A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

RO water

I was wondering if anyone had tried to start the process using reverse osmosis water, and customizing the minerals. I know it would be a lot of water to generate to start, after that not so bad.

I have heard of 'Ocean in a Bag', what about 'River in a Bag' or something of the sort?

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Comment by K Schreiber on August 25, 2011 at 9:56pm: I had a residential RO filter system. It did discharge a certain amount of waste water. I'm not sure how much, but I don't think it was a huge amount. I no longer use the system because it has been shown to cause health problems due to the lack of minerals, if used on a long term basis. I imagine the same would be true for the fish.

Comment by David Waite on August 19, 2011 at 9:25pm: Jonik sorry for the name goof.Interesting on the RO. Mine is a series of filters but doesnt have a waste or purge line. Just a series of filters. Just a small under sink system. Plan on buying a 90 gal per day system this fall.

Comment by R. Jonik on August 19, 2011 at 3:13pm: Waite, Carey is correct, there is a waste discharge water line. The amount of waste water is directly proportional to the hardness of your water, higher ppm the more waste water generated.

Lucky for me I have a deep well, and the waste water is low with only 300 ppm and it is returned straigth to the earth.

My the way it's Jonik, and thanks for your help.

Comment by David Waite on August 19, 2011 at 12:35pm: Jonic check out the discussion ph level and crop. Alot of these aquapons due just that. Nate gives a very detailed how to using a RO as imput water. Carey a RO does not waste any water. They are filter based. They simply filter the water of contaminants and carbonates which is a great plus for Nates and my operation due to hard water with high ph.

Comment by Carey Ma on August 19, 2011 at 12:01am: I think that would be called hydroponic nutrients whether organic or graded reagents (chemical salts). This would be the ideal starting ground, (esp. in pure hydroponics), however I now conclude that R.O. filters should only be used for drinking and other necessities because it discharges, many times the amount of usable water as waste, through city sewage, unnecessarily loading the system as well as simple waste.

Any water is a good starting point. let it sit for a day or so, then have it tested. Once you know whats in it you can tailor it to your specifications.

Or, if you are patient. get you setup ready, listen to your tank and/ or your fish supplier and start raising fish. When you are comfortable with your tank and it seems stable, get some books or read up on aquaponics and hydroponics techniques. Build or buy that part of your new, expanded system and enjoy.

Cheers