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kmtfishchannel 
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 Topic: Purified Drinking Water?
Posted: January 25 2016 at 10:41pm |
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At my local Walmart I want to buy water for topping off my tank. The refill station says it uses RO filter but the company says they add minerals for flavor. Would this hurt my tank in anyway? This is the website of the water company.... http://primewater.com/. I just don't want bad alge growth caused by the minerals. It's ment for drinking but still...
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Marcoss
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Posted: January 25 2016 at 10:47pm |
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The best way to know for sure would be to use a TDS meter. Even if it's RO water it may have a dirty filter, etc. producing bad water (or maybe not the best). I'm pretty far away or I'd let you use mine. It's just a little $15 electrical gadget that gives you the TDS value.
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RedSea Max S400 - 90G Rimless Frag Tanks x2 - 185 Lookdown Bin
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Reefboy4life
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Posted: January 25 2016 at 11:26pm |
 Marcoss wrote:
The best way to know for sure would be to use a TDS meter. Even if it's RO water it may have a dirty filter, etc. producing bad water (or maybe not the best). I'm pretty far away or I'd let you use mine. It's just a little $15 electrical gadget that gives you the TDS value. |
Where did you buy your TDS meter? I seen them on eBay for $5 but not sure I would trust it at that price
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90 gallon mixed reef
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phys
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Posted: January 26 2016 at 1:58am |
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Usually they add magnesium and calcium salts... But if you're buying it from Wal-Mart, why no just get distilled water? RODI is much better so if you can find that, Do it. Is one of the lfs down there nearby?
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A Reef Oasis
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Posted: January 26 2016 at 2:31am |
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We have free RO water. Bring some jugs.
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"oh crap where am I going to put that!" bstuver
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: January 26 2016 at 6:08am |
The Walmart stores I know have large water dispensers in their water aisle that provide RO(reverse osmosis) water for about $0.30/gal. They usually can give 20 gals or more in just a few minutes before they need time to refill the internal reservoir. I have recommended that water to hobbyists for over 10 years, to use until they want to get their own RO unit. When I've bought it, I have always checked the TDS at the store before I buy the water. Sometimes, instead of a reading of <10 ppm, I've gotten a reading of around 100 ppm. Then I report it to the store and come back later after they've serviced the unit. A small hand-held TDS meter is a great item. $15-$20 is well worth the money. I wouldn't trust a $5 one from ebay.
This Primewater purification unit sounds different.
The website says nothing about minerals added for taste. It seems to me that a product ought to give more detailed information as part of it's labeling.
The pic below is from that website. Their membrane is a little different than an RO membrane. Instead, it runs until it clogs. The water from that membrane should be okay for use in a reef aquarium. According to the website, a filter of Activated Carbon is also used to remove minerals that cause bad taste.
Are you sure it didn't say something like "competitors products of less pure water have flavors added to mask bad taste"
Until I knew more, I would probably avoid it. There are some hobbyists on this forum that live near you. Two I can think of right off are in Spanish Fork or Mapleton. I would post a request here on the forum "Hobbyists in/near Spanish Fork?". I would get to know them check out their aquariums, pick their brains and ask where they get their water. Maybe they wouldn't mind sharing their RO water with you for a while. 
Aloha, Mark 
Edited by Mark Peterson - January 26 2016 at 6:29am
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Marcoss
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Posted: January 26 2016 at 8:22am |
Reefboy4life wrote:
Where did you buy your TDS meter? ... |
I purchased my TDS meter from BRS. It must have been on sale at the time since it is now $25 and it came with free calibration fluid. I have an inline one on my RODI unit, but I still double check.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/tds-3-handheld-tds-meter-hm-digital.html
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RedSea Max S400 - 90G Rimless Frag Tanks x2 - 185 Lookdown Bin
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Krazie4Acans
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Posted: January 26 2016 at 9:37am |
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When in doubt buy distilled water.
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My ocean. 90g (yup, won it!), 40g, 28g, & 10g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water Tank Thread:
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kmtfishchannel
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Posted: January 26 2016 at 12:25pm |
Sorry I entered the website wrong... Here is the website I was talking about for the water station at my local Walmart. Sorry about that hahaha http://www.primowater.com/Home.aspx
http://www.primowater.com/Water.aspx
Edited by kmtfishchannel - January 26 2016 at 12:30pm
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jfinch
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Posted: January 26 2016 at 1:27pm |
It's fine (assuming it's working as advertised).
Sediment filter -> AC filter -> RO -> UV
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Reefer4Ever
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Posted: January 26 2016 at 4:13pm |
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How does one test the TDS before buying it?
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90 gal reef w/refugium
24 gal softie tank
11 gal nano anemone tank
5 gal fresh water
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jfinch
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Posted: January 26 2016 at 4:31pm |
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As Mark suggests, walk in with a TDS meter in hand and test. If it's under 20 ppm I'd say it's working fine. If you want it under 10 ppm you're going to need DI on the tail end and this water system doesn't have it. The UV sterilization is not needed for reef water, imo (not even needed for drinking water imo :) ).
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Fatman
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Posted: January 26 2016 at 5:04pm |
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I ran out of water on a tanks set up for a friend. We picked up 20 gallons at the WalMart purified water station. I took a cup and a TDS meter. Showed 8 PPM so we bought it and used it.
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: January 26 2016 at 6:42pm |
Good to know that Walmart is still providing that same good water.  A cupful from the Primo dispenser or a gallon brought home can be tested. A properly functioning, good quality RO unit should produce water that is less than 10 ppm but if it rises above 20 ppm that means it's time to start thinking about changing the membrane. Good thing is, it goes bad slowly so even after 100 more gallons the TDS may have only risen to 30 ppm. Considering that city water tests anywhere from 200 to over 500 ppm, 20 ppm is still darn pure and good tasting water.
I'm a water geek, using and studying this since 1999.  I've used RO water for drinking so long now that I can taste the difference when the membrane needs replacing.
The difference between RO water at 2-10 ppm TDS and RO water that has gone through De-Ionizing resin coming out at 0-2 ppm is negligible to a reef aquarium and a difference in taste is undetectable to me. I choose not to pay the extra cost of DI since it makes no difference to my reef and my taste buds.
Aloha, Mark |
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Mark Peterson
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Posted: January 28 2016 at 6:05am |
This RO unit is only $60 from a hobbyist in Pleasant Grove, posted yesterday. Be sure to ask how long it was used, producing approximately how many gallons. When was the last time the sediment filter, carbon filter, and RO membrane were changed, if ever. An RO membrane should produce 5000 gallons while the filters should be changed every 6 months or so, Call/text me on the spot to get immediate help/answers to questions. 808-345-1049
Aloha, Mark |
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