Top off water: alk/cal
- Thread starter d0rknyoface
- Start date
Okay I got results for you!
RODI Water : 0 CA, 0 ALK, as expected
RODI doing its job.
My Tap : 90 CA, 9.0 dKH ALK
Seems like your water is harder then mine. Also Seachem Prime, is only to neutralize chlorine from the water. Its not meant to lower alk or ca levels.
If your in this hobby long term, I highly recommend getting RODI unit and start making your own water. I used to buy water from my local LFS and my tank never did well. Random fishes died, I could never keep corals for very long. So I invested in some test kits and found the RODI water I been buying was pretty much tap water. Their salt water had some crazy nitrates and phosphates. Salinity levels were always different! So I had to mix more salt or add more water. After my RODI unit, I know exactly whats going into my tank and has helped me keep things alive.
RODI Water : 0 CA, 0 ALK, as expected
RODI doing its job.My Tap : 90 CA, 9.0 dKH ALK
Seems like your water is harder then mine. Also Seachem Prime, is only to neutralize chlorine from the water. Its not meant to lower alk or ca levels.
If your in this hobby long term, I highly recommend getting RODI unit and start making your own water. I used to buy water from my local LFS and my tank never did well. Random fishes died, I could never keep corals for very long. So I invested in some test kits and found the RODI water I been buying was pretty much tap water. Their salt water had some crazy nitrates and phosphates. Salinity levels were always different! So I had to mix more salt or add more water. After my RODI unit, I know exactly whats going into my tank and has helped me keep things alive.
No wonder my calcium levels are not dropping...its been steady at 550. My alk is slowly climbing too.
I am in this hobby for long term, but I don't know if i want to set up a RODI water system because all I do is get tap water in a 5 gallon bucket (my auto top off bucket:top and put some sea chem prime in it and let my ato do its thing....what should I do if I do not want to set up a RODI water system?
I am in this hobby for long term, but I don't know if i want to set up a RODI water system because all I do is get tap water in a 5 gallon bucket (my auto top off bucket:top
and put some sea chem prime in it and let my ato do its thing....what should I do if I do not want to set up a RODI water system?
In the long run running your own rodi system gives you way more bang for your buck in terms of buying water from lfs. The initial cost is a little high but the quality is way better. Mixing the salt with your own water give you better control of what in your water and give you a healthy supply of water incase of emergencies. Filters are gallon rated and not time. Flushing your system will keep it clean. We'll worth the money imo
don't trust the water supply. get an RODI! a few years ago Riverside added chemicals and a lot of people lost their koi fish. If you ever plan on doing a reef i wouldn't trust tap water. If you want to avoid GHA and other pest algae... get an RODI. You can even hook up a drinking water kit to it and have RO water for your self (and family). It's a good investment.
@doryface how and what salts are you using? Are you using refractormeter to check salinity? I don't think your issue with raising level with tap, seems like the issue might be other factors like, salinity is way to high... or the salt mix need a good roll, or if your buying water, then that can be the issue as well.
I am currently buying salt water at tong's. And topping off with treated tap water using sea chem prime. I do have a RO system in the house but for human consumption. But I am also using a water softener system for the house which then goes to the RO system for consumption.
I am using an Instant Ocean specific gravity tester to test my salinity level and it is good. (1.022)
I am using an Instant Ocean specific gravity tester to test my salinity level and it is good. (1.022)
I was told by an LFS (will not name the LFS) that I should not use my home RO system for freshwater because the one for home is for humans, and they have treated water for fish...
But according to here, I can use my RO system for to drink and to use as top off?
I'm not sure if my house has RODI, but I definitely have an RO system. Do installers for house holds typically install an RO or RODI?
But according to here, I can use my RO system for to drink and to use as top off?
I'm not sure if my house has RODI, but I definitely have an RO system. Do installers for house holds typically install an RO or RODI?
Drinking water RO will get rid of most of the undesirables. You'll have to check the rejection rate if the membrane to be sure. I would think too much. These system are designed to to make like 300g, where as a rodi for aquarium is made for like 3000g. Where you live and how bad is your water is will drop that number. Creative plumbing and you can have an off shoot coming through for drinking before it hits the DI resin. Brs do some affordable one. A small 75g a day won't set you back too much. No tax and free shipping with back Friday coming soonish. Should be able to get some good deals.
The hydrometer is honestly one of the worst things you can use to test anything in this hobby. A refractometer is like $20 from amazon and will give you a better reading on your SG.
You really shouldn't be using prime for water conditioning, yeah it does stuff good. But it's mainly for freshwater to remove chlorine since they need the minerals from the water. For saltwater you never need to use this. If your ammonia is high. Do a water change. If nitrates is high, do a water change. 80% of problems can be fixed with a warranty change...... But you're gonna need your own rodi. Get one!
The hydrometer is honestly one of the worst things you can use to test anything in this hobby. A refractometer is like $20 from amazon and will give you a better reading on your SG.
You really shouldn't be using prime for water conditioning, yeah it does stuff good. But it's mainly for freshwater to remove chlorine since they need the minerals from the water. For saltwater you never need to use this. If your ammonia is high. Do a water change. If nitrates is high, do a water change. 80% of problems can be fixed with a warranty change...... But you're gonna need your own rodi. Get one!
