ccb04

While researching setting up a saltwater tank ... one thing that is apparent is that most recommend using RO/DI water.

I've researched the options and if I decide to move forward, I would probably go with Sparkletts home delivery for my water. The set up would be a 20g Long and I would purchase the 5g bottles. Not planning on corals at this time.

My question is which of these two Sparkletts products would be best? Here is the water quality reports for both.....

Distilled: http://www.sparkletts.com/files/nonb...ity_report.pdf

Purified: http://www.sparkletts.com/files/nonb...ity_report.pdf

The distilled seems the better option with seemingly excellent levels across the board. While minerals are added to the purified water ... TDS is at 22. The pH seems more stable with the purified. Both seem to have very good to excellent overall reports ... but I wanted to get some opinions from the folks here.

JRDroid

It would depend on what minerals are being added. I know with RO/DI water many people add essential minerals back in. If those are the same minerals (or very simmilar) being added to the purified, and the source of its dissolved solids then I would go for purified. If you would still have to add the proper minerals to the purified you may as well just get the distilled

ccb04

Thanks Monmouth.

Wouldn't the salt mix add the essential minerals to the water with either one?

Whatever minerals are added to the purified Sparkletts would seem to be in lighter concentrations ... as the TDS is pretty low and the pH is 6.28.

My primary reason for using an alternative water source is that my tap water is very hard and I'd be afraid that my source water combined with the salt mix would push mineral concentrations and possibly pH, beyond the safe limits for the fish.

It's interesting that RO is used to remove many things ... yet I've seen where many of the top salt mixes contain elements such as phosphate, silicate, nitrate and ammonia.

Many foods can also introduce unwanted elements after initial RO treatment, etc.

MizRamzi

Here's the unit I use for my tap water: http://www.aquariumguys.com/tapwaterfilter.html

I too tried bottled water. Pure, spring water, RO water and culligen, what I got was a ton of hair algae.
I started using the above unit and I'll never go back.

ccb04

Thanks, Ramzi.

The API tap water filter was probably my top consideration initially. However, I have very hard water and thus would likely be replacing cartridges quite often which could become cost prohibitive.

How hard is your water ... and how many gallons do you typically get from a single cartridge?

MizRamzi

Cartridges are good for 50-150g. Depending on how contaminated your water is. I have a smaller tank, so one cartridge will last me about 6 months. We have pretty good water here so it works great for me. The replacement cartridges run about 20$, way worth it considering what all I went through with the dreaded HA. I lost a lot or zoa frags to that stuff.
Have you done any research on water softeners? I'll do some! As for how hard my water is I'm not sure.

Martinismommy

I've had salt water tanks for 20 years.....I have always used distilled Sparkletts....My husband retired from Sparkletts after 28 years and my son has worked for them for 6 years....I trust the product and use it myself.....

If you have a sump you have to replace at least 1 gallon per day because of evaporation....Not sure on a 20 we have always had 60 gallon or above.....

My delivery man loves stopping at my home lol......

Good luck!

ccb04

Thanks a bunch, Karen.

In looking at the water quality report ... I don't see how one could get better source water, as the readings seem stellar.

What does a 5g jug of the distilled typically run?

ccb04

Karen, forgot to ask ... what salt mix do you use with your Sparkletts distilled?

When topping off would I want to use just the distilled water (no buffers, salt, etc.)?

MizRamzi

Just top off-no salt. If money is no object go bottled. But with the unit I have I get 150g's for 20$. How much for 150g's of said bottled water?

ccb04

Thanks, MizRamzi.

The house has a water softner if that's what your referring to. It churns through salt like crazy, lol.

I've even looked at Catalina Water Co. natural sea water (Petco sells it). It's approximately $12 for 5g (pretty pricey). I haven't been able to find a lot of info on it. Reviews on Petco's site were good ... while what little I read in other places was mixed.

I would think it has to be pretty good water, as Catalina Water Co. supplies the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. They have 1.1 million gallons worth of exhibits.

Primary reason I've considered the Catalina water (despite it's price), is that the tank would be small (10-20g) ... most likely 20g long.

Not sure how much I'd get out of the API tap water filter. We get our water from the Colorado River ... thus it's very sediment/mineral rich ... and very hard. I've read reviews where folks with very hard water got roughly 15g per cartridge. Pretty much everything I've read about the tap water filter has been very positive.

Ramzi, what salt mix do you use?

MizRamzi

I use Reef Crystals as do most of my friends-it's been real consistent, not real expensive. I fill a 5g bucket add 2 cups stir it well then allow it to mix via power head for 24hrs-I also add a small heater set to temp of tank-every time I get readings of: ph 8.2, cal 420, kh 9-all are very good!

Bottom line is to look for how their water is filtered. One thing for sure, do not use distilled. When it comes to RO water I'm pretty sure most filter the water in the same manner so your most likely paying more for name brands as apposed to non.