RO water

[NotSoFat2U]

I live in north Arlington. Where is a good, nearby source of RO water? (I will only be running a Biocube 14, so don't want my on RO/DI system.) What can I expect to pay for the stuff?

 

edit: It occurs to me that given the ammount of water I'll need for changes (<2 gallons per week) maybe I'm better off just buying saltwater from a LFS (they do sell this, right?) and only using RO for top-offs. Any thoughts on this?

Edited March 31, 2008 by NotSoFat2U

[jnguyen4007]

You can go to any LFS in the area and they should have it. I think the price is somewhere between 2 to 4 for 5 gal and if you want RO/DI, it's a bit more.

 

Unless you're not planning on keeping your cube for more than a few months, you should really consider buying an RO/DI for you to use. If you run it yourself, you know for sure the quality of the water that you get. Buying it from LFS, you don't know when was the last time they changed their filter and such. Over time, it also be cheaper too. People always have their stuff on sale so you can find a used RO/DI for cheap as well. Just a thought.

[Hilary]

Don't quote me, but I think that Wally's is something like $.99 per gallon for RO and $1.39 per gallon for saltwater. Something like that.....

[Brian Ward]

I live in north Arlington. Where is a good, nearby source of RO water? (I will only be running a Biocube 14, so don't want my on RO/DI system.) What can I expect to pay for the stuff?

 

edit: It occurs to me that given the ammount of water I'll need for changes (<2 gallons per week) maybe I'm better off just buying saltwater from a LFS (they do sell this, right?) and only using RO for top-offs. Any thoughts on this?

 

 

 

I'll sell it to you. You bring containers, I'll fill them. I think $0.50/gal is about right .... mix the salt yourself that way you have control instead of relying on someone else.

[NotSoFat2U]

I'll sell it to you. You bring containers, I'll fill them. I think $0.50/gal is about right .... mix the salt yourself that way you have control instead of relying on someone else.

 

I was thinking it might be worthwhile for someone with their own system to sell to me. I was sorta looking forward to not having to mix the salt myself, but not a huge deal.

 

What should I do with regard to obtaining water containers in the event that I buy from an individual (like Brian)? I guess I need about 20 gallons of water off the bat (though never more than that after initial setup).

[jnguyen4007]

What should I do with regard to obtaining water containers in the event that I buy from an individual (like Brian)? I guess I need about 20 gallons of water off the bat (though never more than that after initial setup).

 

 

Ideally, you should always have a container to mix your salt water and have your salt water ready when you do your next water change or mix it at that point, and a container of ro/di water for your top off.

[NotSoFat2U]

Ideally, you should always have a container to mix your salt water and have your salt water ready when you do your next water change or mix it at that point, and a container of ro/di water for your top off.

 

Yeah, my expectation was to have a couple gallons of ro/di water and a couple gallons of salt water on hand (or at least mixed up the day prior to a water change in the case of the latter). I was wondering more specifically about what type of containers to use, and where to get them.

[jnguyen4007]

Yeah, my expectation was to have a couple gallons of ro/di water and a couple gallons of salt water on hand (or at least mixed up the day prior to a water change in the case of the latter). I was wondering more specifically about what type of containers to use, and where to get them.

 

You can get a food safe container like those used to hold dog food at petsmart or petco to hold your water for top off. I have a 30 gal tank so for my salt water changes, I use a 5 gal drum from lowes with a lid. Often I have to mix couple of batches for my water change, but it's fine for now. When I upgrade mine to a 180, I'll most likely have to find a brute trash can for that.

[Brian Ward]

 

You can get a food safe container like those used to hold dog food at petsmart or petco to hold your water for top off. I have a 30 gal tank so for my salt water changes, I use a 5 gal drum from lowes with a lid. Often I have to mix couple of batches for my water change, but it's fine for now. When I upgrade mine to a 180, I'll most likely have to find a brute trash can for that.

 

 

 

... what he said ... i have 6 gal water jugs - look just like gas cans but labeled "water" that i use to hold top off water near my tanks. gas cans work too.

[wreck]

5 gallon water jugs that are used with water coolers work nice to store fresh water, but don't work well for mixing saltwater because you can't fit a powerhead in the top for mixing. I think 5 gallon drywall buckets are standard equipment for most aquarists for mixing water and water changes. I may have a couple extra water jugs that you could have for a few bucks, and I could even fill them with RO/DI water. PM me if interested.

Wreck

[NotSoFat2U]

I think I found a source on some cheap 5 gallon water cooler containers. I think that will handle my initial water need "rush" pretty well.

 

Where do people typically get the 5 gallon "dry-wall" buckets? I assume those are the (usually white) plastic buckets with vertical sides, a fully-open top, and a metal handle (with a piece of plastic for a grip).

[wreck]

I think I found a source on some cheap 5 gallon water cooler containers. I think that will handle my initial water need "rush" pretty well.

 

Where do people typically get the 5 gallon "dry-wall" buckets? I assume those are the (usually white) plastic buckets with vertical sides, a fully-open top, and a metal handle (with a piece of plastic for a grip).

 

You can get the 5 gallon buckets with lids at Home Depot(orange buckets) or Lowes.

Wreck

[NotSoFat2U]

So I found a guy who sold me three of the water cooler jugs (5 gallons each) for $1--less than the gas it took to drive the 7 miles. And there was a Home Depot right next to his place, where I bought a 5 gallon can (plus lid). They had orange ones and translucent-white ones. I went with the white; I hope it's not toxic.

 

I should now be set to pick up 15+ gallons of RO and mix my water, once my IO (and almost everything else) arrives. But the tank came today (or so fedex says), so I can get to work on modding that in the mean time.