Using Glacier Water Machines for tank?

AndtheBonus · 10-19-2008, 05:10 PM

So I was at Publix today and saw outside the store a Glacier water machine. It is 39 Cents a Gallon. It shows on the front of the machine what filters it goes through before dispensing the water. It goes through about 5 filters I think. One of them being an RO filter and another one being a UV sterilizer. I forgot the others but none of them were DI filters. Would this be ok to use in the tank. All I have been using so far in the tank has been RO/DI from the LFS but this is soooo much cheaper, cutting the price more then half! Would this be okay water to use inside the tank?? I would really like to go this way if at all possible. I have 150g mix of instant ocean sitting around for a few months now and I would like to start using it and mixing my own water so I can get a SG reading that I want.

All comments are welcome!

SJS · 10-19-2008, 05:16 PM

If you are going to buy water from anywhere invest in a TDS meter (total dissolved solids). Test the water for chlorine etc before mixing it with salt. You dont know how often they change their filter cartridges. I would bet that there are plenty of machines out there that dont have filters, despite what they say!
If at all possible, get your own RO/DI - check out e-bay and the sponsors here. Over the life of your tank it will save you money - and time...

AndtheBonus · 10-19-2008, 05:30 PM

See the thing is though that I only have a 24 gallon tank so right now buying the water for water changes doesn't cost too much. But I would like to go cheaper if at all possible because everything else is skyrocketing in price. I guess I should start looking into RO/DI filters but right now I want to get an ATO first then the RO/DI. So for now I am going to have to buy the water.

chriswho · 10-19-2008, 05:47 PM

I use glacier water in my tank, but I don't have a TDS so I can't tell you for sure whether or not it's the best. I think I'm going to take a sample to the fish store this next friday, since I have to go that way anyways.

AndtheBonus · 10-19-2008, 06:16 PM

Ok great! Is good to hear from somebody using it. Have you had any problems? Any excess algae or anything to be concerned of? Or does everything look normal?

chriswho · 10-19-2008, 06:27 PM

I have had some brown algae growth. I once used Culligan water from a local grocery, and I suspect that their filters were bad, because I had a dyno outbreak. I should have known... There was sediment built up around the faucet. Since I switched to Glacier I've had some brown algae, but it's hard for me to say whether or not it's the dyno's coming back. This could be due to alot of factors tho. Not enough rock, insufficient cleaning crew, etc...

cbrownfish · 10-19-2008, 10:28 PM

Unless you get a zero TDS reading, I would avoid use of this water. DI is the largely responsible for filtering out the final traces of harmful trace minerals, Phosphatesm etc.

Recently there was an article on Yahoo (I think yahoo) that discussed all of the bottled water that we buy and they showed that much of it is barely different than our tap water. At one time, I used distilled water from the grocery store and that registered a zero on my TDS meter. Go with distilled if you can find RO/DI from a fellow reef keeper or an LFS.

BigAl07 · 10-19-2008, 10:57 PM

For all the time and $$ you already have invested in your system I wouldn't leave the more critical part of your system (the water) to chance. As mentioned before you're relying on someone else to hold up their end of the bargain and change the filters as required. what if it's employee A's time to change the filter and he/she is sick that day. No one else knows this and the filters aren't changed until the NEXT cycle.

I think that not having your own RO/DI unit leaving WAY to much of your system to chance.

good luck

AndtheBonus · 10-20-2008, 12:03 AM

Looks like ill be getting an RO/DI!

AndtheBonus · 10-20-2008, 12:44 AM

Does anyone have any good suggestions for an ATO and an RO/DI system?

AndtheBonus · 10-20-2008, 07:53 AM

chriswho · 10-20-2008, 08:10 AM

I'll definitely be getting my own RO/Di after Christmas, but simply can't afford it right now...

BigAl07 · 10-20-2008, 09:13 AM

Air Water & Ice are sponsors here and have GREAT RO/DI units. The bonus is they give RS members a discount.

Check out http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/air-water-ice/ and be sure to let them know you're a MEMBER of R/S

MatthewJ · 10-20-2008, 10:42 AM

I just bought the Typhoon III from them using the discount. Good stuff. I have a pretty small tank and won't be using it for drinking, so if you're in my area (Des Moines) I can probably help you out. Once I figure out how and where to install the thing.

