RO/DI at Water and Ice stores ?

I recently started getting a little Cyano on my sand, so I went to a LFS yesterday and asked if they sell RO/DI water. They said they dont, but they said the Water and Ice store in the same strip mall has RO/DI water. I walked over to the store, but all signs in the store say RO water. I questioned the worker on it, and she said it was RO/DI, not RO.

To be honest i'm not sure she knows what she is talking about. She may have just agreed with me since I said I was looking for it. Does anyone get RO/DI water from the strip mall water stores? Not sure if thats common.

 

My guess would be only RO which in itself is not necessarily bad...obviously the places like you describe are selling filtered water primarily for drinking and adding DI would be an unnecessary cost for them. I've tested RO water from some "fill your own" type machines in the past and it appears the RO filters are not maintained as well as they could be and the TDS is fairly high much of the time...I suppose each place is different...in addition but I think many of the "water" stores run the final product through a "water softener" type setup with some mineral salts to add "taste" as many folks don't like the taste of straight RO water...I think I would buy distilled water at Wally World or the grocery store before I bought RO water from one of those "water" stores.

I would encourage you to start using RO/DI or distilled over tap...although tap water in some parts of the country has fairly low TDS and works OK for a tank, you never know when the water treatment plant may have issues and add something extra or have a water main break that adds in contaminants...it only takes one little mishap to wreak havoc...honestly if you plan to be in the hobby for any time at all the investment for your own RO/DI unit is well worth it...and it will pay for itself especially in convenience and time saved not hauling water.

 

I did find another LFS that does sell RO/DI water another 3-4 miles up the road from this store. Its probably worth the extra effort to drive there and be sure of what i'm getting. Are there any inexpensive TDS meters you guys would recommend?

 

Target sells one, can not remember the brand, but it's like 20 bucks.

If you are in a bind you can get RO/DI at Walgreens, Walmart, Safeway.......

It may not say RO/DI, but look for anything that says reverse osmosis, or even just DI (di-ionized).

If you are in Tucson, Oasis, SEA and Southwest Saltwater all sell RO/DI and mixed water last time I checked.

 

Thanks, I'll probably pick up a TDS meter if they are only $20. I picked up a few of the 7 gallon Aqua-tainers the other day. Do these fit in the water vending machines ?

 

I use water from those little water dispenser deals in the middle of grocery star parking lots all the time. I think the little station by my house is like "Glacier Bay" or glacier something, I can't remember exactly. But I haven't had any problems with it. Like corailline said.. You can get 1 gallon jugs at pretty much any supermarket. I know its 70 cents a gallon at kroger's for reverse osmosis water. Can't beat that.

 

Im just guessing by your user name but if you live in AZ where in AZ do you live. aquatouch in phoenix sells if for 35 cents a gallon

 

I am in Phoenix but Aquatouch is far for me. Pet Safari is much closer for me and has the same deal on RO/DI, but the water store would have been super convenient. Actually I have a Walmart half a mile from my house. I think I'm gonna pick up a TDS meter this weekend and see what Walmart vending machines and the water store test at.

 

Danny, the Water & Ice store next to Tropical Treasures is RO only but the TDS is always in the 7-10 or so range which is not bad considering the tap water is 650+.
At one time TT was selling RO/DI but not sure if they do anymore.
I make my own so don't purchase anymore.

Lowes has TDS meters but if you go to Watts Premier up by the Deer Valley airport they have better meters.

Spectrapure also has the good TDS-3 on sale right now and its right around the corner from Reef Encounter in Tempe if you need an excuse to visit them.
http://www.spectrapure.com/email/customer-appreciation.html

 

Thanks DesertRat, that's the shop I'm talking about. 7- 10 ppm isn't to bad especially since this tank is fish only and I'm in that shopping center 5 days a week. The link you gave says the price is only good if you order on the page. Once you take shipping and time delay into account I would rather pick one up unless you say its worth the wait. Are the lowest type units unreliable ? I don't want to buy a crappy one.