Water question for a saltwater tank

Hello,
I have well water where I am, I know it has iron in the water. Without having to buy saltwater, has anyone had luck using the chemicals that remove the heavy metals from your water. for instance instant ocean has marine conditioner that states it will take the heavy metals out of the water. as this will be my first venture into a Saltwater tank, trying to learn as much as I can. I am looking to avoid having to pay for water at the pet store. I was looking at a RO/DI system at chewy on sale for $65 but then you need to buy cartridges. Interested in others thoughts that a my have a well.

 

I would not rely on the water conditioners in the salt. They are in there for your average water not high levels of iron associated with well water. Best it to get a good quality iron test kit and mix up some water with the salt and test again.

Are you going to do a reef tank? If so a ro/dI is a must with well water IMO. What else is in your well water? Ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, fertilizers and phosphates from run off?
If your worried about spending $60 don’t so a reef tank. Also $60 for an ro unit is not adequate. Years ago when I bought mine it was a 3 stage unit and over $200. That was 15 years ago. You need at minimum a pre filter, carbon filter, post filter and ro. With well water I highly recommend a DI. If not buy water from your LFS.
If the ro/dI was a single stage single pass unit keep looking. That is not adequate and will actually cost you more in the long run.

I’d get this if I were you.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/4-st...MIo9u6xvXC5QIVvoVaBR2l5wBDEAQYByABEgLL3PD_BwEThey have one without the DI for $150, bit I think the DI is a good idea.

 

Thanks for the points Saltwater60. I would just be looking to do a fish only for now as this would be my first attempt at SW. As for what else is in the water I can taste the iron, when using a test strip it does not register anything. My 65 freshwater is fine with the tap water, but I struggled to keep the 30 gallon tank up and running properly. I will have to look into the RO/DI system. I know someone in the town with well water and their tank is fine but they also have a purification system attached to the pump system to help filter their water.

 

Thanks for the points Saltwater60. I would just be looking to do a fish only for now as this would be my first attempt at SW. As for what else is in the water I can taste the iron, when using a test strip it does not register anything. My 65 freshwater is fine with the tap water, but I struggled to keep the 30 gallon tank up and running properly. I will have to look into the RO/DI system. I know someone in the town with well water and their tank is fine but they also have a purification system attached to the pump system to help filter their water.

The aquatic life RO Buddie goes for $60 on Amazon:

 

I would not rely on the water conditioners in the salt. They are in there for your average water not high levels of iron associated with well water. Best it to get a good quality iron test kit and mix up some water with the salt and test again.

Are you going to do a reef tank? If so a ro/dI is a must with well water IMO. What else is in your well water? Ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, fertilizers and phosphates from run off?
If your worried about spending $60 don’t so a reef tank. Also $60 for an ro unit is not adequate. Years ago when I bought mine it was a 3 stage unit and over $200. That was 15 years ago. You need at minimum a pre filter, carbon filter, post filter and ro. With well water I highly recommend a DI. If not buy water from your LFS.
If the ro/dI was a single stage single pass unit keep looking. That is not adequate and will actually cost you more in the long run.

I’d get this if I were you.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/4-st...MIo9u6xvXC5QIVvoVaBR2l5wBDEAQYByABEgLL3PD_BwEThey have one without the DI for $150, bit I think the DI is a good idea.

RODI units have come a long way in the last few years. The Aquatic Life RO Buddie is adequate for those with a single smaller tank in most cases (unless he lives in a place like NYC or Flint Michigan with really nasty tapwater).

 

The aquatic life RO Buddie goes for $60 on Amazon:

This maybe adequate but consider the filter life and cost. Over the long run a $150 unit maybe much cheaper to run. Also consider if this company goes out of business I’ll bet you’ll never find cartridges for it. There are a slew of companies that make 10”filters for standard RO RO/DI systems.

