kitties1
Fish Fanatic
I got my first RO unit last Monday. I was a little nervous about this purchase since it wasn't cheap, and many people had said that it wasn't necessary for a freshwater tank. I went ahead and got it anyway for several reasons
First, I always had to battle with regulating my Ph and Gh/Kh. I knew from my research that the quality of my water was preventing me from achieiving the proper ranges in my water chemistry. My pipes are old, and I always drink filtered (Brita) water, never straight from the tap. Gross, but there I was adding tap to my fish tanks (after adding chemicals).
Second, when I moved out of my parents home into my apartment (with my gross water) my established tanks, three of the four I have now, started to experience problems with ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. I thought it had something to do with the initial move, but after a year I was still having problems. My fish survived through it, but I felt terrible and stressed over the prospect of their chronic discomfort.
Then I had a power failure and two of my tanks crashes. I had/am in the process of recycling with nowhere to temporarily house my fish. I stressed over the thought of plosing them to the process of recycling.
One of my colleagues (a science teacher) mentioned that if I tried working with highly purified water that I may have more success in managing my water chemistry and reestablishing my bacterial colonies in my tanks. He went on to explain that the purer the water the less chance that there would be inhibiting factors to the production of a good healthy environment for the fish. He also went on to mention something that I already knew, using chemicals does not always solve problems. Sooo, I did my research and found an RO unit that I felt comfortable with.
It is a Kent Marine Hi-S 35. The set-up was actually easier than I had expected. Since I am in an apartment I do not intend on making a permanent installation, so right now i have it in my bathroom with the product water collecting in a 24 G garbage can.
In the week that i have ahd it I have performed daily water changes on my two problem tanks and have found that i have already drastically reduced the nitrite and ammonia contents of both. Also, in all four tanks the Ph Gh and Kh is finally stabalizing and becoming manageable. I have stopped using chemicals, although not entirely. I still use a Ph stabilizer, since RO water has no Ph I need something to make it neutral (7.0). I add this to the RO water only. I also use an electrolite replacement since this RO water is also devoid of ANY minerals or nutrients. Hopefully the immediate success that i have experienced will continue.
It think these units are definitely worth researching if you want to obtain really pure clean water. Some may think i have gone a little over the top, but i the results are positive then i have no regrets. BTW I also use the RO water in my tank for my tiger salamander and I have noticed that he is much more active and alert.
First, I always had to battle with regulating my Ph and Gh/Kh. I knew from my research that the quality of my water was preventing me from achieiving the proper ranges in my water chemistry. My pipes are old, and I always drink filtered (Brita) water, never straight from the tap. Gross, but there I was adding tap to my fish tanks (after adding chemicals).
Second, when I moved out of my parents home into my apartment (with my gross water) my established tanks, three of the four I have now, started to experience problems with ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. I thought it had something to do with the initial move, but after a year I was still having problems. My fish survived through it, but I felt terrible and stressed over the prospect of their chronic discomfort.
Then I had a power failure and two of my tanks crashes. I had/am in the process of recycling with nowhere to temporarily house my fish. I stressed over the thought of plosing them to the process of recycling.
One of my colleagues (a science teacher) mentioned that if I tried working with highly purified water that I may have more success in managing my water chemistry and reestablishing my bacterial colonies in my tanks. He went on to explain that the purer the water the less chance that there would be inhibiting factors to the production of a good healthy environment for the fish. He also went on to mention something that I already knew, using chemicals does not always solve problems. Sooo, I did my research and found an RO unit that I felt comfortable with.
It is a Kent Marine Hi-S 35. The set-up was actually easier than I had expected. Since I am in an apartment I do not intend on making a permanent installation, so right now i have it in my bathroom with the product water collecting in a 24 G garbage can.
In the week that i have ahd it I have performed daily water changes on my two problem tanks and have found that i have already drastically reduced the nitrite and ammonia contents of both. Also, in all four tanks the Ph Gh and Kh is finally stabalizing and becoming manageable. I have stopped using chemicals, although not entirely. I still use a Ph stabilizer, since RO water has no Ph I need something to make it neutral (7.0). I add this to the RO water only. I also use an electrolite replacement since this RO water is also devoid of ANY minerals or nutrients. Hopefully the immediate success that i have experienced will continue.
It think these units are definitely worth researching if you want to obtain really pure clean water. Some may think i have gone a little over the top, but i the results are positive then i have no regrets. BTW I also use the RO water in my tank for my tiger salamander and I have noticed that he is much more active and alert.
