Water and lights (1 Viewer)

[hankintexas]

Ok, I am just begining to get back into this here obsession. I will be starting 2 new tanks in the next couple of weeks. One is very large (to me) in my living room - 215 and the other a bit smaller in my home office a 55.

These are not my first tanks, but I have been out of the hobby for a while. I plan to start both as Marine Fish only tanks and then gradually over a year or so build the 215 into a reef tank.

My 55 will be filtered with a Fluval 405 and my 215 with a sump and a Iwalki 70 pump. The plumbing on the 215 and my painting the living room is the only thing preventing me from filling it now (my wife will be angry if I just paint around it for some reason). My 55 is ready to fill.

I am interested in 2 things mostly, Lights and Water. I do not want to run tap water and will need approx 300 gl to start out with. Should I start with distilled water or purchase a ro/di? The second item is the lights. I think I want to use LED's for both tanks due to heat and energy costs. The 215 has a hood and I had to pass on a great deal on a set of corallife aqualites because they wold not fit in the hood and would be hard to vent and cool with out cutting holes through the top of the hood (and my wife would be looking for one of my handguns if she catches me with a hole saw, on a ladder, cutting through the hood).

So, give me your ideas and input if you have the time. I like to research and plan my projects out and appreciate any ideas. If I make a mistake, I want to be able to look back and have someone else to blame for a change (just kidding).

Thanks,

Hank

 

[CBBSteve]

Hi, Hank.
Doesn't distilled water cost about $1 per gallon? You could buy a pretty good RODI system for what you would spend on water for the 215. A cheaper alternative, at least in the short run, would be to buy water from Watermill Express if there's one near you.

good luck,
Steve

 

[Reggie]

+1 for buying your own RODI initially. Sure there may be a bit a higher initial cost but it a rapid return on your investment with the frequency and volume of water changes you will be making. Only speaking for me, I usually keep 25% of my systems volume in made up salt water and 10-15% in rodi for top-off etc.

 

[TiAg]

From the math I've seen in my reading around the RO/DI pays for itself pretty quick, enough so that it was one of the first things I got. It's pretty time consuming though, with 50PSI I make about 70 gallons a day.

 

[hankintexas]

Well, you are all correct. I did a bit of research and ordered a new 75 GPD RO/DI 6 Stage Chloramines *DELUXE* System. I called the Fort Bend Water Department and they told me they do add Chloramines to the water here. They have been adding it for the last 8 months or so. I ordered it from Bulk Reef supply for $252.00 with free shipping. Now for storage tanks!!! I think I found a few 275 gallon tanks for 125.00 on Craigs list. I am going to use one for the ro/di water and another for overflow storage (lawn water). Thanks for all the input!

 

[merkurmaniac]

Hank,

I found the ad on Craigslist for the 55 gallon blue plastic barrels. I bought a couple from this guy and they were spotless. I think that he receives tomatos in them, but the tomatos are actually bagged inside the barrels. THey are $25 ea unless you buy a ton of them.

Search on craigslist for this guys number typed exactly this way : 214-636-4006

His name is Pino.

Richard

 

[TiAg]

Nice Richard, I might have to call him myself. Have been looking for those too thanks!

 

[merkurmaniac]

Better hurry up, last time I was there, he only had about 100, heh heh.. I bought them last summer. He has a constant supply, and they are food grade. Those 275 Gallon IBC totes (internation bulk carrier) may have had damn near anything in them.

These barrels come with some nice locking rings and are the style where the entire top comes off, i.e not the style with a small 2" threaded port.

 

[inigomontoya]

Don't remember the name, but I also bought two blue 55's off craigslist and consider it a great investment. I had used one of the brute rubbermaids with wheels and when the water reached a certain point it would tip over. Found out the hard way when I left the RODI on overnight to fill and came in to a tumped over rubbermaid (luckily in garage).
You may also wish to check out the booster pump and 150g upgrade from BRS. Think I am going to get that for my RODI and wish I had it when I originally filled my tank. Had the RODI going for literally 3 days straight.

 

[hankintexas]

Thanks Richard! I am going to call him today. Did you see the 275 gallon ones? I am going to see if I can get one of those also as an over flow and a rain collection container. I will let you know.

 

[hankintexas]

55 Gal water storage containers

I called Pino and spoke to him today. He has 30 to 40 of these containers avaliable and his prices are structured as Price is based on how many drums you purchase:

1 - 5 Drums = $25 each.
6 - 10 Drums = $20 each.
11 + Drums = $15 each.

I am going to buy at least 4 and maybe 6. If anyone else is interested, let me know here or PM me and I will set up some kind of group buy from him. He seems like a great guy on the phone. If you want me to buy them for you I will. You can either meet me at his location and pick them up or come to my house and get them. If you say you want me to buy them for you, I will take your word that you will pay me back.

Thanks

 

[TiAg]

I was going to call him to buy a couple myself so put me down for 2 of the 55ers.

 

[hankintexas]

I was going to call him to buy a couple myself so put me down for 2 of the 55ers.

will do. Want to meet me there or pick them up at my house in Greatwood? If you know of anyone else interested, pass the word.

 

[TiAg]

Well I probably won't be able to get out that way till Sunday, need to run out to Katy anyway so could swing down to Sugarland after that if you're going to pick them up before then. I'll PM you my info.