Need recommendations for clean RO/DI water source in my area

[genge24]

Hi guys,
I finally decided to start my first reef tank. Tank is all set up and ready. I'm ready to buy my live rock and fill my new 75 gallon reef ready tank with RO/DI water! I'm soo excited! :dance: Judging from other people's posts and reviews, it seems that buying RO/DI from a LFS is pretty risky. I live in an appartment, so a home RO/DI unit is currenly just not feasible at the moment. Also, I do not want to buy just RO or just DI water from a supermarket or water store. Anyone know of any reliable sources near Pasadena, CA (in the San Gabriel Valley / Los Angeles County) that sells clean RO/DI water with near zero TDS readings? Unfortunately I have read poor reviews about the RO/DI water at Pasadena Tropical Fish, which is very close to my home. :headwally: I will be mixing my own salt with Reef Crystals and do not need per-mixed saltwater. Any recommendations are appreciated. Thanks!

[Sethjamto]

They do make RODI's that you can mount under the kitchen sink. That shouldn't be a problem in an apartment, and it will pay for itself down the road since you won't be buying water anymore. This way you know exactly what water you have, and can monitor the filters on your own without having to trust the LFS does.

[Gatorfan]

I live in a condo(used to be apartments) and have a RODI unit set up in my laundry room. I bought a garden hose T from Lowes and put it where the cold water line from the washing machine connects to the wall. One side to the washer, the other to my RODI. Would be very easy to disconnect and return it to the way it was.

[nmbeg]

similarly you can get a fitting that goes on your kitchen sink and plugs into RODI--there are easy non-permanent ways to get an RODI into your apartment.

[genge24]

Thanks for the replies guys. You have me thinking twice about this. No laundry hookup in my apartment, and the sinks in the bathroom and kitchen are fancy... so I cant fit an adapter. I don't want to mount fixed under the sink, but what I can prob do is add a Y adapter to my cold water line under the sink and connect the RO/DI unit to one of the split lines. I can then feed filtered water to a container and also the waste line back up into the sink drain. That should work right?

[jimnchal]

Thanks for the replies guys. You have me thinking twice about this. No laundry hookup in my apartment, and the sinks in the bathroom and kitchen are fancy... so I cant fit an adapter. I don't want to mount fixed under the sink, but what I can prob do is add a Y adapter to my cold water line under the sink and connect the RO/DI unit to one of the split lines. I can then feed filtered water to a container and also the waste line back up into the sink drain. That should work right?

Yes that would certainly work. A unit is definitely worth the investment, buying water will get really expensive. And do not make the mistake I did, QT all your fish. I payed the price and lost a lionfish that had gotten ICH. Now my display tank is going to be fishless for the next 12 weeks :mad:

[genge24]

I ended up buying a 5 stage chloramine RO/DI system from bulk reef supply! Thanks for the advice everyone! I am now on a mission to find some live rock. Will be checking out Craigslist for a great deal!