150 gallon tank, RO/DI?

Hello,

My husband and I are getting ready to set up our 150 gallon tank. Currently we have a 20 gal (possibly 25 gal?) with 2 clownfish, a fire shrimp, a few crabs, and snails. So far, it is going well, just a lot of maintenance since it is such a small set-up.

When we bought everything this past April (it has taken so long because we decided to redo the floor from carpet to laminate, and then we figured we would paint walls too, quite the project this tank set up has become, ), my hubby decided that we could do without the RO/DI system. Of course, I'm figuring we have $$$$ tied up in it, what is a little more. I'm not sure what he will ultimately decide to do, but I'm wondering what kind of problems will be looking at if we don't get one. He feels like it will be ok since we have the protein skimmer.

So, I'm doing the research for him. Of course, after researching here, I'm looking at the 90 gal/day SpectraPure system, or do I need to buy one for a 150 gal/day? I'm not quite sure how it all works. My husband isn't home for me to ask him what his set up is (I know he has the BIO filter system with the little balls and a protein skimmer).

We are planning on getting some live rock too, but mainly enough for the fish to hide in and swim through.

Thanks!
Kendra

 

Hi Kendra
Having a RO filter is a must to stop issues with Phosphate in your top-up water & I would recommend you do get one to help with Algae issues the PO4 will cause.
For a tank your size I would think the smaller one would be OK if your only using it for top-up & should even be OK if your going to be using ASW & will need the RO to mix with the salt.
The Protein skimmer only removes excess nutrients from the water which is more of a Nitrate issue.
The bio balls normally create an issue with nitrates & You would be far better off getting enough liverock & that then becomes a filter.

 

+1 to the above a RO/DI is a must the evaporation rate on a 150gal would kill toting water in. you might check BRS for a RO/DI system you dont have to have a system that does 150gpd a 75gpd would work.

 

Thanks Rick. I'm not quite sure what ASW means and "RO to mix with the salt". Sorry, and quite embarrassed, to ask for a little more explanation.

 

Sorry My fault & dont be Embarrassed asking questions is how we all learn.
ASW means Artificial Salt Water I:E you mix RO with a propriety brand marine salt to make your salt water. In my case I make My own by mixing 600lts of RO with 22kg of Redsea Coral salt
If you see NSW that means Normal Salt Water
Should mention My tank total volume is about 160gallon & I need to top-up about 6 to 8 litres of RO for evaporation daily.

 

One of the biggest selling points on a RO/DI system is the phosphates in tap water will make diatom blooms in your tank very stressful to get rid of

 

Oh, ok, thanks. I guess that is what we are doing. He has a bucket of "Instant Ocean". I don't know if it makes a difference or not, and it could be a worse thing, but we are on county water instead of city water. I know for our 20 gal tank he has been using a water conditioner in it.

 

IO is good salt i used it before i switched to Red sea coral pro. If you are on well water do you guess have like a water softing system on your house? I would have your water tested for phosphates if there is any at all then it might cause issues. I hope that helps

 

Oh boy. What are diatom blooms? I'm wondering if that is the stuff that started appearing the last couple of months in our 20 gal tank?!? I will take a picture and upload. It has been doing better since we have been leaving the light off. We had a lot of natural light coming through our windows (we had our windows replaced due to tornado damage in April) and we had no curtains or blinds up reducing the overall lighting. I dx it as cyanobacteria.

 

No, we aren't on well water.