buy RO/DI or just use LFS water?

So I am going to be purchasing a 65G reef ready tank, when I get the quote on it I'll post that information to see what people think, but I am wondering on your thoughts on whether to buy a RODI water purifier or just go with the local fish store water. Also if I don't purchase the RODI do i just buy the LFS salt water ($1.25 per gallon) or still make my own (there RODI water is .55 per gallon). If you say go with the LFS water, does your suggestion hold true for just my initial filling of the tank or just for later?
In regards to the RODI set up. I don't have plubming skills, so would I need to have a plumber set it up in my house. Another issue is that I would have to set it up in our basement. I will not be able to store buckets and such on the same level as the tank, at least not permanently.

 

Personally, I would HIGHLY recommend getting your own RODI, as it will save you time, money, and frustration- especially for a 65g tank. I can elaborate more, but in short, having your own system will prevent you from paying the LFS mark up, you don't have to travel to the store and transport water, and you can control your water make-up and change filters at the proper intervals.

RODI's aren't that difficult to set up and if you need help figuring out a way, you can ask people on 3reef or talk to a hardware store employee and tell them what you are trying to do. Basically you just need to hook into a water source and use a valve to control flow to the unit. Most RODI systems come with a hose hook-up.

I used to have mine in the basement too. I just used 5 gal water jugs to transport it to my tank. IMO- carrying it up one flight of stairs > driving to the LFS.

 

Having ultimate control of your water quality is priceless.
You can buy a very good reef quality RO/DI system for $125 and a handheld TDS meter for another $20-$25 and you are set. On average it costs about 5 cents a gallon to make your own RO/DI and that includes the water and sewer rates for the treated and the waste flows plus replacement filters and DI resin so making your own is inexpenive and gives you alone the control over its quality, no depending on someone else.
Another thing that helps justify the purchase is you can install a drinking water kit or even a simple tee and ball valve and use the RO only portion for drinking water. My wife loves the RO and with a drinking water kit it even makes clear ice cubes in the icemaker. It also let me quit buying the super expensive Maytag replacement refrigerator filters so was an even further advantage.

 

Hooking up a ro/di is a very simple task. It is much easier to make your own water at he and mix the salt in. It's also going to be much less expensive. And save a ton of time. So you should get an ro/di and start from the beginning.

 

In the long run the RO/DI unit will save you money, a good one from spectrapure will run you between $125 and $200 depending on the capacity and easily make several hundred gallons of water before needing new media depending on the water quality where you live.
Compare that to buying it at $1.25 a gallon from the LFS and it pays for itself in less than 6 months of use!

 

Its about 35c a gallon at a local super market here, I did that for years when I had a 55 gallon up but it was such a pain over time. Just get a RO/DI system, I know the AquaFX are pretty simple but they do the job, and you can usually find one or the other of a Coralife brand(which are very very easy to get parts for and quickly) for about $120 bucks at most LFS. It's worth it. I'm about to jump the gun on one for a future investment of a larger system; and my tanks only 29 gallons. Moving water sucks.

 

$125 for a real reef quality RO/DI from the best company in the business for over 27 years and located in Tempe AZ.
SpectraPure - Great Deals on All your Water Management needs!

Don't fool around with the others, you will spend more upgrading them to work than its worth.

 

You can cycle using the LFS water if you wish, but at $1.25 per gallon and 65 gallons to fill (not including sump), you'll be paying $80. If you include the sump volume to that value, then you're spending as much money on water from your LFS as it costs to buy an RO/DI unit.

 

I will join the choir that sings the praise of the RO/DI. It's cheaper, doesn't have to carried, loaded and then carried, you are in control of the quality and it's open 24/7. That is one purchase you will NEVER say "I wish I hadn't of....".