RO or not?

I was in the hobby for about 10 years and got out. I am itching to get back into it. I really don't want to do RO water. If I have to, I will not even start up again. I am in a new house from my past years so I am wondering if there is a way to figure out if I can get away without using RO water for a fish only with liverock tank...? I like lots of coraline algea too so please let me know if I will be wasting my time to even try.
Thanks!!!!

 

you can do just DI. First I would borrow a TSD meter or get the stats from your municipality on the amount of Total Dissolved Solids in the water.

But I would imagine you would need at least DI filtration.

If you don't mind why no RO

J

 

I have a TDS meter from my old days of using RO systems. So I will check it. I just hate making the water for the water changes and adds.
Whats the max amount of TDS that is acceptable?
My house has a regular DI filter on it so that should help too?

 

the Lower the better I shoot for 0.

 

Nothing with a reading over 10 would go into my tanks.. I try try to keep mine as close to zero as I can . I change out the D.I and prefilters when it hits 5 ppm But I have auto top off so thats not a problem for me..then I feed two large storage barrels one for F/W and one for salt that a Friend uses for his water changes and he also gets his F/W make up from us as-well. Even with R/O and D.I his well water was just nasty to nasty for a marine tank.

 

15 is the maxs for me...

 

I like to remove everything RO/DI + Silicate. IMO a RO Unit and a Skimmer are the 2 Primary items.Then comes your lighting package. Knowing your water quality from the start is helpful in troubleshooting other things down the road. Go RO with out a Second Thought

 

I hear that I had another single filter housing so I set up a second D.I to help out the fisrt one aswell.. And with the other guy getting his water from us that cuts the life n half . You can not over filter the water for a reef tank I don't think.

 

its amazing how pure the ocean is when you think about what we need to do to ground water to get it close!

 

Actually, the deep reef and open ocean water is the only real pristine, nutrient free water! Lagoons, and shallow tidal zones have everything from river run off to higher nutrient levels brought in by the tides/waves!
If you are just planning on going with fish only, why not just use carbon regularly, and water changes weekly!
I know that it is not optimal but it will work!!! Unless your water is that bad, try it...
I would also use a chlorine/chloramine water conditioner!