example, because if that company goes bust you may not be able to find a replacement membrane later down the road.

Also i didn't buy the DI part, as i don't need my TDS at 0, but i believe for marine it will get your total dissolved solids (TDS) down from about 15 after the RO to 0.

Do you know what your TDS is of your tap water?

i found this quite useful... http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QKJbO4UBJw

and this... http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sCVQTHHw5M&feature=related

i didn't get the 1micron filters, because couldnt find them, mine is 5microns.

and i bought the 50G TMC type advanced, D-D also do a similar one, but the below website was at least £20 cheaper than anywhere else! the guy even emailed me to say he'd credited my bank account with £8 cos i shouldn't have been charged postage, so i recommend that site...took 2days from purchase to delivery and all seems to be intact.

http/www.marineaquatics.co.uk/TMC-V2-PURE-R-o-UNITS/V2-Pure-50-R-O-Unit-With-TDS-Meter

hope that helps!
adam

 

[raptorrex]

I have just bought a RO unit which arrived today, because my tap water is hard and high PH but i want to keep soft water fish. So basically last week i went through what you are now.

How will the RO unit help with soft water fish? the lowest RO will ever reach is PH7? I'm not saying it "cant", just wondering how to achieve it.

 

[Whitey_144]

I have just bought a RO unit which arrived today, because my tap water is hard and high PH but i want to keep soft water fish. So basically last week i went through what you are now.

How will the RO unit help with soft water fish? the lowest RO will ever reach is PH7? I'm not saying it "cant", just wondering how to achieve it.

if it reaches 7 i'll be happy with it. my plan is to remove most of the dissolved solids, so that i will ahve soft water with low KH and then add minerals/tap water slighty until i hav enough KH to keep a steady PH, which shoulds be alot lower tan my 8PH at the moment.

it'll probably take quite a bit of testing with mixes, but thats the plan, lol

 

[OldMan47]

Blackiwoods, I would try posting in the salt water section of the forum. I have plenty of opinions about your situation for fresh water, but only people like Simonas who works in the salt water section, can give you the right answers for salt water arrangements. Although I would love to help out, I recognize my own limitations.