Question regarding viability of water changes

[francis]

Hello everybody I wanted to ask a question that has been on my mind for the past couple days.

If RO/DI water from the store is $0.25 a gallon and saltwater is $0.50 per gallon, that would mean I would spend $20 to fill my tank up with saltwater.

My question is, how does an RO/DI unit save you money if you still need to purchase the salt mix in order to get saltwater? I purchased the 50 gallon salt mix for about $20-25. I don't understand how the RO/DI unit saves me money if I end up spending nearly the same amount on salt mix along with extra work


I have been trying to do water changes in order to bring my nitrates down but spending about $7 each day is not really cost efficient. I do not mind investing in a RO/DI unit but I do not understand how it saves me money ):

ALSO - help me bring my nitrates down! My future shrimp will love you :/ currently it hangs stubbornly at 20ppm

[melosu58]

It will probably save you money in the long run because of your cost of water vs. the store`s cost of making it plus profit. You wont see much of a difference in the short term but I`m convinced that over the long run you will. Just my experience.

[mfdrookie516]

It saves you money because, aside from replacing the cartridges every so often (not sure on how often that would be), you only have the initial cost of the unit, along with the water bill... I assure you, it's cheaper than $.25 a gallon if you look at the long term.

[francis]

So the area I am saving money is with salt costs right, just buy in bulk I suppose. Mk thank you for the reply I thought I was missing some amazing secret but I understand now :] I just wish I did not have to do these water changes every other day but instead the eventual once a week.

Thanks anyways!

[francis]

Originally Posted by mfdrookie516

It saves you money because, aside from replacing the cartridges every so often (not sure on how often that would be), you only have the initial cost of the unit, along with the water bill... I assure you, it's cheaper than $.25 a gallon if you look at the long term.

but mfdrookie, the salt mix bags that yields me 50 gallons is about $25, and to purchase that is also $25. :T but I've come to the conclusion that it would simply save me costs only if I purchase bulk salt

[Affordable Aquatic]

For folks with larger systems there is no option of buying ready made water. I do 50-60 gallon water changes and have never seen that much premixed salt water on the shelf at a lfs. On top of that, I couldn't imagine carrying all that water home.

[melosu58]

Originally Posted by Affordable Aquatic

. On top of that, I couldn't imagine carrying all that water home.

That`s a big difference too. I used to carry water home but I got my own RO/DI and feel a burden lifted off. No more having to lug water home. Free at last.

[Sarcothelia]

With smaller tanks you may as well just buy it premixed, but if you need to do large changes, like 30+ gallons at once, it's a lot easier to mix it yourself. Most places sell you salt water at a similar price to what it costs to make, but if you get the salt mix in bulk and can't be found to lug around jugs of salt water, it's a good idea to mix yourself.