Silicates

[stebec]

I have a 3 stage RO unit which includes a RI unit, I did a silicates test yesterday on my fresh produce RO water, it came back fairly high, it was within safe parameters for fish only but high for reef tank. I’ve been having problems with hair alga, could the silicates be feeding the algae? At the moment I’m running my lights on 80% blue and 10% white every time I increase white light the algae comes back.
steve

 

[SlugSnorter]

yes. The output should be 0 TDS

Get a 4 stage RODI system with a:

Sediment filter

Carbon filter

RO membrane

DI membrane

heres a pretty cheap one


In the meantime using distilled water might be better

 

[stebec]

My TDS is showing 0 this is checked with a hand held TDS meter

yes. The output should be 0 TDS

Get a 4 stage RODI system with a:

Sediment filter

Carbon filter

RO membrane

DI membrane

heres a pretty cheap one


In the meantime using distilled water might be better

my hand held TDS meter is showing 0 TDS

 

[SlugSnorter]

My TDS is showing 0 this is checked with a hand held TDS meter

my hand held TDS meter is showing 0 TDS

Silicates do not always come up on a TDS meter. Get 4 stage system or use distilled water to avoid getting stuff into your tank that you do not want

 

[DE FISH]

What silicate test did you use ? Also gfo will remove silicates.

 

[stebec]

What silicate test did you use ? Also gfo will remove silicates.

It was a JBL test kit, what is gfo?

 

[SlugSnorter]

It was a JBL test kit, what is gfo?

granular ferric oxide. look up GFO on google and a bunch of products will come up

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have a 3 stage RO unit which includes a RI unit, I did a silicates test yesterday on my fresh produce RO water, it came back fairly high, it was within safe parameters for fish only but high for reef tank. I’ve been having problems with hair alga, could the silicates be feeding the algae? At the moment I’m running my lights on 80% blue and 10% white every time I increase white light the algae comes back.
steve

No, silicate has no impact on hair algae or any green algae,. Only on diatoms, which are usually a golden brown.

 

[Midrats]

Silicate isn't a problem really. Sponges and other organisms in healthy aquariums need it. Some people dose it, including a famous reef chemist you may have heard of.

Ha, he beat me to it