Water: RO/DI or Distilled Water

[hobgoblin]

Hi,

I'd like to ask around for advice on water quality.

Is it more cost efficient to go with distilled water?

How effective and economical is RO/DI unit in the long run?

Because I am keeping a nano- 28G, I was thinking of using a nano GAC/DI resin unit from Madpetzl. Is this advisable?

I do intend to upgrade sometime at the end of the year to a shallow 2ft cube.

Thanks!

[Guest]

Over the long run, it is definitively more economical to use a RO/DI unit if you compare cost per litre and convenient .

[Evolutionz]

sorry to borrow ur thread but would like to understand how this RO/DI unit works. if i buy one of those filters does it mean that by running tap water through it, it will immediately turn into RO/DI water? and it can be straight for use for water change?

thanks!

[Guest]

A typical RO/ DI unit is as per photo.. Yes, you just need to run your tap water through it to filter out the water for your water change need.

[hobgoblin]

Thanks for the replies. I'm actually considering the total cost of ownership: RO membrane, DI resin, carbon etc. there's rejection rate for RO as well. Thus I'm thinking if GAC and DI resin is sufficient.

[Evolutionz]

Woah so many capsules! i usually only see 1,2 or at most 3 capsules.. i wonder what is needed to make just distilled or RO water.. carbon and resin only?

[JeffL]

Newbie too, how long does it take to collect 2-3litres? Do i need to install it permanent or can keep it?

[lincolngoh]

How harmful are Singapore tap water additives after the chlorine is removed?

[mansiz]

How harmful are Singapore tap water additives after the chlorine is removed?

Singapore water although is clean by it is not pure enough for a reef tank. Some might even contain little copper

If you are looking for cheap water, you can consider buying NSW from local fish shop or you can buy pure distilled water (LIFE) from NTUC. 12 bottles of 1.5L cost $5.50.

[spkentchai]

Newbie too, how long does it take to collect 2-3litres? Do i need to install it permanent or can keep it?

It takes about 1 day for me to collect 110 litre of RO/DI water. Simple and convinence to use rather than traveling to lfs to buy....but then again,..going lfs can also see see look look at the same time...

[JeffL]

not sure if anyone did a calculation before? I am not sure if using RO/DI unit will be economical as the resin has to be changed IMO quite frequent and resin not exactly cheap

[mjck]

DI only unit is actually more expensive to run considering the amount of resin used to make the water as clean as a RO/DI unit. And the water flow rate got to be extremely slow. Read somewhere that the RO section clears 90% of the gunk while the DI section clears up the rest of the 10%. Used a DI only unit before upgrading to RO/DI.

You can also setup a waste water collection for other use if you don't want to waste water.

[hobgoblin]

Thanks for all the input. For my purpose, buying bottled water is sufficient. Any latest feedback on Arees services? I've looked up on the thread but can't find the cost for delivery and water.

[sherman]

Woah so many capsules! i usually only see 1,2 or at most 3 capsules.. i wonder what is needed to make just distilled or RO water.. carbon and resin only?

I don't think its distilled water. It is de-ionise water

[domvonn]

Thanks for all the input. For my purpose, buying bottled water is sufficient. Any latest feedback on Arees services? I've looked up on the thread but can't find the cost for delivery and water.

smaller setups dun waste money on delivery

buy NTUC life water , save the money for livestocks.

[hobgoblin]

Domvonn, agree with your POV.

Anyone running GAC in their tanks? Or DI and GAC combination? Would like to know what is the long term effect on reef chemistry.

In the whole RO/DI setup, I believe I can get away with 2 stages of charcoal and 1 stage DI resin- charcoal filter -> GAC -> DI Resin.

Any advise on such a set up?

[RockyBoy]

5 stages are cool...

Ceramic/sediment filter -> GAC -> Carbon blocks -> RO -> DI resin

All stages have their purpose.

[Sprinter]

Hi bro i currently using DI unit for 1 year total water collected 270lit. last week just change resin & carbon.DI water TDS meter show 0 ppm when it 0.1 or 0.2 need to change resin & carbon. In long term worth it.

[klim]

I am using Iceberg (Pure Drinking water), can't find the information on this water. Calling the supplier, they told me it is not DI water but the water has runs through some stages of purification.

Not sure this water will be pure enough for the tank? Anyone?

[Harlequinmania]

I am using Iceberg (Pure Drinking water), can't find the information on this water. Calling the supplier, they told me it is not DI water but the water has runs through some stages of purification.

Not sure this water will be pure enough for the tank? Anyone?

Best if you can test the water parameter; TDS, N03, P04 ect..

[MadScientist]

I am using Iceberg (Pure Drinking water), can't find the information on this water. Calling the supplier, they told me it is not DI water but the water has runs through some stages of purification.

Not sure this water will be pure enough for the tank? Anyone?

Are you doing ulns or zeovit?

[klim]

Actually I did not do any test or dose anything to the Pure water. Any bro here did any test on this water as this water is quite common in Ntuc or office water dispensing machine.

Hope someone can share some light to me.

Thanks and appreciate your feedback.

[LittleBurger]

I'm using the 5stage Ro/di. One strange observation is I use tds pen test my waste water from unit and tap water n tap water got lower value....

[Polypterus]

That's because Hyflux's RODI systems are probably more expensive and more efficient than yours.

[JeffL]

Just to share, Iwarna sells DI water. It cost me $2 for a 18L container.

Very convenient for lazy people like me hehe