Leaking phosphates??!!

dinger28 · 07/17/2016, 02:40 PM

Hey all. I have had 2 60 gallon containers for almost 2 years and it seems like they are starting to leak phosphates! My BRS rodi unit tds meter says the water is coming out 0, but when I check the barrel with a handheld meter it is reading above 100!! I changed my rodi membrane and filters recently as well. I am starting to get hair algae in the tank and now I know why.

I cleaned both barrels out and let them sit with a gallon of white distilled vinegar for days before they were put to use. Any suggestions to get rid of the phosphates?? Thanks!!

dinger28 · 07/17/2016, 02:41 PM

I am using Prime conditioner temporarily until I know how to solve this issue.

tmz · 07/17/2016, 02:48 PM

100 tds or PO4?

dinger28 · 07/17/2016, 04:19 PM

100 is coming from the tds meter

mcgyvr · 07/17/2016, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dinger28

100 is coming from the tds meter

And the results of the phosphate test are??

the TDS of uncovered RO/DI water will quickly rise as particulates from the air are allowed to settle in it..

But without a phosphate test your are just making assumptions..
get the facts..

dinger28 · 07/17/2016, 08:09 PM

My phosphate test read .25 today. Yes my barrels are uncovered and have never been covered even though I have kids for them. So if I cover the lids the tds will go down? Hoping it is that easy.

mcgyvr · 07/18/2016, 05:21 AM

If you cover it the TDS won't go down as the material is already in the water.. But it will prevent an increase in TDS in future batches..

And BTW.. Is that phosphate test from your fish tank water or the water in the storage containers?

dinger28 · 07/18/2016, 05:59 AM

Fish tank water. Testing the barrel today. Should I empty both barrels and start over? Thank you so much for your thoughts on this matter!

mcgyvr · 07/18/2016, 08:10 AM

I wouldn't worry about emptying the barrels..
The TDS is more than likely dust/skin,etc...from the air.

But without testing the barrels and noticing phosphates then you can't conclude that the barrels are leaching anything..

What about nitrates? (measure fish tank water)

You have algae because you have nitrates/phosphates in the fish tank..

dinger28 · 07/18/2016, 08:49 AM

Nitrates are less than 10. I will test the barrels when I get home. ��

07/17/2016, 02:40 PM	#1
dinger28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Indian Land, SC Posts: 385	Leaking phosphates??!! Hey all. I have had 2 60 gallon containers for almost 2 years and it seems like they are starting to leak phosphates! My BRS rodi unit tds meter says the water is coming out 0, but when I check the barrel with a handheld meter it is reading above 100!! I changed my rodi membrane and filters recently as well. I am starting to get hair algae in the tank and now I know why. I cleaned both barrels out and let them sit with a gallon of white distilled vinegar for days before they were put to use. Any suggestions to get rid of the phosphates?? Thanks!!

07/17/2016, 02:48 PM	#3
tmz ReefKeeping Mag staff Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: West Seneca NY Posts: 27,691	100 tds or PO4? __________________ Tom Current Tank Info: Tank of the Month , November 2011 : 600gal integrated system: 3 display tanks (120 g, 90g, 89g),several frag/grow out tanks, macroalgae refugia, cryptic zones. 40+ fish, seahorses, sps,lps,leathers, zoanthidae and non photosynthetic corals.

07/18/2016, 05:21 AM	#7
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	If you cover it the TDS won't go down as the material is already in the water.. But it will prevent an increase in TDS in future batches.. And BTW.. Is that phosphate test from your fish tank water or the water in the storage containers? __________________ Who me?

07/18/2016, 08:10 AM	#9
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	I wouldn't worry about emptying the barrels.. The TDS is more than likely dust/skin,etc...from the air. But without testing the barrels and noticing phosphates then you can't conclude that the barrels are leaching anything.. What about nitrates? (measure fish tank water) You have algae because you have nitrates/phosphates in the fish tank.. __________________ Who me?

07/17/2016, 02:41 PM	#2
dinger28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Indian Land, SC Posts: 385	I am using Prime conditioner temporarily until I know how to solve this issue.

07/17/2016, 04:19 PM	#4
dinger28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Indian Land, SC Posts: 385	100 is coming from the tds meter

07/17/2016, 08:09 PM	#6
dinger28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Indian Land, SC Posts: 385	My phosphate test read .25 today. Yes my barrels are uncovered and have never been covered even though I have kids for them. So if I cover the lids the tds will go down? Hoping it is that easy.

07/18/2016, 05:59 AM	#8
dinger28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Indian Land, SC Posts: 385	Fish tank water. Testing the barrel today. Should I empty both barrels and start over? Thank you so much for your thoughts on this matter!

07/18/2016, 08:49 AM	#10
dinger28 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Indian Land, SC Posts: 385	Nitrates are less than 10. I will test the barrels when I get home. ��