Alkalinity in ro/di water??

Bolo Tran · 01/03/2015, 09:04 AM

So I decided to test my top off water last night and it read at a surprising 5 dkh. Is this normal or is something wrong with my Bulk Reef Supply 5 stage system with chloramine filter?

I've been Tropic Marin Bio Actif salt which is supposed to have an alkalinity of about 8dkh but when I mix water change water my alk is at 14dkh. How do I remedy this as I get an alk spike every time I do a water change. Thanks in advance for your input.

Buckeye Hydro · 01/03/2015, 10:48 AM

Is this DI water you are testing?

Bolo Tran · 01/03/2015, 10:49 AM

Yes. It is di water. It's what goes in my reservoir for top off and water changes.

Spar · 01/03/2015, 10:50 AM

should be 0 dKH, even if just RO and not DI. something is either wrong with your testkit or your RO filter is missing or very very old.

if you have a nearby LFS, take a sample to them to test.

also, check the calcium level just for kicks.

Buckeye Hydro · 01/03/2015, 10:50 AM

shouldn't see alkalinity in that water. Take a test of the DI water that comes right out of the tube into a clean glass container - not your reservoir.

Is your alkalinity test suitable for freshwater?

Bolo Tran · 01/03/2015, 10:53 AM

I've tested using both a Salifert as well as Hanna checker. Both read the same. I just recently changed all filters about 2 months ago except my membrane.

Buckeye Hydro · 01/03/2015, 10:54 AM

what is the TDS of the DI water?

Bolo Tran · 01/03/2015, 10:54 AM

I have an inline tds meter and it reads 71 in and 0 out

Spar · 01/03/2015, 11:04 AM

0 TDS out would mean that the only thing coming out is H2O. i.e. no bicarbonates present.

what does your tap water read (alkalinity)?

Bolo Tran · 01/03/2015, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spar

0 TDS out would mean that the only thing coming out is H2O. i.e. no bicarbonates present.

what does your tap water read (alkalinity)?

I didn't really think to test my tap water.

Bolo Tran · 01/10/2015, 11:32 AM

The Hey guys just tested my tap water and it reads at 6 dkh. Please advise. My inline tds meter reads 0 on the output so what is going on? This measurement is taken right out of my Di output. Please advise

Bolo Tran · 01/12/2015, 10:29 PM

Spoke to BRS today and they said that an Ro/Di system will do nothing for alk and phosphates. Can anyone confirm this?

I failed to mention in my original post that I am also getting a reading of .11 ppm for phosphates with the Hanna checker. I'd love to hear some insight on this.

reefgeezer · 01/12/2015, 10:37 PM

Something isn't right. Are you perhaps checking the bypass water?

rwb500 · 01/12/2015, 10:38 PM

its impossible to have 0 TDS and 5 Alk. One of your tests is wrong and its most definitely the Alk. Does the water taste like soda water?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bolo Tran

Spoke to BRS today and they said that an Ro/Di system will do nothing for alk and phosphates. Can anyone confirm this?

^ also, this is very wrong, so wrong that it makes me wonder if you maybe didn't understand what they meant to say.

Phildirt · 01/12/2015, 10:57 PM

After the RO/DI portion does your water pass through a carbon filter (i.e. carbon for taste filter)?

Spar · 01/16/2015, 12:23 PM

was thinking about this the other day. not sure if you figured this out yet or not, but is it possible you are using the wrong water line? RO units have both a RO effluent line and a waste line. the waste line will definitely have a higher reading of elements.

Sydoriakp · 01/16/2015, 12:32 PM

yea but he mentioned e is taking it directly from di line... and it reads 0 tds... waste line would have tds reading.... my guess is test kits... which stinks cuz ive been considering hanna checkers...

EricGRIT · 01/16/2015, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sydoriakp

yea but he mentioned e is taking it directly from di line... and it reads 0 tds... waste line would have tds reading.... my guess is test kits... which stinks cuz ive been considering hanna checkers...

Not saying this is the cause in this case, but if he has a system like mine the TDS meter is inline. Wouldn't matter which tube you actually take the water from, the reading is from the correct output.

01/03/2015, 09:04 AM	#1
Bolo Tran Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 492	Alkalinity in ro/di water?? So I decided to test my top off water last night and it read at a surprising 5 dkh. Is this normal or is something wrong with my Bulk Reef Supply 5 stage system with chloramine filter? I've been Tropic Marin Bio Actif salt which is supposed to have an alkalinity of about 8dkh but when I mix water change water my alk is at 14dkh. How do I remedy this as I get an alk spike every time I do a water change. Thanks in advance for your input.

01/03/2015, 10:49 AM	#3
Bolo Tran Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 492	Alkalinity in ro/di water?? Yes. It is di water. It's what goes in my reservoir for top off and water changes.

01/03/2015, 10:50 AM	#4
Spar Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 2,517	should be 0 dKH, even if just RO and not DI. something is either wrong with your testkit or your RO filter is missing or very very old. if you have a nearby LFS, take a sample to them to test. also, check the calcium level just for kicks. __________________ 450g Mixed SPS/LPS Reef (MH/T5/VHO)

01/03/2015, 11:04 AM	#9
Spar Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 2,517	0 TDS out would mean that the only thing coming out is H2O. i.e. no bicarbonates present. what does your tap water read (alkalinity)? __________________ 450g Mixed SPS/LPS Reef (MH/T5/VHO)

01/10/2015, 11:32 AM	#11
Bolo Tran Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 492	Alkalinity in ro/di water?? The Hey guys just tested my tap water and it reads at 6 dkh. Please advise. My inline tds meter reads 0 on the output so what is going on? This measurement is taken right out of my Di output. Please advise

01/03/2015, 10:48 AM	#2
Buckeye Hydro .Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 4,857	Is this DI water you are testing?

01/03/2015, 10:53 AM	#6
Bolo Tran Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 492	I've tested using both a Salifert as well as Hanna checker. Both read the same. I just recently changed all filters about 2 months ago except my membrane.

01/03/2015, 10:54 AM	#7
Buckeye Hydro .Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 4,857	what is the TDS of the DI water?

01/12/2015, 10:29 PM	#12
Bolo Tran Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Houston Posts: 492	Spoke to BRS today and they said that an Ro/Di system will do nothing for alk and phosphates. Can anyone confirm this? I failed to mention in my original post that I am also getting a reading of .11 ppm for phosphates with the Hanna checker. I'd love to hear some insight on this.

01/12/2015, 10:37 PM	#13
reefgeezer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 2,621	Something isn't right. Are you perhaps checking the bypass water? __________________ John, Current Tank Info: In-process, 90 Gallon SPS Reef

01/12/2015, 10:57 PM	#15
Phildirt poisson voyeur Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Florida Panhandle Posts: 490	After the RO/DI portion does your water pass through a carbon filter (i.e. carbon for taste filter)? __________________ "Better is the enemy of good." Voltaire Current Tank Info: 29 Gal Reef

01/16/2015, 12:23 PM	#16
Spar Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 2,517	was thinking about this the other day. not sure if you figured this out yet or not, but is it possible you are using the wrong water line? RO units have both a RO effluent line and a waste line. the waste line will definitely have a higher reading of elements. __________________ 450g Mixed SPS/LPS Reef (MH/T5/VHO)

01/16/2015, 12:32 PM	#17
Sydoriakp Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: buffalo ny Posts: 85	yea but he mentioned e is taking it directly from di line... and it reads 0 tds... waste line would have tds reading.... my guess is test kits... which stinks cuz ive been considering hanna checkers...