Best LFS for pre-mixed saltwater?

ninjamyst

ninjamyst

Premium member
Yea, I am conflicted. If I mix my own, I need a 5 gallon bucket, an extra powerhead, an extra heater, and the RO/DI unit. If I get pre-mixed, I probably still have to store 5 gallons in reserve so I dont have to drive 30 mins to Lisle every week. Will have to think about this more. May start with premixed and get RO/DI later as I ease into the hobby.

And yea, this hobby is expensive as hell. I am getting a tank built by Pico Aquarium that's costing me $320 shipped. Paid another $300 for AI Nano, $80 for the AI Nano controller. Have about $150 worth of stuff in my cart at Dr. Foster and Smith. Planning to drop another $80 on ceramic Vidarocks. And this is before the tank is even wet....
 
DD

DD

"Rambo"
ninjamyst said:
Yea, I am conflicted. If I mix my own, I need a 5 gallon bucket, an extra powerhead, an extra heater, and the RO/DI unit. If I get pre-mixed, I probably still have to store 5 gallons in reserve so I dont have to drive 30 mins to Lisle every week. Will have to think about this more. May start with premixed and get RO/DI later as I ease into the hobby.

And yea, this hobby is expensive as hell. I am getting a tank built by Pico Aquarium that's costing me $320 shipped. Paid another $300 for AI Nano, $80 for the AI Nano controller. Have about $150 worth of stuff in my cart at Dr. Foster and Smith. Planning to drop another $80 on ceramic Vidarocks. And this is before the tank is even wet....
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I started with buckets of pre mixed. I live in an apartment just across the street from the city of Chicago.

I'm a control freak, so the first thing that irked me was getting water that was mixed to a different salinity every time. So I started buying RODI and mixing it myself. After a few months of getting 10 gallons of water every week, I just went ahead and ordered a BRS unit. I use the sink adapter, remove it when I'm done using it and am guaranteed that my water is 0 TDS and the salt is mixed to exactly my salinity.

I keep about 10 gallons ready at all times, it's difficult to find room given the fact that I don't have a "gerage" either lol.

The RODI units are always for sale so you can get one down the road. One thing I would invest in however, is a quality refractometer. If you go with a handheld model, make sure to get calibration fluid as well.

Good luck with the reef tank, first one is always exciting. Next thing you know you'll have more than one!
 
1mg

1mg

New member
forget the ro/di get a small still of ebay. distill water from the tap when you need it and don't have to keep buying filters. and mix it your self. and hit yard sales for the heater and pump. you could even use cheap air pumps to mix the ws if your creative.
 
tkh

tkh

New member
A cheap powerhead and cheap heater will set you back $30-40 new, and you can definitely post a "looking to buy" thread on here and people will help you out. Bucket space... that's what I'm saying - you will need bucket space whichever way you do this, no way around that.

And too true - plan your space well, you will more than likely have more than 1 tank! lol! I had one in January...now I have 4 tanks in my small apartment.... (well, ok, one is a fish quarantine tank - but it's up 100% of the time...)

The scary thing about all that you have spent so far - expect to spend at least that on the unexpected! And if you somehow planned well enough, well than expect to spend well over that on goodies for the tank, lol! Anyhow, think it over, see what fits you and your setup best, and ask plenty of questions, we're all still learning!
 
DD

DD

"Rambo"
ninjamyst said:
You guys convinced me. Found a small portable RODI unit on Amazon with some pretty good reviews. It's only 3 stage but it's better than tap.

http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Aquarium-Filter-System-Membrane/dp/B004N7QUXW/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1373151495&sr=8-2-fkmr0&keywords=Portable+RO+Mikro+Omega+Filter+Kit

Bought extra heater and powerhead too.
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You'll still need a DI unit with that. The DI part puts the final polish on the water. If it were me, I would look into bulk reef supplies units. They have plenty right around that price, with DI included. I think I remember one that was right around that price too.

The goal is to have 0 TDS. I have a sediment filter, two carbon blocks, and two membranes and I'm still getting a few tds prior to going through the DI canister. Once it comes out of the DI, it's at 0 TDS. Just don't want you to go through what nearly all of us have went through at some point.

Here's a quick link to one of their units: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-4-stage-value-ro-di-system-75gpd.html
 
ninjamyst

ninjamyst

Premium member
ddiomede said:
You'll still need a DI unit with that. The DI part puts the final polish on the water. If it were me, I would look into bulk reef supplies units. They have plenty right around that price, with DI included. I think I remember one that was right around that price too.

The goal is to have 0 TDS. I have a sediment filter, two carbon blocks, and two membranes and I'm still getting a few tds prior to going through the DI canister. Once it comes out of the DI, it's at 0 TDS. Just don't want you to go through what nearly all of us have went through at some point.

Here's a quick link to one of their units: http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-4-stage-value-ro-di-system-75gpd.html
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I think mine comes with DI unit. I sure hope so...
 
R

reefer60614

Member
I'm a bit late to the conversation, but the Petco on Clybourn in the city recently installed a salt water dispensing machine. You bring in your own container and its $1/gallon. I'm not sure how the machine works, but you give the guy your container and there is a gas station like dispenser and then you stand around and do idle chit chat with the guy as he fills up your container. The salinity seems to differ quite a bit each time I buy the water -runs on the salty side - which is probably a sign the water in that machine sits around and evaporates, but otherwise its a cheap option if you live in the city.
 
tkh

tkh

New member
If the way petco handles the rest of their store is any indication, than I wouldn't touch their SW with a 10ft pole....
 
PsychedelicNano.

PsychedelicNano.

New member
Abel - I can give ya some money for RO/DI. How much you want per gallon? I will probably start buying 10 gallons every couple weeks from you if you can provide that.
 
Reef City

Reef City

New member
We may be a little south of you guys but just an FYI if you're in the area.

We sell our RO/DI Salted Water (aka Reef Water) for a $1 a gallon.
But what sets us apart is we use a premium salt, AquaVitro Salinity Salt
What's the point of buying premixed if they use cheap salt.

Also we have plenty of 5gal water containers for only $1 with water purchase.

$6 gets you 5gals of AquaVitro Reef Water with the container.
Come back and we fill it for $5.
 
R

reefer60614

Member
PsychedelicNano. said:
Does that petco on Clybourn sell just RO/DI? If so does anyone know how much?
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No - at least I don't think so. I've only bought their pre-made salt water.

On a side note, I was recently at Mariano's market in Roscoe Village and noticed they had a dispenser for what I think might be RO/DI water. However, my kid was jumping up and down and I didn't have enough time to read the entire spiel on the water. It was priced something like $3 for 5 gallons. Maybe less than that. I'll take a closer look next time I'm at that market.
 
skunkmere

skunkmere

Member
yes i can. call me up. that goes for anyone, i always have RO/DI if you want some pm me. ill trade for it or we can work something out.
 
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