Fullofit343

So i have my 75 gallon and everything ready to go, My question now is do i have to fill the tank with the RO water. the unit i have is only like 25-50 GPD (not sure exactly what it is) which means i'd have to wait between 2-3 days for it to produce enough water to finally fill the tank? What do i do?

navyscuba

Pretty much that's what it means. I got one too and since the tank is a 3 gal tank as soon as you pass those 3 gals it filtrates the water way too slow. I just use water from my water softener. Hope this help you.

Fullofit343

I'm a bit confused about what you mean? can you explain it

TedsTank

25gpd is rated at 25 Gallons per day. My unit is rated at up to 9 Gallons an hour....plenty for me. I get enough to do water changes and always have 5 Gallons made to have on hand for watever I might need. It will take you a while to fill your tank from a small unit...so be it....just dump it in your tank....it is nearly as pure as you can get. My tank has been stable now at Softwater, and neutral to slightly acidic to accomodate South American cichlids at their best. Also while you are RO-ing it...make a gallon or two from the fridge.....nice drinking water for humans too.

navyscuba

Well pretty much is going to take you a lot of time to fill your tank. Sorry I wasn't clear enough.

Hypnox

Patience is key, nothing good ever happens quickly with SW tanks. Just fill it with the RO water little by little. I have a 45 gallon tub that I fill with water from my RO unit and I can drag that gigantic tub around (not reccomended for everyone :P) or fill up 5 gallon buckets from it for top offs and mixing up new salt water. It is probably a good idea to have a reservoire of RO water anyway and a 20 gallon tub would only cost in the area of $15. I picked up my own tub on sale for $25.

dvc_r

I have a 50 gpd RO unit. I explained it (with pictures) in another post:

An easier water change?

It took a few weeks to save the money and put it together but I LOVE IT!!!

galvatron3000

Listen, this hobby requires patience, time and money(initially). Get you a rubber trash can (I have 2 33 0r 34 gallon cans) and keep you some R/O water in it and saltwater in the other (if you get 2). You will only need about 7 to 14 gallons for you water changes so a 20 gallon would be plenty large for you to have on reserve, initially you will have a period of filling the tank but afterwards have your reserve filled and ready with an airstone. when you use 7 or 14 from the reserve you just refill it as needed, not 75 gallons.


I have a 210 gallon aquarium and I do 20 Gallons a month. I do about 1 to 2 gallons a day of top off so you have an idea how often I use my R/O unit. I have to fill my reserve up tomorrow because my wife has a 65 gallon and uses water as well, just not as often as I do. Once you get the tank going and fill your reserve you'll be pulling from a reserve and not filling 75 gallons for days, lol. Hope thiss helps. By the way I have a R/O unit that is rate 60 gpd.

Fullofit343

Right but the resevre water comes from the RO unit correct? meaning you fill the garbage cans with RO water and then mix in the salt and just keep it aierated (however it's spelled) until you are ready to use it? the other question is how to you keep that reserve water up to temperature so it's ready for the water change?

galvatron3000

you have to add a heater

CHoffman

Hi, If you look at DVC_R's set up you can see he puts a heater in there to keep it at the temp he needs it...And yes the reserve water comes from the RO unit.