Major RO issues

N2theUnknown · Dec 20, 2020

Ok everyone my corals have been nose diving quickly. Couldn't figure it out nitrates are high around 60 couldn't find the source. Decided to check my RO water tested for 40 nitrates. My online tds was reading 0. Got a couple different tds pen readers and needless to say my tds is over 400. My RO membrane is shot only a year old. I do not have one on hand (I know big mistake) I got one ordered but with holidays I'm not sure when it will get here. I've got a shipment or coral coming in that I ordered 2 months ago (when everything was fine). I have nobody local to hold my corals for me.

I want to do a series of large water changes only thing is what water should I use? Distilled? Buy different water and test them?

Tamberav · Dec 20, 2020

Curious, what brand of RO? Wondering why the membrane is ruined. Sounds like maybe not enough or not the correct pre filter stages?

Plain distilled is fine.

tricky_tran · Dec 20, 2020

I used to use RO water from a Drinking Water store.

Biglew11 · Dec 20, 2020

The ro drinking water likely has a small amount of minerals added for taste. Probably not that bad for a reef but it's still in there.

Ro/di or plane distilled, is what you want to use.

N2theUnknown · Dec 20, 2020

Also my thinking is 5 tds is even better than 400 haha so that in itself is a major fix not ideal but better?

N2theUnknown · Dec 20, 2020

Tamberav said:
Curious, what brand of RO? Wondering why the membrane is ruined. Sounds like maybe not enough or not the correct pre filter stages?

Plain distilled is fine.

It's a hydrotech I'm wondering if it was just a quality issue or because we use it for drinking also so we use probably 10 gallons a day on average maybe more and its a 25 gallon a day unit and when I went to order a new membrane it said replace every 2-4 years I've had it for about 2 years and my incoming tds is over 700

N2theUnknown · Dec 20, 2020

So with my corals coming in 2 days what my best bet buy a bunch of distilled water and do a few large water changes on my tank or set up a 10 gallon tank with distilled water??

Tamberav · Dec 20, 2020

Distilled is fine to use for your DT. Just be sure it isn’t distilled with minerals or something added back into it. People use it for nanos all the time if they don’t own a RODI. Just those with larger tanks don’t want to haul a million jugs of distilled.

700 is a lot. It sounds like the prefilters got clogged/used up and the water destroyed your membrane. You probably need to change those more often and add more stages to protect your membrane. If your water has chloramines, they have a special prefilter for that too.

I have the same membrane after 5 years in mine but the TDS here is only 130 and so change the prefilters every 6 months.

Also typically RO is drinking but reef tanks use RODI. I have a T on my machine so I can make RO for drinking and RODI for my aquarium.

N2theUnknown · Dec 20, 2020

Tamberav said:
Distilled is fine to use for your DT. Just be sure it isn’t distilled with minerals or something added back into it. People use it for nanos all the time if they don’t own a RODI. Just those with larger tanks don’t want to haul a million jugs of distilled.

700 is a lot. It sounds like the prefilters got clogged/used up and the water destroyed your membrane. You probably need to change those more often and add more stages to protect your membrane. If your water has chloramines, they have a special prefilter for that too.

I have the same membrane after 5 years in mine but the TDS here is only 130 and so change the prefilters every 6 months.

Also typically RO is drinking but reef tanks use RODI. I have a T on my machine so I can make RO for drinking and RODI for my aquarium.

Yes I also have a tee so I can use it for both and would the carbon not remove the chloramines??

N2theUnknown · Dec 20, 2020

Also can you check the tds of your tank? I'm guessing it will read high due to the salt and things in the water.

HuduVudu · Dec 20, 2020

N2theUnknown said:
Ok everyone my corals have been nose diving quickly. Couldn't figure it out nitrates are high around 60 couldn't find the source. Decided to check my RO water tested for 40 nitrates. My online tds was reading 0. Got a couple different tds pen readers and needless to say my tds is over 400. My RO membrane is shot only a year old. I do not have one on hand (I know big mistake) I got one ordered but with holidays I'm not sure when it will get here. I've got a shipment or coral coming in that I ordered 2 months ago (when everything was fine). I have nobody local to hold my corals for me.

I want to do a series of large water changes only thing is what water should I use? Distilled? Buy different water and test them?

Does your city water supply (if you are on city water) use Chloromines?

N2theUnknown · Dec 20, 2020

HuduVudu said:
Does your city water supply (if you are on city water) use Chloromines?

O yes you can smell it sometimes when you turn the tap on

HuduVudu · Dec 20, 2020

N2theUnknown said:
O yes you can smell it sometimes when you turn the tap on

That's your problem. You need two carbon blocks suited for chloromines, and best if you run a DI resin specifically for dealing with the chloromine that does make it through.

Chloromine if not properly dealt with will shorten the lifespan of your RO membrane considerably.

N2theUnknown · Dec 20, 2020

HuduVudu said:
That's your problem. You need two carbon blocks suited for chloromines, and best if you run a DI resin specifically for dealing with the chloromine that does make it through.

Chloromine if not properly dealt with will shorten the lifespan of your RO membrane considerably.

Ok so not just a normal carbon block? There is a chloramines specific one

HuduVudu · Dec 20, 2020

Correct:

ChloraGuard Carbon Block - 1 Micron

Powered by GreenBlock Technology 1 Micron Nominal Filtration Proprietary Catalytic Carbon Exceptionally Low-Pressure Drops High Dirt Holding Excellent Chemical Contaminant Reduction Matrikx Chloraguard filters feature amazingly high capacity for chlorine reduction since it is made from a...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

HuduVudu · Dec 20, 2020

I just switched out my resin for a color changer and I am laughing because it looks like I need to make the upgrade too.

Here is an old video (2012) from BRS on it, might be helpful.

Spieg · Dec 20, 2020

400 TDS... WOW, that's more than I get straight out of the tap!

N2theUnknown · Dec 20, 2020

Spieg said:
400 TDS... WOW, that's more than I get straight out of the tap!

Yea I get about 750 out of the tap

hanslanda · Dec 20, 2020

N2theUnknown said:
Ok everyone my corals have been nose diving quickly. Couldn't figure it out nitrates are high around 60 couldn't find the source. Decided to check my RO water tested for 40 nitrates. My online tds was reading 0. Got a couple different tds pen readers and needless to say my tds is over 400. My RO membrane is shot only a year old. I do not have one on hand (I know big mistake) I got one ordered but with holidays I'm not sure when it will get here. I've got a shipment or coral coming in that I ordered 2 months ago (when everything was fine). I have nobody local to hold my corals for me.

I want to do a series of large water changes only thing is what water should I use? Distilled? Buy different water and test them?

As a Wisconsin user, I can tell you they recommend you change out carbon every month or this is pretty much what happens. Chlorine can ruin the RO membrane. I'd consider a year not to shabby. I change out carbon every month and sediment every other.

This is what's hanging at my LFS next to those filters.