Adding minerals back into RO water.

[mmedeiros2]

Can anyone know of any known good quality remineralization products for RO water. I'm looking for something to be added to the water in drops per gallon not a canister type of remineralization.
Thanks

 

[MileHighFish]

why? i think you water the water as pure as possible.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

re: remineralization of RO water

re: remineralization of RO water

this is not necessary.

kalkwasser (limewater prepared by dissolving calcium hydroxide powder into cold RO water) will boost pH, calcium and alkalinity evenly. This is used to replace evaporated freshwater. (Solids/salts don't evaporate.)

"straight" RO water is the norm for preparing new artificial seawater.

 

[Bebo77]

What exactly are you trying to do?

 

[Don-Coraleone]

you want to take the minerals out. not put them in.

 

[AZDesertRat]

I too am curious what it is you are trying to do? Remineralization is common with high end drinking water and coffee making systems but I don't know what other purpose it would serve.
Spectrapure are the experts in remineralization, they build systems specifically designed for this.

 

[livingstone]

I thought the 'standard' answer for this was "salt mix".

 

[Michael]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13699761#post13699761 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by livingstone
I thought the 'standard' answer for this was "salt mix".

+1, h--mmm, i wonder what your trying to achieve as well, the salt mix should give you all the minerals you need.

 

[mmedeiros2]

I'm sorry for not being specific. I am looking to remineralize the RO water for my make up water. I do realize not to add salt for my make up water, and when I do a water change, the salt mix will provide all the nessary minerals. I know that fish need certain minerals and that minerals deplete naturally as time goes on so I thought that it was common to remineralize the make up RO water. I know that it is sold, so I figured that I would ask the question if there is a good brand recomended over others. By reading the replies from you guys, mabey it is not common to do this? I am also looking for a good mineral addative for RO drinking water. I know this is common for taste and to raise the ph a little.

 

[seapug]

It's not necessary to do it, but adding kalkwasser mix or perhaps a little baking soda to your topoff water will help maintain carbonate alkalinity, if you battle low alk.

 

[WaterKeeper]

Skip the additives. You neither need minerals in you tank's water nor in what you drink. It is not enough to change your life.

 

[mmedeiros2]

How about Seachem Marine Buffer?

 

[seapug]

Only if you need it. Let the results of your Calcium, Alkalinity, and pH tests help you make that decision.

 

[newclean]

Seachem's "Marine Buffer" will add to your borate alkalinity. In NSW borate alkalinity only makes up a small part of total alkalinity. Seachem says that FOWLR systems can tolerate increased borate alkalinity.

I would add "Reef Builder" in your situation. It costs about the same as "Marine Buffer" but it adds to carbonate alkalinity and provides some trace elements.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13701976#post13701976 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mmedeiros2
I know that fish need certain minerals and that minerals deplete naturally as time goes on so I thought that it was common to remineralize the make up RO water.

fishes get minerals from their foods.
Living corals growing in your aquarium will deplete calcium, alkalinity, magnesium (etc.).

read this:
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-05/rhf/index.php

 

[mmedeiros2]

I have a fowlr 10 gal. tank for getting my feet wet before setting my 75 gal. on it's feet. I realize that it is tougher to keep paramiters stable in a small body, thats why I am tackling this first. The tank has been set up for about 6 or 7 mos. now. It contains 1 lb. of LR, 1 damsel, 1 half in. of aragonite live sand, and 6 hermit crabs. I have had no problems yet except that the ph keeps dropping to 7.8. it is fine after a water change but then starts to decline with time.(mabey in a week or two) I have arreation and a Aqua Clear 30 filter. My parameters are
Alk.- 12dkh / Phosphate-0 / nitrate 0 / nh3-0 /silicate-0
This is all I test for. The last water change of 2 gal. was done with RO water for the first time. That brought my nitrates from 30ppm to 0 ppm. My alk. is high from the salt mix but my tap water is soft with a low ph. I add Seachem buffer to my make up water but the ph stays low. I only feed once a day, and not realy that much. A little pinch for the Damsel and 3 shrimp pellets every other day for the crabs. Once in a while I see tiny shrimp flying around the tank. Once I seen a 1/8 in. worm swimming around in a turbular motion. it was fast. I have no idea what it was. I haven't cleaned the filter sponge in a couple of mos. This might be causing it? Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

a dirty sponge filter can cause elevated nitrates.

pH 7.8 isn't a great cause for concern in your case but pH (and alkalinity and calcium) could easily be bumped up by using kalkwasser (limewater) as makeup water instead of untreated RO. (Makeup water replaces evaporated water.)

 

[Sk8r]

Your salt mix is how.

 

[tmz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13703932#post13703932 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sk8r
Your salt mix is how.

+ salt mixes contain the elements in natural sea water. Your tank is replenished whenever you do a water hage which should total around 30 to 40% per month.