AndtheBonus · 10-20-2008, 01:00 PM

Thanks but I am in Florida so that might be a little problem! lol

Thanks Al I am def gonna have to check them out!

10-19-2008, 05:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
AndtheBonus Plate Coral Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 774 View Gallery Karma Komment	Using Glacier Water Machines for tank? So I was at Publix today and saw outside the store a Glacier water machine. It is 39 Cents a Gallon. It shows on the front of the machine what filters it goes through before dispensing the water. It goes through about 5 filters I think. One of them being an RO filter and another one being a UV sterilizer. I forgot the others but none of them were DI filters. Would this be ok to use in the tank. All I have been using so far in the tank has been RO/DI from the LFS but this is soooo much cheaper, cutting the price more then half! Would this be okay water to use inside the tank?? I would really like to go this way if at all possible. I have 150g mix of instant ocean sitting around for a few months now and I would like to start using it and mixing my own water so I can get a SG reading that I want. All comments are welcome! __________________ 24g Aquapod Want GSP? PM me.

10-19-2008, 05:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
SJS Achilles Tang Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SO CAL - Rancho Cucamonga Posts: 846 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Using Glacier Water Machines for tank? If you are going to buy water from anywhere invest in a TDS meter (total dissolved solids). Test the water for chlorine etc before mixing it with salt. You dont know how often they change their filter cartridges. I would bet that there are plenty of machines out there that dont have filters, despite what they say! If at all possible, get your own RO/DI - check out e-bay and the sponsors here. Over the life of your tank it will save you money - and time... __________________ Steph 300 gallon dt, 90 gallon fuge, 35 gallon fuge, 35 gallon sump, 4 Ecotech Vortechs, T-5 lights

10-19-2008, 05:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
AndtheBonus Plate Coral Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 774 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Using Glacier Water Machines for tank? See the thing is though that I only have a 24 gallon tank so right now buying the water for water changes doesn't cost too much. But I would like to go cheaper if at all possible because everything else is skyrocketing in price. I guess I should start looking into RO/DI filters but right now I want to get an ATO first then the RO/DI. So for now I am going to have to buy the water. __________________ 24g Aquapod Want GSP? PM me.

10-19-2008, 05:47 PM	#4 (permalink)
chriswho Cabbage Leather Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 395 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Using Glacier Water Machines for tank? I use glacier water in my tank, but I don't have a TDS so I can't tell you for sure whether or not it's the best. I think I'm going to take a sample to the fish store this next friday, since I have to go that way anyways. __________________ Nobody, as long as he moves about among the chaotic currents of life, is without trouble. -Carl Jung 55g 35#LR, 55#LS, 4x65w PC, 2 Koralia PH's, Remora Pro HOB skimmer, 1 Oscellaris clown,1 Yellow tailed Damsel, 2 Clarkii Clowns, Assorted color Zoo's, Green frilly mushrooms, Flower pot coral, Orange sponge, Candy cane Coral.

10-19-2008, 06:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
AndtheBonus Plate Coral Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 774 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Using Glacier Water Machines for tank? Ok great! Is good to hear from somebody using it. Have you had any problems? Any excess algae or anything to be concerned of? Or does everything look normal? __________________ 24g Aquapod Want GSP? PM me.

10-19-2008, 06:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
chriswho Cabbage Leather Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 395 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Using Glacier Water Machines for tank? I have had some brown algae growth. I once used Culligan water from a local grocery, and I suspect that their filters were bad, because I had a dyno outbreak. I should have known... There was sediment built up around the faucet. Since I switched to Glacier I've had some brown algae, but it's hard for me to say whether or not it's the dyno's coming back. This could be due to alot of factors tho. Not enough rock, insufficient cleaning crew, etc... __________________ Nobody, as long as he moves about among the chaotic currents of life, is without trouble. -Carl Jung 55g 35#LR, 55#LS, 4x65w PC, 2 Koralia PH's, Remora Pro HOB skimmer, 1 Oscellaris clown,1 Yellow tailed Damsel, 2 Clarkii Clowns, Assorted color Zoo's, Green frilly mushrooms, Flower pot coral, Orange sponge, Candy cane Coral.

