ph and RO water

pottersguy · 07/31/2007, 12:18 PM

Sorry if this is very newby, but what do most people add to their RO water to keep ph in the 8+ range. Also, how much does instant ocean salt mix actually replace mineral wise?
Thanks

der_wille_zur_macht · 07/31/2007, 12:23 PM

You do NOT need to adjust the pH of your RO/DI water. If using it for topoff, just add it directly. If using it for SW, just mix the salt mix in. If it's a quality mix, the pH will be in the right range and require no adjustment.

Technically, 100% pure RO/DI water doesn't have a pH. If you attempted to measure it, you might get a 7, but the reading would be pretty meaningless.

Instant Ocean will replace everything you need in your tank. The trick is keeping an eye on certain minerals between water changes, if you know that something in your system is using them up. The key minerals most people watch are calcium, alkalinity, and potentially magnesium. Those three are all used by corals and other calcerous life forms, such as coralline algae, snails, etc.

So, if your tank is stuffed with coral, monitor those. If it isn't, you're probably ok on nothing but frequent water changes. If you do need to add those elements, do some searching on here - books worth of material have been written on Ca and Alk supplementation.

pottersguy · 07/31/2007, 12:44 PM

Thanks a lot,
Wasn't sure if instant ocean was enough. I know the ph of my RO water is pretty much at 7, slightly below, but didn't know if I needed to do more. The tank is going to be a FOWLR, and I plan to change 25%-30% of the water per week. So I shouldn't need to add anything correct?

der_wille_zur_macht · 07/31/2007, 12:49 PM

You'll be more than fine with water changes that big and that frequent on a FOWLR tank.

LockeOak · 07/31/2007, 12:51 PM

That should be fine, 25% weekly water change is enough to keep a reef tank at the proper levels (except with lots of SPS) without additions, so a FOWLR will run very well. Just add the RO/DI water straight for top off, and mixed with salt for water changes. Avoid the pH buffers and all that stuff they sell, not needed and not worth it.

pottersguy · 07/31/2007, 01:54 PM

Thanks much everyone. That helps a lot

07/31/2007, 12:18 PM	#1
pottersguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 63	ph and RO water Sorry if this is very newby, but what do most people add to their RO water to keep ph in the 8+ range. Also, how much does instant ocean salt mix actually replace mineral wise? Thanks

07/31/2007, 12:23 PM	#2
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	You do NOT need to adjust the pH of your RO/DI water. If using it for topoff, just add it directly. If using it for SW, just mix the salt mix in. If it's a quality mix, the pH will be in the right range and require no adjustment. Technically, 100% pure RO/DI water doesn't have a pH. If you attempted to measure it, you might get a 7, but the reading would be pretty meaningless. Instant Ocean will replace everything you need in your tank. The trick is keeping an eye on certain minerals between water changes, if you know that something in your system is using them up. The key minerals most people watch are calcium, alkalinity, and potentially magnesium. Those three are all used by corals and other calcerous life forms, such as coralline algae, snails, etc. So, if your tank is stuffed with coral, monitor those. If it isn't, you're probably ok on nothing but frequent water changes. If you do need to add those elements, do some searching on here - books worth of material have been written on Ca and Alk supplementation. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

07/31/2007, 12:49 PM	#4
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	You'll be more than fine with water changes that big and that frequent on a FOWLR tank. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

07/31/2007, 12:44 PM	#3
pottersguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 63	Thanks a lot, Wasn't sure if instant ocean was enough. I know the ph of my RO water is pretty much at 7, slightly below, but didn't know if I needed to do more. The tank is going to be a FOWLR, and I plan to change 25%-30% of the water per week. So I shouldn't need to add anything correct?

07/31/2007, 12:51 PM	#5
LockeOak Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 839	That should be fine, 25% weekly water change is enough to keep a reef tank at the proper levels (except with lots of SPS) without additions, so a FOWLR will run very well. Just add the RO/DI water straight for top off, and mixed with salt for water changes. Avoid the pH buffers and all that stuff they sell, not needed and not worth it.

07/31/2007, 01:54 PM	#6
pottersguy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 63	Thanks much everyone. That helps a lot