[WuTang]

I currently have a 60 Gallon FOWLR tank that I've been running for about 14 months now. I do a 25% water change once a month and things seem to be okay except for my algae problems.

Here's how I make my saltwater:

Fill a 20 gallon rubbermaid trash can with fresh water and add the proper amount of declorinator. Add an airstone | heater and let it sit for a day. The following day, I'll add my salt mix, stir vigorously, and let it aerate for about an hour. That's it!

After asking a LFS how they prepare their saltwater, they use reverse osmosis along with deionization. They told me with my method, my water would still have traces of phosphates, nitrates, ammonia, chlorine, metals, etc. and is part of the reason of my algae problem. They suggested getting a deionized canister from my local water company or retailer that I can hook up to my faucet.

Can anyone suggest equipment or a cost effective way on how to get RO / DI water? I wish I knew this 14 months ago. I found threads about making RO water but I'm still not sure on what I need. Can anyone list their steps and the amount of time it takes? I appreciate any and all advice.

[Reefland]

It would be much better for you to use RO/DI water instead of water right from the tap; you would rest easy knowing you were adding clean water and also be able to get rid of the dechlorinator. The only thing you need to make RO/DI water is a RO/DI unit. Check out our Sponsors page for AquaFX, they are a manufacturer of units.

Secondly, I would suggest that when making up new ASW, you allow your saltwater to mix for 24 hours. I run the amount of water I want to change through our RO/DI unit, add a heater and powerhead, add salt to make the right salinity and let it sit for 24 hours.

[Samper]

I mix mine up every saturday after doing a water change and throw a powerhead in there for circulation, if I had an extra heater I'd be using it also but I don't so I just set it beside my tank and it seems to stay between 77 and 80 degrees but it could dip at night. The day before my water change I add a cup of my tank water to it...........an old practice that some say is outdated but I do it. It mixes for a week before being used.

[zhenya]

I always have saltwater mixed in an old(retired by me ) RO/DI 40g water storage tank. I have old titanium heater in there and old MAG-5 pump for circulation. I feel that if I had an emergency I would be better prepared to deal with it in regards to water exchanges. After I do my usual water change I just drop output from RO/DI unit in it and let it fill again, add salt and let my pump do the mixing.

That's about it.

[Poseidon]

I use a 32 gallon can, add about 20 gallons of RO/DI water and let it mix. Until I do my water change. After the change I immediately fill the can back up, and it mixes until the next change 30 days later. This way I almost always have 20 gallons of water on hand in case of a dire emergency!

[middlemark]

I use RO/DI, a worthy investment when you're in the hobby long-term.

I've got the 32 gallon water container too ... I have two, one RO/DI, one for salt mixing of RO/DI. Heater and Mag 5 in there for mixing.

Normally I will fill it mid-week, then add pump + thermometer for a day - then mix up the water normally 48 hours before any water change - time for thorough mixing.

Recently [I use IO] I've been adding 120 ml of CaCl mixture [Randy's DIY 2-part] to my new water as that seem to boost Calcium up in the low 400's. I'm still determining the amount of Magnesium to bring IO's low mag levels up before a water change.

But either way, I prefer to have 48 hours of mixing at temp before adding new water. Seems slightly paranoid, but as it's kept me from problems - I'll stay a little paranoid