Reverse osmosis vs solid carbon filter?

[lauriepacific]

lauriepacific
Registered Member
Feedback Score: 0 reviews

Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: California Coast
Posts: 2
Casino cash: $280

Reverse osmosis v solid carbon filter for reef tank water?
Hi everyone,

I'm setting up a 65 gal. reef tank. I live in a rural area and have well-water. I've had my water tested for phosphates and the results showed I have zero phosphates in my water which is a good thing re: algae growth.

I currently have a Multi-Pure hard carbon water filter. I called Multi-Pure and asked what the difference is between their RO filter and the hard carbon filter. I was told that the RO filter removes floride which I don't have in my well water. Also the RO filter removes all minerals and is actually not a good thing for people to drink because it depletes your body's mineral content.

So, my question is this. Do you think that my hard carbon Multi-Pure filter is sufficient for filtering water for my new reef tank or do you think I should use the reverse osmosis filter.

Thanks in advance for your help with this!

Cheers,

Laurie

 

[gilmour01]

i'd have my water tested to see whats in it. i personally like the peace of mind that an ro/di unit provides.

 

[AlexStinson]

the hard carbon is much better than nothing, but you could still build up minerals in your tank over time. Ground water, depending on your local geology, can pick up many different minerals including small amounts of heavy metals. Over time these heavy metals can be concentrated iny our tank as they will never leave via evaporation. given this, I would still suggest an RODI unit.

 

[AZDesertRat]

There is no comparison. A RO uses a carbon block as one of its prefiltration steps along with a sediment or particulate filter. The average carbon block removes condaminants down to maybe 10.0 microns, a RO membrane removes contaminants down to about 00.000005 or smaller microns.

Your body receives such a miniscule amount of minerals from dringking water its not an issue, in fact RO is safer than tap as is RO/DI although RO/DI will have a very blah, bland taste and is not refreshing.

All carbon removes is chlorine, which you may not have with a domestic well, volatlie organic chemicals like gasoline, herbicide and pesticide byproducts and in some cases sediments but that is hard on carbon since its plugs the pores and renders it useless.

Go with RO for drinking and RO/DI for reef aquarium use. You can use the same unit for both with a DI bypass valve so you drink the RO before it hits DI.

 

[lauriepacific]

Thanks!

Thanks everyone for your help with my RO vs carbon filter question! I'll purchase an R/O unit to avoid future problems with my new reef tank.