RO/DI Water for new aquarium

thebradybunch · 12/06/2007, 09:26 PM

Hello, I am filling my first saltwater tank this week and have purchased a used Kent Marine RO/DI 4 stage filter. I bought a new membrane and filters to replace the ones in it. I accidentally ordered the wrong package and I do not have the DI Resin cartidge. What affect will this have on the water going in the aquarium? Thanks for your help?

DrBDC · 12/06/2007, 09:46 PM

One of your local fish stores should have them in stock. Spent di resin can be worse than no di at all.

thebradybunch · 12/06/2007, 09:48 PM

Mine isn't dirty. I don't have a cartidge in it at all. I am going to check tomorrow and see if I can find one. If they don't have one would Lowes or Home Depot carry them? Thank you

DrBDC · 12/06/2007, 09:49 PM

I don't think they do but I've never looked there for them.

nmhs2 · 12/06/2007, 09:49 PM

filtration wont be effective, the reading coming out of the final water should be 0 ppm. If its not then yea change all filters, and membrane(if older than a few years).

bertoni · 12/06/2007, 09:53 PM

The RO phase might remove 90-98% of the contaminants, depending on the membrane. A 75 gpd membrane (or slower) should be around 98% for rejection of most ions. Whether that's good enough depends on the quality of the water going into the unit. Personally, I'd just order the DI cartridge and wait.

thebradybunch · 12/06/2007, 10:00 PM

Thanks for all the help. I was really wanting to fill it this weekend while I was home. The aquarium has been sitting for a while so I wanted to watch it as it filled. Wish me luck maybe I can find one tomorrow.

Toddrtrex · 12/06/2007, 10:03 PM

I know I would be tempted to fill the tank too, and I guess the only way that I would do it without the DI part is if I knew the TDS of the water after the RO.

Don't suppose you have a TDS meter do you?

But, if you don't, I would wait, no need to start yourself out in a hole with using "bad" water.

thebradybunch · 12/06/2007, 10:06 PM

No, I don't have a TDS meter so I have no idea what my TDS is. I am going to check tomorrow and hope I get lucky.

Toddrtrex · 12/06/2007, 10:09 PM

Then I would suggest waiting.

And if you don't get lucky and have to order DI, suggest getting a TDS meter at the same time. It will be a wise purchase, I went way to long without one, and my TDS was shockingly high when I did get one, and it explained a bunch of issues I was having at the time.

And good luck tomorrow

12/06/2007, 09:26 PM	#1
thebradybunch Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Greensboro,NC Posts: 351	RO/DI Water for new aquarium Hello, I am filling my first saltwater tank this week and have purchased a used Kent Marine RO/DI 4 stage filter. I bought a new membrane and filters to replace the ones in it. I accidentally ordered the wrong package and I do not have the DI Resin cartidge. What affect will this have on the water going in the aquarium? Thanks for your help?

12/06/2007, 09:46 PM	#2
DrBDC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ballwin, Missouri Posts: 10,358	One of your local fish stores should have them in stock. Spent di resin can be worse than no di at all. __________________ Some drink at the fountain of knowledge, some just gargle, but most are rabid. Current Tank Info: 180g sps+75 softy/lps on one system tunze's, seio's, mjmods, aquacontroller w/add ons, 2X400 XM10000 and 3X160 vho actinic, 110g sump, 110 frag tank, Geo Beckett and other stuff

12/06/2007, 09:49 PM	#4
DrBDC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ballwin, Missouri Posts: 10,358	I don't think they do but I've never looked there for them. __________________ Some drink at the fountain of knowledge, some just gargle, but most are rabid. Current Tank Info: 180g sps+75 softy/lps on one system tunze's, seio's, mjmods, aquacontroller w/add ons, 2X400 XM10000 and 3X160 vho actinic, 110g sump, 110 frag tank, Geo Beckett and other stuff

12/06/2007, 09:53 PM	#6
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	The RO phase might remove 90-98% of the contaminants, depending on the membrane. A 75 gpd membrane (or slower) should be around 98% for rejection of most ions. Whether that's good enough depends on the quality of the water going into the unit. Personally, I'd just order the DI cartridge and wait. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

12/06/2007, 10:03 PM	#8
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	I know I would be tempted to fill the tank too, and I guess the only way that I would do it without the DI part is if I knew the TDS of the water after the RO. Don't suppose you have a TDS meter do you? But, if you don't, I would wait, no need to start yourself out in a hole with using "bad" water. __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef

12/06/2007, 09:48 PM	#3
thebradybunch Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Greensboro,NC Posts: 351	Mine isn't dirty. I don't have a cartidge in it at all. I am going to check tomorrow and see if I can find one. If they don't have one would Lowes or Home Depot carry them? Thank you

12/06/2007, 09:49 PM	#5
nmhs2 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Boston Posts: 224	filtration wont be effective, the reading coming out of the final water should be 0 ppm. If its not then yea change all filters, and membrane(if older than a few years).

12/06/2007, 10:00 PM	#7
thebradybunch Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Greensboro,NC Posts: 351	Thanks for all the help. I was really wanting to fill it this weekend while I was home. The aquarium has been sitting for a while so I wanted to watch it as it filled. Wish me luck maybe I can find one tomorrow.

12/06/2007, 10:06 PM	#9
thebradybunch Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Greensboro,NC Posts: 351	No, I don't have a TDS meter so I have no idea what my TDS is. I am going to check tomorrow and hope I get lucky.

12/06/2007, 10:09 PM	#10
Toddrtrex Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Carol Stream, IL Posts: 23,162	Then I would suggest waiting. And if you don't get lucky and have to order DI, suggest getting a TDS meter at the same time. It will be a wise purchase, I went way to long without one, and my TDS was shockingly high when I did get one, and it explained a bunch of issues I was having at the time. And good luck tomorrow __________________ Click my name and then "visit toddrtrex's homepage" for tank pictures Current Tank Info: 210g reef and 65g reef