So I recently picked up a used RO/DI unit. It's a Barracuda 4 stage, made by AquaFX.
http://www.aquariumwaterfilters.com...8&category_id=15&option=com_phpshop&Itemid=28
I have a few questions. Right now, I don't have a holding tank so am making up water in 5 gallon buckets. I've got a 46 and 29 gallon Reef tank. I would love to do a massive water change in each, replacing the water with RO/DI water. Unfortunately, without a storage tank, I'm unable to do more than about 15 gallons at a time. I've currently been doing 5 gallon changes in each tank every evening for the past 4 days. I don't know how effective this is though. I'll continue doing this for the next couple days. I'm planning on buying a large garbage can from Home Depot or something like that to use as a water storage tank. I'll add a powerhead and a heater. Until I'm able to set this up, can anyone give me any idea how effective the 5 gallon/day changes are? What's the maximum amount of water I could safely change at once without causing any problems? I'll probably end up purchasing a 45 gallon garbage can and plan on having about 40 gallons made up at all times. I will also be using RO/DI water for top offs.
With the RO/DI unit, I also purchased a used "wet/dry" sump. I'll be removing the bio-balls and hooking it up as a sump/refugium with some live sand, live rubble rock and loads of chaeto. It has a 600 gph overflow, similar to a CPR overflow unit, but with a durso stand in the overflow. It also has a pump rated at 660 gph. The pump is a Surge 3500. I've never heard of it...lol. Hope it's a decent one. I still am a lil' unsure about the plumbing and such for all of this but I'm sure I'll figure it out. There's a couple small holes drilled (one in the overflow tube and one in the return tube) which I assume are to eliminate the chance of flooding. LOL I sure hope I'm able to figure this out anyway.
Please, any suggestions or advice would be great!!!
http://www.aquariumwaterfilters.com...8&category_id=15&option=com_phpshop&Itemid=28
I have a few questions. Right now, I don't have a holding tank so am making up water in 5 gallon buckets. I've got a 46 and 29 gallon Reef tank. I would love to do a massive water change in each, replacing the water with RO/DI water. Unfortunately, without a storage tank, I'm unable to do more than about 15 gallons at a time. I've currently been doing 5 gallon changes in each tank every evening for the past 4 days. I don't know how effective this is though. I'll continue doing this for the next couple days. I'm planning on buying a large garbage can from Home Depot or something like that to use as a water storage tank. I'll add a powerhead and a heater. Until I'm able to set this up, can anyone give me any idea how effective the 5 gallon/day changes are? What's the maximum amount of water I could safely change at once without causing any problems? I'll probably end up purchasing a 45 gallon garbage can and plan on having about 40 gallons made up at all times. I will also be using RO/DI water for top offs.
With the RO/DI unit, I also purchased a used "wet/dry" sump. I'll be removing the bio-balls and hooking it up as a sump/refugium with some live sand, live rubble rock and loads of chaeto. It has a 600 gph overflow, similar to a CPR overflow unit, but with a durso stand in the overflow. It also has a pump rated at 660 gph. The pump is a Surge 3500. I've never heard of it...lol. Hope it's a decent one. I still am a lil' unsure about the plumbing and such for all of this but I'm sure I'll figure it out. There's a couple small holes drilled (one in the overflow tube and one in the return tube) which I assume are to eliminate the chance of flooding. LOL I sure hope I'm able to figure this out anyway.
Please, any suggestions or advice would be great!!!