DI unit makes smelly water?

Timmy44221 · 01/05/2007, 09:02 AM

I used tap watere to setu my tank (and had no issues). I cant afford an RO/DI unit right now so I bought a tap water filter filter by Aquarium Pharmiceuticles. I claims to remove the ehave metals, and organics and deionize the water. My thogut is that it cant hurt right.

NOw for my concern. The water it produces smells bad. It doesnt stink up my whole appartment, but if you smell the water, it smells bad. (as opposed to no odor). Any thoguths? I did run about 10 gal throuh it to prime it.

dcombs44 · 01/05/2007, 09:43 AM

What does it smell like?

I've heard of deionized water having a metallic taste, but mine doesn't smell at all. I would say you need to contact the company and get their explanation. I would also consider buying your RO water from an LFS until you can afford a unit of your own.

Randall_James · 01/05/2007, 09:56 AM

Smell? that can not be good...
It should have a carbon cartridge that removes any odors (where there is odor there is some compound causing the odor)

I would return the unit, and not use the water... Probably better off using water from a machine at wmart

Timmy44221 · 01/05/2007, 10:11 AM

I contacted the company that makes it. They said test the water.

Ph 8
Alkalinity 7meq/L
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 0
Nitrite 0

Im still Not sure about the smell still.

Randall_James · 01/05/2007, 10:55 AM

Testing is not going to tell you very much as your kits are not realy designed for the type of testing you need.

What you need is a TDS meter to start and then you need to know what is causing the odor. The odor could be nothing at all but I would be really wary about it

Timmy44221 · 01/05/2007, 12:30 PM

I cracked open the filter and now can see that It is almost compleatly exhauseted. (It turns from green to blue. I will not buy this product agian as It only lasted about 20 gal. Ill just fill it with carbon and use that forthe meantime. I guess I need a ealy inexpensive RO/DI.

rooroo · 01/05/2007, 12:34 PM

Did it smell like cat pee? My ro/di water will smell a bit like cat pee when it's sat in a collection container for awhile. Checked with a bunch of other reefers and they all say its normal and ok as long as TDS and ammonia/nitrite/nitrate testing is good.

bobbbm · 01/05/2007, 12:39 PM

http://www.purelyh2o.com/home.php?cat=249

I bought the $119 RO/DI model but I wonder if the $59 Nano model would be good for you I dont know what the how not haveing the DI hurts us as Reefers, could someone explain?

dcombs44 · 01/05/2007, 01:10 PM

An RO membrane will usually only take the TDS down to ~5-10. The deionizer should from my understading remove any remaining charged particles and the TDS should always end with 0 after going through a deionizer. For whatever reason, a vertical DI chamber is more effective than a horizontal one. I'm not sure the effect of that remaing 5-10 parts on a reef, but I use DI to be on the safe side. I would say you could probably add a DI chamber to the nano RO filter down the road if you wanted. I have the purely H2O professional system and love it.

01/05/2007, 09:02 AM	#1
Timmy44221 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 88	DI unit makes smelly water? I used tap watere to setu my tank (and had no issues). I cant afford an RO/DI unit right now so I bought a tap water filter filter by Aquarium Pharmiceuticles. I claims to remove the ehave metals, and organics and deionize the water. My thogut is that it cant hurt right. NOw for my concern. The water it produces smells bad. It doesnt stink up my whole appartment, but if you smell the water, it smells bad. (as opposed to no odor). Any thoguths? I did run about 10 gal throuh it to prime it.

01/05/2007, 09:43 AM	#2
dcombs44 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 2,913	What does it smell like? I've heard of deionized water having a metallic taste, but mine doesn't smell at all. I would say you need to contact the company and get their explanation. I would also consider buying your RO water from an LFS until you can afford a unit of your own. __________________ Current Setup: 10 Gallon Skimmerless Zoanthid Tank Lighting: Single 175 Watt Metal Halide (14,000 K Hamilton Lamp) Filtration: 10 gallon sump/refugium and Phosban Reactor Return: Mag Drive 700 Controller: ReefKeeper Lite (Basic Version) Circulation: TBD Age of System: Build is in Progress

01/05/2007, 09:56 AM	#3
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	Smell? that can not be good... It should have a carbon cartridge that removes any odors (where there is odor there is some compound causing the odor) I would return the unit, and not use the water... Probably better off using water from a machine at wmart __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

01/05/2007, 10:55 AM	#5
Randall_James Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,727	Testing is not going to tell you very much as your kits are not realy designed for the type of testing you need. What you need is a TDS meter to start and then you need to know what is causing the odor. The odor could be nothing at all but I would be really wary about it __________________ "It's a dog eat dog world and I feel like I am wearing milkbone underwear"

01/05/2007, 01:10 PM	#9
dcombs44 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 2,913	An RO membrane will usually only take the TDS down to ~5-10. The deionizer should from my understading remove any remaining charged particles and the TDS should always end with 0 after going through a deionizer. For whatever reason, a vertical DI chamber is more effective than a horizontal one. I'm not sure the effect of that remaing 5-10 parts on a reef, but I use DI to be on the safe side. I would say you could probably add a DI chamber to the nano RO filter down the road if you wanted. I have the purely H2O professional system and love it. __________________ Current Setup: 10 Gallon Skimmerless Zoanthid Tank Lighting: Single 175 Watt Metal Halide (14,000 K Hamilton Lamp) Filtration: 10 gallon sump/refugium and Phosban Reactor Return: Mag Drive 700 Controller: ReefKeeper Lite (Basic Version) Circulation: TBD Age of System: Build is in Progress

01/05/2007, 10:11 AM	#4
Timmy44221 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 88	I contacted the company that makes it. They said test the water. Ph 8 Alkalinity 7meq/L Ammonia 0 Nitrate 0 Nitrite 0 Im still Not sure about the smell still.

01/05/2007, 12:30 PM	#6
Timmy44221 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 88	I cracked open the filter and now can see that It is almost compleatly exhauseted. (It turns from green to blue. I will not buy this product agian as It only lasted about 20 gal. Ill just fill it with carbon and use that forthe meantime. I guess I need a ealy inexpensive RO/DI.

01/05/2007, 12:34 PM	#7
rooroo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New Market, MD Posts: 406	Did it smell like cat pee? My ro/di water will smell a bit like cat pee when it's sat in a collection container for awhile. Checked with a bunch of other reefers and they all say its normal and ok as long as TDS and ammonia/nitrite/nitrate testing is good.

01/05/2007, 12:39 PM	#8
bobbbm Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ronkonkoma NY Posts: 535	http://www.purelyh2o.com/home.php?cat=249 I bought the $119 RO/DI model but I wonder if the $59 Nano model would be good for you I dont know what the how not haveing the DI hurts us as Reefers, could someone explain?