Top off water chemistry

[Fraggle Rock]

Was just curious what people were testing for and adjusting in there top off water? besides tds.
Right now I'm just checking my ph and dkh (just started checking dkh its around 4)
Should I be worrying about adjusting my Alk in my top off water and if so should I just target the range I want to keep
my tank Around?

 

[Fraggle Rock]

Well after just doing some reading it's good to know checking Ph in fresh RO water is useless.

 

[Darryl_V]

Also DKH on fresh RO water should be zero.

Only thing to be concerned about with RO/DI water is TDS.

 

[Fraggle Rock]

Thanks for the info good to know.

 

[Fraggle Rock]

Also DKH on fresh RO water should be zero.

Only thing to be concerned about with RO/DI water is TDS.

Have another question for you Darryl, are you using any special filters/DI resin in your RO for our lovely Woodstock water or just the standard BRS stuff?
Welcome any tips you have for me and would love to come check out your tank sometime.

 

[Gietz]

I've got Alk problems to and I've also been look at adding extra Alk to my top off and water changes to.  From my reading, ph is important because certain home made receipt cans lower or increase your ph so you have to be carful

 

[spyd]

It is much better to just dose your ALK buffer right to the tank as you don't want it to increase too drastically. I use a dosing pump. Once you raise your ALK to the level you want, then just set it so that it maintains those levels. Very easy and relatively inexpensive for a BRS dosing pump... I always use recipe 1 which increases your ph. I have my dosing pump set to only top up my ALK at night when the lights are off. This will keep your PH levels in line. If you dose ALK while the lights are on, you are at risk to temporarily spike your ph levels.

 

[unibob]

Ok after this I am left confused and possibly worried. I use ro water in my tank for water changes and top up, is this bad? Should I be using ro/di water? I have never checked anything in my top up water(never been a lot though...just to keep water level at water line on skimmer)

 

[unibob]

And if I'm going to blow up my tank haha let me know as I take constructive criticism well.

 

[phi delt reefer]

you should always use ro/di water for top off - though super low tds (<5 tds) RO water is ok if its all you have.

 

[spyd]

It's not overly bad. RO water is WAY better than using tap water. With an RO unit, you will most likely have about a 98% rejection rate, meaning you will have a little TDS still in the water. The DI stage simply removes that last bit of TDS to get a 0 value. That little bit of TDS can cause some issues with algae, etc. but I wouldn't get overly concerned about it. A DI canister and some resin is a very cheap addition to your RO unit though. If you are using your RO unit for drinking water as well though, you will want to by-pass the DI stage as your water will taste like crap!

 

[Gietz]

If your running RO and have a phosphate reactor (run GFO) your fine!!!!!! 

 

[Darryl_V]

RO/DI water taste fine to me.....

Also if you are only running an RO and not RO/DI.....it may or may not be fine.  Some people can even use tap with relative success but it all depends on the water and what is in it.

Personally we are never going to be sure what is in our water unless there is nothing in the water......that's why I aim for 0tds.

 

[lewis844]

I have used tap water for 4 years and have never had a problem

 

[unibob]

Maybe I will look into a unit and bypass di section.

 

[unibob]

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/products/reverse-osmosis-filters-and-systems/reverses-osmosis-deionization-systems/standard-ro-di-systems/75-gpd-ro-di-5-stage-plus-system.html


looking into this system. will it work for what i need it to?

1. drinking water (ro)
2. top off/ water change water (rodi)

 

[Fraggle Rock]

Personally I'd just go for the 4 stage unit with the tds meter and buy a T fitting and two extra valves (or T with built in diverter) to bypass your DI for drinking water.

Whatever one you get I'd imagine you'd still end up changing the filters around the same time. So the 4 stage seems more economical to me, but I could be mistaken depending on your tap water/usage, ect.

 

[unibob]

Priced out the 4 stage and it is actually a bit more money. As the 5 stage they offer free shipping. Has anyone ever ran 4 stages in a 5 stage system?

 

[Fraggle Rock]

The more i get thinking about it the 5 stage would most likely make your di resin last a little longer.

 

[unibob]

So I ordered the unit, now I just have to wait till its here, and then t some lines to bypass di for drinking water

Does anyone on here mind selling 10gal of rodi this weekend so I can avoid using the stuff from the water cooler store until I get the unit?