Standard 10” systems you get 1 year or so out of a membrane they are $25.00 and you’ll get 6-12 months out of the carbon and sediment filters.
The buddy system seems to not give you specs on their filters and says they last 3000 gallons. You can get much more usable life out of 10” filters. Also I’m sure you can find a 3 stage ro cheaper than I posted. I literally posted the first one I saw. If your worried about $90 that is literally the lifeblood of your tank do t get into saltwater.

I have news for you well water can be worse than NYC water or flint Michigan water. It also has a lot more seasonal variations to take into account, more ions, and more potential contamination from run off.

 

Thanks for the points Saltwater60. I would just be looking to do a fish only for now as this would be my first attempt at SW. As for what else is in the water I can taste the iron, when using a test strip it does not register anything. My 65 freshwater is fine with the tap water, but I struggled to keep the 30 gallon tank up and running properly. I will have to look into the RO/DI system. I know someone in the town with well water and their tank is fine but they also have a purification system attached to the pump system to help filter their water.

Your using a test trip what is it testing for? My concerns are agricultural fertilizer run offs and contamination. Nitrates, nitrites, ph, phosphate and other metals. Mainly copper if your thinking inverts of any kind. Sulfur can make your water acidic and sulfur contamination around my area is a big issue.
You said your buddy does salt water in town his water maybe completely different and he has a treatment system as you stated. Well water can change dramatically with location, soil, run off, well depth, casing construction. What is your water pressure. You’ll need about 50-60 psI or you’ll dump tons of water through the waste side. Also does your well run dry ever? You’ll dump 4-5 times more down the waste side compared to your collection side with an ro. Of course this is pressure and filter condition dependent.
You mentioned you struggled with a 30 gallon freshwater tank please detail your troubles with that tank.
Saltwater fish can be much more finicky and susceptible to water issues. You’ll start fish but most want to get into reefing. Water is of a huge concern with a reef tank.
My ro water was 0-4 TDS. If it got to 5 I changed the filters and membranes. Never had much algae or diatom issues at all. You don’t want these issue they are difficult to irradiate. I reefed for 15 yrs and you don’t want to skimp on equipment. I started that way and you’ll end up buying everything 3-4 times over. Save up and buy what you want one time and one time only. An RO system you’ll have for life. I still ha e mine and it still works 100% from early 2000. I haven’t had a reef tank for the last few years. Kids need my attention not my fish.

 

This maybe adequate but consider the filter life and cost. Over the long run a $150 unit maybe much cheaper to run. Also consider if this company goes out of business I’ll bet you’ll never find cartridges for it. There are a slew of companies that make 10”filters for standard RO RO/DI systems.

Standard 10” systems you get 1 year or so out of a membrane they are $25.00 and you’ll get 6-12 months out of the carbon and sediment filters.
The buddy system seems to not give you specs on their filters and says they last 3000 gallons. You can get much more usable life out of 10” filters. Also I’m sure you can find a 3 stage ro cheaper than I posted. I literally posted the first one I saw. If your worried about $90 that is literally the lifeblood of your tank do t get into saltwater.

I have news for you well water can be worse than NYC water or flint Michigan water. It also has a lot more seasonal variations to take into account, more ions, and more potential contamination from run off.

I would agree that in the long run the nicer $150-$200 RODI systems are generally better, however it also all depends on the setup a person gets. If they only have a single 20 gallon tank and are put off by the higher price of one of the nicer units it might make more sense for them to just get the RO Buddie. As for going out of business, yes it's possible but they are a very popular unit due to their low start up cost. I recommend it more often than not as it's much easier to sell someone on the concept of RODI when they are getting into the hobby and as mentioned a lot of the folks I talk to (this forum included) are nano keepers with a single tank. I agree that well water has a whole list of potential scary things that can affect it.

 

I would agree that in the long run the nicer $150-$200 RODI systems are generally better, however it also all depends on the setup a person gets. If they only have a single 20 gallon tank and are put off by the higher price of one of the nicer units it might make more sense for them to just get the RO Buddie. As for going out of business, yes it's possible but they are a very popular unit due to their low start up cost. I recommend it more often than not as it's much easier to sell someone on the concept of RODI when they are getting into the hobby and as mentioned a lot of the folks I talk to (this forum included) are nano keepers with a single tank. I agree that well water has a whole list of potential scary things that can affect it.

