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RO/DI availability and Salt mixing Problems

jgraz

jgraz

Hey guys. What places in jersey sell RO/DI water. I have found tropiquarium, but they are kind of far. Im in bordentown. Lots of places by me sell just RO water.
Also on a slightly different note. I have been using RO only water. I have been mixing salt and letting it circulate for about 3 or 4 days. When I go to use it I noticed that the pump intake has what appears to be a bit of algea on it and the cord and inside of bucket has a slippery film on it. I am using 5 gal home depot buckets, never used before. And they are kept in a the dark and covered. No light. This only appears to be happening when i mix the salt water. By the way im using a 50/50 mix of Instant Ocean and Reef Crystals as perscribed by my LFS. This did not happen in the uncirculated top off RO water. Any Clues as to what is happening and how I can stop it?
Thanks in advance
Graz
 
downbeach

downbeach

jgraz said:
Hey guys. What places in jersey sell RO/DI water. I have found tropiquarium, but they are kind of far. Im in bordentown. Lots of places by me sell just RO water.
Also on a slightly different note. I have been using RO only water. I have been mixing salt and letting it circulate for about 3 or 4 days. When I go to use it I noticed that the pump intake has what appears to be a bit of algea on it and the cord and inside of bucket has a slippery film on it. I am using 5 gal home depot buckets, never used before. And they are kept in a the dark and covered. No light. This only appears to be happening when i mix the salt water. By the way im using a 50/50 mix of Instant Ocean and Reef Crystals as perscribed by my LFS. This did not happen in the uncirculated top off RO water. Any Clues as to what is happening and how I can stop it?
Thanks in advance
Graz
Click to expand...

One of the first things I'd get is a good RO/DI unit, you'd save a lot of money in the long run and would be sure of the quality of your water. I'd clean all the pumps and containers you are using. What do you keep in your tank? Why mix the salt mixes together?
 
jgraz

jgraz

RO/DI Availability: Right now The RO/DI unit is not really an option. I been putting all my money into the tank and components that I pretty much exausted my money tree for a bit. I figure in a couple months I will have the money to buy a unit. Im just looking for a supply for the time being.

As for the mixing of salts: I am not quite ready for coral yet, but I do have 2 Plate Coral that I found in the live rock tank at AllQuatics. They apparently believed them to be dead but they are very much alive. They are currently residing on the bed of my DT. The guy at the LFS stated that since I would be considering Coral down the road and I could start using Reef salt to help build up the trace elements. But told me to shy away from using it exclusivly so that the calcium does not get too high with not enough coral to use it up. So I went with his suggestion.

Mixing problem: After the Algea problem happened the first time i did indeed clean pump and container throughly. thinking that, that may solve the problem, it did not. Is it possible that I have gotten a bad Batch of salt? I only bought a small box of each so I have no problem replacing if nessesary.
Hope that explains. Thanks again
Graz
 
malulu

malulu

NJRC Member
i would think could be the RO water issue.

how big is your tank? and how much you need each week?
if you not using a lots of them, you may be able to find some members to constribute some until you be able to get your own RO/DI unit.

if you are closed to my area (some how), you are welcome to get some from me.

good luck on your quest!
:)
 
trivan

trivan

If the RO water is TDS of zero then you should be ok. The DI is only to remove the final bits if the RO cannot remove them. Friends in NYC have RO water of zero so don't even need the DI. Here in NJ not so good, I have 3 TDS prior to DI. I would first check the water before hunting down a place. 3-10 TDS is acceptable in some circles.
 
howze01

howze01

NJRC Member
I don't think you need the water mixing for 3 or 4 days. The same happens with mine when I let it mix too long. 24 hours is just fine for mixing salt up.

Also, keep an eye on the for sale forums here and on other sites. I'm going to pick up an RO/DI unit for someone tomorrow that was $25. Look hard enough and you can get most stuff pretty cheap.
 
malulu

malulu

NJRC Member
although it no need to mix it for long time, but doing so shouldn't be any problem...
i normally mixed my salt water on the side for weeks... no algae issue.
 
howze01

howze01

NJRC Member
I don't get the algae either. I think stuff starts precipitating out and I get white spots all in my bucket and the power heads get something like hard water scale on them. IDK, I just stick to about 24 hours of mixing time now and I don't get that anymore
 
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

if you get a USED rodi unit - try and borrow or get your hands on a tds meter. I have no idea where mine is otherwise I'd offer it. The unit may be cheap but you may have to purchase additional new filters.
 
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

oh and what you are describing is not algae. Anyone that uses Reef Crystals probably has the same experience (i know i do) and the mixing of that with RODI (0 tds) results in some organics that create a biofilm on the container and the cord and pump in the water. the LONGER your stuff is circulating the more the film shows up. It doesn't have any negative effect on your tank. For good measure I just wipe down my container after the water change but some people don't bother.
 
jgraz

jgraz

Thanks Hawkeye. Thats seems to be exactly what im getting. As far as the RO/DI unit i'll be getting one, or I'll talk my wife into it as a gift for x-mas. I did find a LFS 10 min away that sells RO/DI for .70 cents a gal. so i could go there. or I'll hit Troiquarium on my way to work and get already mixed for $1 gal. Since I skimped on my lighting and now of course I want coral I think im gonna upgrade that first.
Graz
 
Brando457

Brando457

$.70 a gallon x 10g a week is $7 x 12 weeks = $84 + gas and time = try to spring for a RO unit :).

I also get a brown film using RC when it's mixed on the side of my containers.
 
R

reeferwanabe

captivating coral in freehold guaranteed 0 tds rodi @ .50 per gal. salt mix 0.023 for fish systems @ 1.00 salinity salt mix 0.026 for reef systems @ 1.20
 
downbeach

downbeach

I have an old RO unit you can have. I replaced the membrane in it about three months before I took it out of service, but it needs both the sediment and carbon block. If I have a couple of extra's I'll sell you one set of those too ~$15.00.
 
jgraz

jgraz

Downbeach
Is that a RO/DI unit? If so I may be interested. There is a a few units on ebay that come highly recommended via the Aquarium Advice forums that sell for between $65-$75. What do you think it would take to get that in service? I am actually heading to Captivating Coral tomorrow to buy my first corals so I was going to top off my supply anyway.
 
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