Starting on Coral

[mr_X]

Purified water - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
deionization.

there are a few vendors here that sell R.O.D.I units. they have good reputations and will steer you in the right direction.

 

[Fishguy2727]

Many shops also sell RO/DI water to customers. In addition, distilled water is just as pure (sometimes even better) and can be found at many stores for under $1/gallon.

 

[BayTib13]

i know my lfs sells pre mixed water, but i didnt want to go that route as ive heard bad things about that. i do have a walmart near by that sells distilled water out of one of those machines.

 

[mr_X]

check the T.D.S. of the walmart water. it might be cool.

 

[BayTib13]

tds? what does that stand for?

 

[mr_X]

total dissolved solids. you want as close to zero as possible. a T.D.S. meter is a must if you want to succeed in the reef keeping hobby.

 

[BayTib13]

ahhhh, ok. ill be sure to check at my lfs today ansee if they have one

 

[mr_X]

ebay has them cheap also.

 

[Fishguy2727]

Yeah, cheapest I found was on eBay, I got mine for about $10 shipped. Every type of distilled I checked was 0 TDS, which is what every RO/DI strives for and rarely achieves (and if it does it soon rises).

What did you hear bad about the premixed water? If they are using RO/DI it shouldn't be an issue, then it is just a matter of what salt they use. If they use a bad salt they should still be selling RO/DI water.

 

[BayTib13]

just heard that some people dont always do it right or cheap out to make more money by not having to fo as much

 

[Fishguy2727]

Buy the TDS meter either way. Check their water with it. You may find it is good enough, may know to buy the distilled.

 

[BayTib13]

will do. instead ofgetting coral, i decided to wait until my tac return so that i can get everything i need. i got a couple peppermint shrimp to rid my tank of the aiptasia infestation until then