That’s funny. Most people I speak with start off small and cheap and just keep getting bigger. General rule of thumb as I’m sure you’re aware of the larger the tank is the easier it is to keep and the more you can do with it.

 

That’s funny. Most people I speak with start off small and cheap and just keep getting bigger. General rule of thumb as I’m sure you’re aware of the larger the tank is the easier it is to keep and the more you can do with it.

Yes and no. It is true that most who commit to the hobby end up upgrading but there is a pretty healthy population of nano reefers as well (there are only a handful of us regular posters who have anything larger than a 40 gallon tank here). Agreed on the more you can do with larger tanks although I think easier to keep isn't necessarily true in all respects. Water Parameter wise larger definitely is easier, Maintenance wise they can go longer without maintenance but are definitely more time consuming when it needs it (ie scraping coralline algae off the glass, larger water changes).

 

Your using a test trip what is it testing for? My concerns are agricultural fertilizer run offs and contamination. Nitrates, nitrites, ph, phosphate and other metals. Mainly copper if your thinking inverts of any kind. Sulfur can make your water acidic and sulfur contamination around my area is a big issue.
You said your buddy does salt water in town his water maybe completely different and he has a treatment system as you stated. Well water can change dramatically with location, soil, run off, well depth, casing construction. What is your water pressure. You’ll need about 50-60 psI or you’ll dump tons of water through the waste side. Also does your well run dry ever? You’ll dump 4-5 times more down the waste side compared to your collection side with an ro. Of course this is pressure and filter condition dependent.
You mentioned you struggled with a 30 gallon freshwater tank please detail your troubles with that tank.
Saltwater fish can be much more finicky and susceptible to water issues. You’ll start fish but most want to get into reefing. Water is of a huge concern with a reef tank.
My ro water was 0-4 TDS. If it got to 5 I changed the filters and membranes. Never had much algae or diatom issues at all. You don’t want these issue they are difficult to irradiate. I reefed for 15 yrs and you don’t want to skimp on equipment. I started that way and you’ll end up buying everything 3-4 times over. Save up and buy what you want one time and one time only. An RO system you’ll have for life. I still ha e mine and it still works 100% from early 2000. I haven’t had a reef tank for the last few years. Kids need my attention not my fish.

Been busy, so just seeing this. I am not positive what was going on with the 30 gallon tank, assuming the water. most the fish added, not all at once, several attempts died. I had two Kribs that seemed to be able to survive and 2 ember tetras out of 10. Had 5 zebra danios and in 2 weeks down to 1. the 30 gallon has since been taken down. Everything I read or hear seems to state the same as you, spend a little more up front to save money in the long run. Appreciate your input.

 

Been busy, so just seeing this. I am not positive what was going on with the 30 gallon tank, assuming the water. most the fish added, not all at once, several attempts died. I had two Kribs that seemed to be able to survive and 2 ember tetras out of 10. Had 5 zebra danios and in 2 weeks down to 1. the 30 gallon has since been taken down. Everything I read or hear seems to state the same as you, spend a little more up front to save money in the long run. Appreciate your input.

You won’t be sorry. Good luck.

 

Been busy, so just seeing this. I am not positive what was going on with the 30 gallon tank, assuming the water. most the fish added, not all at once, several attempts died. I had two Kribs that seemed to be able to survive and 2 ember tetras out of 10. Had 5 zebra danios and in 2 weeks down to 1. the 30 gallon has since been taken down. Everything I read or hear seems to state the same as you, spend a little more up front to save money in the long run. Appreciate your input.

It is true that upgrades are very spendy since you have to essentially rebuy all your equipment. When I upgraded from my old 36 gallon bowfront to my current 90 gallon setup only the following tranferred over: 40lbs of established live rock, 1 powerhead and a couple of cupfulls of old sand.