PO4 in ATO Reservoir

[reeferfoxx]

Just realized my PO4 source. Is this nature of the beast or can I eliminate this?

 

[Irsug1]

Are you using RO/DI?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Are you using RO/DI?

Yes. RO/DI was checked. TDS zero with zero po4

 

[reeferfoxx]

Would the type of reservoir have anything to do with it? Can some plastics leech po4 even if they claim it to be food grade?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Bump..

 

[mcarroll]

This subject has been done over a number of times....I've never heard anyone suggest even a potential source for the phosphate to be able to leach from the plastic even if they are not food grade. Maybe if you had a used TSP bucket, but even then...? If it was related to the plastic itself, then everyone should be getting PO4 in their RODI water.

I tried looking into plastic additives for coloring and preserving plastics and nothing particularly containing phosphates came up....but then the industry isn't entirely forthcoming with everything that is used as an additive or what's in every additive that's used.

I did find that vitamin E is apparently one of the common antioxidants used to protect the plastic during manufacture as well as from sun exposure.

I also found a study that (as I recall now off the cuff) tested natural HDPE containers for ultra-long term with ultra-pure (e.g. RO/DI) water and PO4 was not something that was leached. And barely anything at all was leached. This is what most RODI vats are made from, plus (afaict) some color and a preservative so they can be used outdoors without the plastic oxidizing.

The original post is under my name on here somewhere that has the original documents and links, etc if you'd want to look.

Are you using a Brute, or what container do you have?

How well sealed is it and where is it located?

 

[reeferfoxx]

Well, it was ment to be a temporary reservoir container. It's been working well for me thus far, however. But as far as being sealed; The only opening is where the ATO tube enters in a tiny hole where the screw top lid is.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/16537207?...75035&wl11=online&wl12=16537207&wl13=&veh=sem

And it's kept inside my tanks cabinet.

 

[mcarroll]

Hm...doesn't seem like any of that should be a problem. If dust could settle on the water, that'd be a potential source for PO4....that's why I asked about how sealed.

Any chance the container could have a bacterial film and need cleaning? A die-off could definitely release PO4. I've had this happen in my ATO periodically....usually when I've been too lazy about periodically cleaning it out.

Since going through that a few times, I've since wiped mine out with bleach....rinsed....wiped with vinegar...rinsed. Now I keep the container closed tighter between refills and I story my refill bucket upside down so it doesn't collect dust. That was my main vector....dust from the refill bucket sitting around. I think it's been two or three years since then and the ATO bucket hasn't "gone sour" again yet.

That jerry can won't be as easy to clean as a bucket tho....there will be no wiping out. Maybe a thorough bleaching would achieve the same thing?

I guess try a different container – store some RODI for a similar period of time and then re-test for PO4 again. If it's all good, then you know there's something about this container...but if you get PO4 again, the container is OK but the mystery continues.