Using Anion resin

Jimbo662 · Jul 25, 2022

I recently got the results of my ICP test and it showed high Silicates. I read that Anion DI resin would help remove most of it. I purchased the Anion and filled the first cartridge with it. The second and third cartridges are filled with mixed resin. I mixed a batch of saltwater last night. Something told me to double check to make sure I was doing everything right and now I see that you should use Cation resin along with the Anion. Is it OK to use the water I mixed for a water change or should I dump it? Also, should I remove the anion until I get the cation because I'll need to refill the ATO in the next day or so?

P-Dub · Jul 25, 2022

Jimbo662 said:
I recently got the results of my ICP test and it showed high Silicates. I read that Anion DI resin would help remove most of it. I purchased the Anion and filled the first cartridge with it. The second and third cartridges are filled with mixed resin. I mixed a batch of saltwater last night. Something told me to double check to make sure I was doing everything right and now I see that you should use Cation resin along with the Anion. Is it OK to use the water I mixed for a water change or should I dump it? Also, should I remove the anion until I get the cation because I'll need to refill the ATO in the next day or so?

it should be ok. Likely not "0" TDS but certainly better than tap. You should run your three canisters in the proper order of Cation-Anion-Mixed.

Reefer Matt · Jul 25, 2022

If you have mixed beds, it is okay. They have cation and anion in them. Proper resin setup of separate beds is cation, anion, and mixed beds. You don't have to have separate beds for cation and anion, but it saves money to only change the resin that depletes. BRS has a video here:

Jimbo662 · Jul 25, 2022

P-Dub said:
it should be ok. Likely not "0" TDS but certainly better than tap. You should run your three canisters in the proper order of Cation-Anion-Mixed.

Thanks!

Jimbo662 · Jul 25, 2022

Reefer Matt said:
If you have mixed beds, it is okay. They have cation and anion in them. Proper resin setup of separate beds is cation, anion, and mixed beds. You don't have to have separate beds for cation and anion, but it saves money to only change the resin that depletes. BRS has a video here:

Thanks! Wish I would have found this last week!

Jimbo662 · Jul 25, 2022

Are there any tricks to avoiding the smell of Anion? I opened the bag on Sat and can still smell the stuff!

Reefer Matt · Jul 25, 2022

Jimbo662 said:
Are there any tricks to avoiding the smell of Anion? I opened the bag on Sat and can still smell the stuff!

None that I know of, lol! It smells like ammonia. It's supposed to.

Jimbo662 · Jul 25, 2022

Reefer Matt said:
None that I know of, lol! It smells like ammonia. It's supposed to.

Next time I'll be changing it in the garage!!!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 25, 2022

Jimbo662 said:
I recently got the results of my ICP test and it showed high Silicates. I read that Anion DI resin would help remove most of it.

How high? Do you have a diatom problem? If not, high silicate is not a concern. I regularly dosed it.

Jimbo662 · Jul 25, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
How high? Do you have a diatom problem? If not, high silicate is not a concern. I regularly dosed it.

Yeah, I've got them...ICP showed 233 with a range of 0-200.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 25, 2022

Jimbo662 said:
Yeah, I've got them...ICP showed 233 with a range of 0-200.

I regularly dosed about 200 ug/L Si as sodium silicate, and think many folks would benefit from it, but if you believe that the diatoms are causing issues, reducing it seems a fine plan. I would not, however, assume the RO/di is the main source, although it might be.

Jimbo662 · Jul 25, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I regularly dosed about 200 ug/L Si as sodium silicate, and think many folks would benefit from it, but if you believe that the diatoms are causing issues, reducing it seems a fine plan. I would not, however, assume the RO/di is the main source, although it might be.

What are other sources that could introduce it?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 25, 2022

Jimbo662 said:
What are other sources that could introduce it?

Silica sand can add some, and some chemicals contain it. Some folks have high Si levels without diatoms and I’m not even sure if those are silicate as opposed to other silicon chemicals.

Jimbo662 · Jul 25, 2022

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Silica sand can add some, and some chemicals contain it. Some folks have high Si levels without diatoms and I’m not even sure if those are silicate as opposed to other silicon chemicals.

Thanks. I'm planning to do weekly water changes for about 2 months then send another ICP test in to see if there are any changes.