10-19-2008, 10:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
cbrownfish Reef Lobster Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,624 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Using Glacier Water Machines for tank? Unless you get a zero TDS reading, I would avoid use of this water. DI is the largely responsible for filtering out the final traces of harmful trace minerals, Phosphatesm etc. Recently there was an article on Yahoo (I think yahoo) that discussed all of the bottled water that we buy and they showed that much of it is barely different than our tap water. At one time, I used distilled water from the grocery store and that registered a zero on my TDS meter. Go with distilled if you can find RO/DI from a fellow reef keeper or an LFS. __________________ *Confucius Say: "best way to save face, is to keep lower part of face shut".* CURRENT SET UP -- 90 gallon display, 30 gallon refugium, 6 gallon pod breeder, 100 gallon sump (complete with frag rack), 2X250 MH 14K DE HQI, Vortech MP40w and Koralia #4 for flow, 2X Tunze 9010 Skimmers, Sequence Dart return, 2X Ranco Controllers w/Titanium Heaters, 150 lb LR (90 in display, 60 in sump), 5" DSB, Mixed reef - Softies, LPS, SPS, Clams.

10-19-2008, 10:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,547 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Using Glacier Water Machines for tank? For all the time and $$ you already have invested in your system I wouldn't leave the more critical part of your system (the water) to chance. As mentioned before you're relying on someone else to hold up their end of the bargain and change the filters as required. what if it's employee A's time to change the filter and he/she is sick that day. No one else knows this and the filters aren't changed until the NEXT cycle. I think that not having your own RO/DI unit leaving WAY to much of your system to chance. good luck __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

10-20-2008, 12:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
AndtheBonus Plate Coral Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 774 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Using Glacier Water Machines for tank? Looks like ill be getting an RO/DI! __________________ 24g Aquapod Want GSP? PM me.

10-20-2008, 12:44 AM	#10 (permalink)
AndtheBonus Plate Coral Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 774 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Using Glacier Water Machines for tank? Does anyone have any good suggestions for an ATO and an RO/DI system? __________________ 24g Aquapod Want GSP? PM me.

10-20-2008, 07:53 AM	#11 (permalink)
AndtheBonus Plate Coral Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 774 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Using Glacier Water Machines for tank? bump __________________ 24g Aquapod Want GSP? PM me.

10-20-2008, 08:10 AM	#12 (permalink)
chriswho Cabbage Leather Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 395 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Using Glacier Water Machines for tank? I'll definitely be getting my own RO/Di after Christmas, but simply can't afford it right now... __________________ Nobody, as long as he moves about among the chaotic currents of life, is without trouble. -Carl Jung 55g 35#LR, 55#LS, 4x65w PC, 2 Koralia PH's, Remora Pro HOB skimmer, 1 Oscellaris clown,1 Yellow tailed Damsel, 2 Clarkii Clowns, Assorted color Zoo's, Green frilly mushrooms, Flower pot coral, Orange sponge, Candy cane Coral.

10-20-2008, 09:13 AM	#13 (permalink)
BigAl07 Do I look as lost as I am Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 21,547 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Using Glacier Water Machines for tank? Air Water & Ice are sponsors here and have GREAT RO/DI units. The bonus is they give RS members a discount. Check out http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/air-water-ice/ and be sure to let them know you're a MEMBER of R/S __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Live Rock Rubble will do the SAME thing as Bio-Balls and is NOT a suitable replacement for BIO-BALLS in a Reef System! It's ALL gotta go!!* Nitrate (NO3) reduction is directly proportional to percentage of Water Change. Allen's home-made formula...currentNO3-((%WC.01)currentNO3)=finalNO3 (thanks Luukosian) This means if you change 50% of your total water volume (That's EVERYTHING) you'll get a net reduction of (NO3) somewhere around 50%. Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube Gone but not forgotten BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef

10-20-2008, 10:42 AM	#14 (permalink)
MatthewJ Cabbage Leather Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Iowa Posts: 372 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Using Glacier Water Machines for tank? I just bought the Typhoon III from them using the discount. Good stuff. I have a pretty small tank and won't be using it for drinking, so if you're in my area (Des Moines) I can probably help you out. Once I figure out how and where to install the thing.

10-20-2008, 01:00 PM	#15 (permalink)
AndtheBonus Plate Coral Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 774 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Using Glacier Water Machines for tank? Thanks but I am in Florida so that might be a little problem! lol Thanks Al I am def gonna have to check them out! __________________ 24g Aquapod Want GSP? PM me.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)