is there copper in my ro water

bobafet1 · 11/06/2006, 12:08 PM

Hello, I was reading an old aquarium book and they made reference to copper possibly being present in RO water.. I started thinking and realized that my RO units' feed line is tapped into my homes copper water pipes..so, am I slowly adding copper to my tank????my RO unit is just an arrowhead water RO system..it has three chambers...sediment carbon cartridge, drain cartridge, and a regular carbon cartridge.. if you guys think my RO unit is crap..then can you recommend a resonably priced RO unit..thanks

I was looking at marine depots RO unit Captive Purity 4-stage system with TDS meter..anyone have any luck with this???

marcrothschild · 11/06/2006, 12:40 PM

If you use DI resin, and maintain it by checking your TDS, I doubt copper will be an issue regardless of the brand you buy.
If AZdesertrat chimes in, I bet he knows about Cu rejection rated in RO membranes.

beaker77 · 11/06/2006, 01:27 PM

I'm sure there is more copper in your salt mix than in your RO water.

bobafet1 · 11/06/2006, 01:39 PM

I just measured for phosphates..both my tank and RO water are at 0.1ppm of phosphates..thats probably why i have a cyno outbreak

beaker77 · 11/06/2006, 01:42 PM

What brand membrane does your RO system use?

bobafet1 · 11/06/2006, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by beaker77
What brand membrane does your RO system use?

The RO unit is called " The Water Factory" Im not sure what type of membranes they are...

AZDesertRat · 11/06/2006, 02:56 PM

Your description does not mention a RO membrane. I would imagine your setup would be 1. sediment filter 2. carbon filter 3. RO membrane and 4. small post RO carbon taste and odor cartridge, if it is like most drinking water systems.
Copper should not be a concern, the EPA is very strict on copper and lead in drinking water and maintaining the correct pH and Langlier Index to prevent any copper or lead from solders getting back into your water even if you have copper pipes and lead solder which was itself outlawed in the 1980s.
RO membranes that are ANSI/NSF 58 certified are 99% effective at copper removal anyway.

bobafet1 · 11/06/2006, 03:09 PM

this is the system I have

http://www.waterfactorysystems.com/gallon/2040.html

bobafet1 · 11/06/2006, 03:54 PM

Awww...what the heck..I just ordered a 5 stage unit with TDS meter from the filter guys...I was about the order the same unit from marine depot and pay $280...I saw their banner up top...checked them out...and saved $80 on the same unit...I guess I was just looking for an excuse to get a new one...

AZDesertRat · 11/06/2006, 03:55 PM

Copper still should not be a concern. If that unit is what I suspect it is, it uses non standard replacement filters and you will pay through the nose for them. I would check with someone like www.purelyh2o.com or Air Water & Ice to be sure. If so you may want to look at a more standard type unit when it comes time to replace filters at 6 months.

AZDesertRat · 11/06/2006, 06:07 PM

Bobafet 1 your mailbox is full. Make sure you clean out the sent folder also as it counts against you on space.

bobafet1 · 11/06/2006, 06:21 PM

thanks

11/06/2006, 12:08 PM	#1
bobafet1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: 92336 Posts: 1,822	is there copper in my ro water Hello, I was reading an old aquarium book and they made reference to copper possibly being present in RO water.. I started thinking and realized that my RO units' feed line is tapped into my homes copper water pipes..so, am I slowly adding copper to my tank????my RO unit is just an arrowhead water RO system..it has three chambers...sediment carbon cartridge, drain cartridge, and a regular carbon cartridge.. if you guys think my RO unit is crap..then can you recommend a resonably priced RO unit..thanks I was looking at marine depots RO unit Captive Purity 4-stage system with TDS meter..anyone have any luck with this???

11/06/2006, 01:27 PM	#3
beaker77 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Columbia, IL Posts: 754	I'm sure there is more copper in your salt mix than in your RO water. __________________ Brian Current Tank Info: 93g Marineland Cube, 2X Ecotech MP40WesQD, Radion Gen 1, Reef Angel Controller, ART Sump, and NYOS 160 skimmer. 60g frag tank converted to shallow reef.

11/06/2006, 01:42 PM	#5
beaker77 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Columbia, IL Posts: 754	What brand membrane does your RO system use? __________________ Brian Current Tank Info: 93g Marineland Cube, 2X Ecotech MP40WesQD, Radion Gen 1, Reef Angel Controller, ART Sump, and NYOS 160 skimmer. 60g frag tank converted to shallow reef.

11/06/2006, 12:40 PM	#2
marcrothschild Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Arcadia Ca Posts: 1,099	If you use DI resin, and maintain it by checking your TDS, I doubt copper will be an issue regardless of the brand you buy. If AZdesertrat chimes in, I bet he knows about Cu rejection rated in RO membranes.

11/06/2006, 01:39 PM	#4
bobafet1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: 92336 Posts: 1,822	I just measured for phosphates..both my tank and RO water are at 0.1ppm of phosphates..thats probably why i have a cyno outbreak

11/06/2006, 02:56 PM	#7
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Your description does not mention a RO membrane. I would imagine your setup would be 1. sediment filter 2. carbon filter 3. RO membrane and 4. small post RO carbon taste and odor cartridge, if it is like most drinking water systems. Copper should not be a concern, the EPA is very strict on copper and lead in drinking water and maintaining the correct pH and Langlier Index to prevent any copper or lead from solders getting back into your water even if you have copper pipes and lead solder which was itself outlawed in the 1980s. RO membranes that are ANSI/NSF 58 certified are 99% effective at copper removal anyway.

11/06/2006, 03:09 PM	#8
bobafet1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: 92336 Posts: 1,822	this is the system I have http://www.waterfactorysystems.com/gallon/2040.html

11/06/2006, 03:54 PM	#9
bobafet1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: 92336 Posts: 1,822	Awww...what the heck..I just ordered a 5 stage unit with TDS meter from the filter guys...I was about the order the same unit from marine depot and pay $280...I saw their banner up top...checked them out...and saved $80 on the same unit...I guess I was just looking for an excuse to get a new one...

11/06/2006, 03:55 PM	#10
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Copper still should not be a concern. If that unit is what I suspect it is, it uses non standard replacement filters and you will pay through the nose for them. I would check with someone like www.purelyh2o.com or Air Water & Ice to be sure. If so you may want to look at a more standard type unit when it comes time to replace filters at 6 months.

11/06/2006, 06:07 PM	#11
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Bobafet 1 your mailbox is full. Make sure you clean out the sent folder also as it counts against you on space.

11/06/2006, 06:21 PM	#12
bobafet1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: 92336 Posts: 1,822	thanks