How a RO Filter System Can Benefit an Aquarium

People have learned the advantages of drinking reverse osmosis water. However, aquariums may also benefit from a reverse osmosis filter system. Tap water may look perfectly acceptable at first for aquariums, but the minerals, chemicals and bacteria found in tap water can cause serious issues. The best thing to do is use a system that removes these elements.

Problems with Excessive Algae

Aquariums with excessive algae look dark and uninhabitable for your fish. This also increases the level and frequency of maintenance you have to do on your tank. It takes three things to make algae: nitrate, phosphate, and light. Tap water may contain phosphate and nitrate. Combine that with light and, well, you know the rest. Using purified water should help ease the onset of excessive algae, in turn, saving you hours of cleaning.

Saltwater Tanks

Saltwater tanks benefit from using purified water because it is less likely to have elements that will throw the pH balance out of whack. Using tap water with high levels of phosphate and nitrate might counteract with the salt mixes that contain the items that your fish need to survive.

Freshwater Tanks

If you have a tank with freshwater plants, then you know that they grow best in water that has specific pH levels. This is extremely hard to control if you use tap water. Using purified water will easily reach the pH level your tank requires.

Large Scale RO Solutions Save Resources and Money!

Reverse osmosis filtration has become the solution for many municipalities beset with water shortage problems. As annual average rainfall continues to dwindle in arid climates, the demand for clean water continues to skyrocket. Water desalination via reverse osmosis filtration systems is considered a viable solution in such a scenario.

On June 4th, 2015 Clearwater, Florida just completed its first large scale brackish reverse osmosis treatment plant. Before the water treatment plant was built, the city of Clearwater purchased water in bulk from a regional supplier to supplement the needs they couldn't meet by collecting from the Floridan aquifer. This is common practice for many coastal cities in the United States.

The idea for Clearwater's large scale brackish reverse osmosis plant came from the city plan to preemptively try to cut cost on water while also protecting the surrounding natural environment. A civil and environmental engineering firm was tapped during the project’s early stages to boost efficiency, minimize the environmental impact, and ensure long term cost benefits for the city. The plant will produce 6.25 million gallons of water daily.

Reverse osmosis of brackish water uses less energy than sea-water RO. Not surprisingly, visionaries in San Francisco have also contemplated the idea of tapping the potential underground brackish water sources in San Mateo as an alternative to the more obvious solution of desalinating Bay water. Using reverse osmosis with brackish water is the first step in helping small communities become self-sufficient to reduce water import expenses.

Picking the Right RO Filtration System

When you are in the market for a new water filtration or purification system, you will come across numerous styles in the market. Between brackish water reverse osmosis systems, double pass reverse osmosis systems, and various other options, you may wonder which one suits your needs. Whether you are shopping for a residential, commercial, or industrial water purification system, you should consider certain factors.

In a Home Environment 

For residential use, a standard reverse osmosis system may be suitable and most cost-effective. Such a system will vary based on the number of particulates it can filter out of the water. Home RO systems can also vary based on their output, though at any rate, the resulting filtered water should be fit for drinking and cooking purposes.

In a Commercial or Industrial Environment 

The need for a filtration system in a commercial or industrial environment may be more significant, particularly if access to hundreds of gallons of purified water each day is critical to your operations. Specific challenges arise when the water to be purified comes from a brackish water source. You must also take into account your energy supply vis-à-vis the amount of energy that is used.

Consider your needs against the options available. You can also seek an expert’s guidance in making a proper choice.