R.o. Ph Increase

[Pipes]

I've ben pondering this subject for a while. I sub-contract to a water treatment company, and part of their business is a U-fill RO water bottle station. We added an Alkaline water tap about a year ago, and it increases the RO to 8.4 Ph. What we found is that higher flow reduces Ph. So... With proper flow it is possible to regulate a Ph of 7.5 - 8.4. I can duplicate this process with a standard RO housing and a refillable cartridge with proper media. Calcite and Corsex ( not sure on spelling for that one). So I'm thinking manual top ups direct from the RO to the sump, or filling ATO. I suppose it could even be used as a doser, maybe with proper flow.??? I don't have a Kh test kit, but the test kits I do have show 8.4Ph out of my water bottle.

So the question is... Good idea or bad?

If the corals are stripping the Calcium and Alkalinity here may be a method of adding, without the dosing chemicles.

Let me know what you think. Tell me where to go. Or just tell me to not think so much...

 

[thehvacman]

I use a mineral cartridge that adds alkalinity, calcium, and magnesium from aqua safe. It delivers ro di water at about 8.8 pH. It has really help balance out pH in my system, and I am dosing way less now. The cartridge is for human consumption so I am sure it reef safe. I have seen any iĺl effects.

 

[scubasteve]

You may be the next holy man to us reefers. Alk control is most people's number 1 issue

 

[Pipes]

Actually it's rather simple. Put this media in a filter canister and throttle the flow. The slower the RO flows, the higher the alkalinity. It is a self sacrificing media, but takes a lot to burn it out. We have it in a big blue filter (4"x20") housing and haven't changed it in over a year. To back up the story it is part of a U-fill RO water station, where people fill up their own 5 gallon bottles. So that would be on average 6-12 (5 gallon jugs) 7 days a week. I use to drink RO exclusively now I prefer the alkaline for taste. There are suppose to be health benefits too, but none that I have noticed personally.

 

[thehvacman]

This is the one I use. I got it from aqua safe. It has been used for over 1000 gallons now and the ph coming out is still pushing 9.0. And yes flow is what determines contact time with the media, so slower the flow and the ph will go up. My system feeds a 4 gallon reservoir, then I drain the reservoir through the filter for make up water.

 

[Pipes]

Out of curiosity, how much did it cost in CAD? Just want to compare it to the filter canister and media cost for the one I made today.

 

[thehvacman]

Here it is online today, and they are canadian.

 

[Pipes]

Awesome... Made mine for just under $25. It goes in a standard 2"x10" (RO) filter housing rather than as an inline. Mine is also refillable, as opposed to disposable, so I only have to buy the canister once. Which makes the media @$15. Got myself a deal.

 

[BigReefer]

You may be the next holy man to us reefers. Alk control is most people's number 1 issue

I cant keep it up myself
lol

 

[Pipes]

I cant keep it up myself
lol

TMI !

 

[Pipes]

Update... Ok, since filling this (refillable) cartridge, I hooked it up to my RO. After running it for 2 minutes, It took my 7 Ph RO water, and turned it into above 9 Ph (right off the scale). So knowing the product, it should drop after about 5 gallons goes through it. Hoping to have it drop to 8.4 which is the max on my API test kit.

I know some of you will harp on me about my API test kit, but the price was right, and I have other financial priorities at the moment. So... it works.

All in all, I think this will be a great boost to upping alkalinity with a auto top off tank/bucket.