Bad RODI?

[ehealy13]

About 2 weeks ago I had a complete crash in a fresh water setup...roughly 2 days after a 10% water change. Fish, frogs, and snails were all fine the evening before; I actually shot a quick video for a friend. This week my beautiful and healthy marine fish started to die...(also had a video from the evening before the first loss) first was my Emperor which more than doubled in size since April. I assumed my hippo tang killed her. Then I couldn't find my clown, which isn't uncommon and he was actively feeding the night prior to him missing. Well, I found him dead yesterday morning. Last night my yellow tang died. My LFS, suggested chemicals might have gotten into the fresh water tank, causing the crash...but to have 2 different tanks hit so hard seems odd, and honestly has me very upset. The only common denominator is the RODI, as I used the same water to top off the marine tank. Is this even possible? If so, what do I test? I need to do a water change in the marine soon (2 fish remain) but I am nervous that something (I assume the RODI) is contaminated in some way. None of it makes sense, as I am very cautious as to how I store and care for everything. I'm devastated. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Ed

 

[Mjl714]

My first thought is chloramines getting through your carbon, ruining your ro membrane and then passing into water supply. Is this possible?

 

[ehealy13]

My first thought is chloramines getting through your carbon, ruining your ro membrane and then passing into water supply. Is this possible?

Thanks for the reply Mj. I'm not certain, as I purchase my RODI from my LFS. Is there a way to test? I don't want to waste 20g of water I made, I also don't want to lose anymore animals.

 

[Spieg]

What TDS do you have?

 

[ehealy13]

What TDS do you have?

Hi Spieg, thanks for responding. I purchase my water from the LFS, never had an issue before, but I'm not sure they'd be willing to share that information given the extent of my loss. Is there a way I can test the marine water I made with the RODI? Bring it to a pool store, or use one of those test you buy at Home Depot?

 

[Mjl714]

Perhaps LFS can test. Is rodi system new and properly assembled?

 

[ehealy13]

Perhaps LFS can test. Is rodi system new and properly assembled?

Sorry, for the confusion. I buy the filtered RODI water from the LFS, I am not producing my own currently.

 

[Mjl714]

Sorry, for the confusion. I buy the filtered RODI water from the LFS, I am not producing my own currently.

Hmmmm, what your containers used for transporting the rodi, could they have been contaminated?

 

[ehealy13]

Hmmmm, what your containers used for transporting the rodi, could they have been contaminated?

The LFS uses 5g SeaChem containers, which I assume are NSF, but I'm not certain. I store the unused water in the sealed container at room temperature in my fish room.

 

[MaxTremors]

Thanks for the reply Mj. I'm not certain, as I purchase my RODI from my LFS. Is there a way to test? I don't want to waste 20g of water I made, I also don't want to lose anymore animals.

You need to look at your city’s water report (should be easy to find online) and see if they use chlorine or chloramine. I’m not exactly sure what you need to do to make the water safe if they use chloramine, I’ve never had to deal with it, but on your city’s/water department’s website they should post their yearly water report. That’s a start. Also, make sure that you’re testing the TDS of your RODI water, if it’s not zero then contaminants are getting through (could be harmless silicates, could be lead or copper, you just don’t know).

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'm finding it hard to believe the problem is your RO/DI....even though you are purchasing from an LFS. Part of the reason is that the LFS would also be having issue as well as anyone else purchasing that water.

As an aside, I would not use RO/DI to do water changes in a freshwater tank....they need the minerals found in unfiltered tap water. Just use tap water that is treated to remove the chlorine/chloramine.

Finally, if you have an Emperor and tangs, I've got to believe it's a good size system and would highly recommend considering purchasing an RO/DI system, in part, knowing the history of your water.

 

[MaxTremors]

Hi Spieg, thanks for responding. I purchase my water from the LFS, never had an issue before, but I'm not sure they'd be willing to share that information given the extent of my loss. Is there a way I can test the marine water I made with the RODI? Bring it to a pool store, or use one of those test you buy at Home Depot?

Get an ICP test (should sell them at your LFS, you send off a sample and get a detailed report back).

 

[Mjl714]

Ah, purchased Rodi, then I’d start by running carbon on both systems.

 

[Spieg]

Hi Spieg, thanks for responding. I purchase my water from the LFS, never had an issue before, but I'm not sure they'd be willing to share that information given the extent of my loss. Is there a way I can test the marine water I made with the RODI? Bring it to a pool store, or use one of those test you buy at Home Depot?

You want to test the pure RODI before mixing salt. You can get a hand held meter for pretty cheap.

 

[redfishbluefish]

One other thought....could the water you thought was RO/DI have been saltwater? Test the water to make sure it's fresh and not salt.

 

[ehealy13]

One other thought....could the water you thought was RO/DI have been saltwater? Test the water to make sure it's fresh and not salt.

Unfortunately all the water has been used. The mixing vat I put some of the RODI in is 1.022 and I added the normal amount of mix to the vat. I would see calcium on the fresh water tank too if salt, right?