Used RO Filter going bad??

tallreefguy · 09/21/2011, 05:59 PM

So, I started up my old Coralife Pure-Flo RO filter with new filters in it. I flushed it out for 1.5 hours before collecting water.
I've been using tap water previously on my tanks, and decided it was time to get my phosphates under control (0.5 reading using ELOS test kit)
Washington water TDS is around 200 or so. After my RO, it was 20.

I put a couple gallons in as top-off water in both my tanks, and the Xenia practically died. It's still balled up in my 35 Hex tank even after a 5g water change.

Since then, I bought LFS RO/DI water and have been using that only in my 100g reef tank with no negative effects to speak of. The Xenia has fully recovered, but it doesn't look like crap anymore.

Could this be due to the filter itself? The carbon & RO membrane are brand new.
Obviously adding a DI stage to the filter will bring the TDS down to 0, but I'm concerned about whatever was in the filter killing my Xenia. (It loved the tap water though)

Should I get a DI stage, or just spend the money and get a whole new system?

tallreefguy · 09/22/2011, 05:59 AM

bump

09/21/2011, 05:59 PM	#1
tallreefguy Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 269	Used RO Filter going bad?? So, I started up my old Coralife Pure-Flo RO filter with new filters in it. I flushed it out for 1.5 hours before collecting water. I've been using tap water previously on my tanks, and decided it was time to get my phosphates under control (0.5 reading using ELOS test kit) Washington water TDS is around 200 or so. After my RO, it was 20. I put a couple gallons in as top-off water in both my tanks, and the Xenia practically died. It's still balled up in my 35 Hex tank even after a 5g water change. Since then, I bought LFS RO/DI water and have been using that only in my 100g reef tank with no negative effects to speak of. The Xenia has fully recovered, but it doesn't look like crap anymore. Could this be due to the filter itself? The carbon & RO membrane are brand new. Obviously adding a DI stage to the filter will bring the TDS down to 0, but I'm concerned about whatever was in the filter killing my Xenia. (It loved the tap water though) Should I get a DI stage, or just spend the money and get a whole new system?

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09/22/2011, 05:59 AM	#2
tallreefguy Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 269	bump