Ammonia and Nitrates in RO/DI Water

[Jamie2337]

This is driving me crazy. I have the very slightest ammonia and nitrates on my tests, so I make up new water to add. On a whim I test it. Also slight Ammonia and Nitrates.

I scrub my container between uses as well as my pump and heater. They all get a white film between uses that I clean off. I know it is not the RO/DI water as my not mixed water reads "0" on the test kits.

I let my water sit is the 48 gallon container for 1-2 days with a powerhead and heater to warm and mix well. Any suggestions on what I can do for this? Should I toss the water (40 gallons?)

Also, I mixed up a small bit of water with the salt and it is "0" as well.

:fun4:

 

[moriartiholmes]

Synthetic salt mixes contain ammonia. That's why they all say Phosphate Free, but not ammonia free. It's also one of the reasons why large water changes are a bad idea. I try to keep some active bacteria involved when preparing a new batch of salt water. After the salt is mostly mixed, I add a 'seeded' prefilter to the powerhead. I think this helps.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

Re: Ammonia and Nitrates in RO/DI Water

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6917108#post6917108 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jamie2337
I let my water sit is the 48 gallon container for 1-2 days with a powerhead and heater to warm and mix well. Any suggestions on what I can do for this? Should I toss the water (40 gallons?)

I wouldn't toss the water. Unless the ammonia and/or nitrate readings are significant, I would ignore them and use the water.
I'm assuming the mixing container is closed. What brand of salt are you using?
I get a white film build up in my mixing barrel, but I don't clean it up very often. It usually takes several months before any significant white crusty buildup occurs- and I mix up 50 gallons of IO with RO water every week.
I've never heard that large water changes are "bad" because of contaminents in the salt mix. No salt mix is perfect, but new saltwater usually replaces old saltwater that contains undesirable substances in much greater quantities.

 

[Jamie2337]

Gary,

I am using Reef Crystals. The reading are the very faintest on the test, but they are there as opposed to the RO freshwater which reads "0." They arent signifigant reading, but they are there none the less. Maybe I am being a bit paranoid. I clean my container between each use if it has been empty with hot water and paper towels to get any film that is there.

Oh, by the way, I am loving my Xenia. I love the opening and closing of the coral. I don't know why I love it so much, but it is so fun to see it open and close. What is the exact name of the Xenia?

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I'm not sure of the exact ID of that Xenia- it might be X. umbellata. Glad you like it!

 

[moriartiholmes]

Re: Re: Ammonia and Nitrates in RO/DI Water

Re: Re: Ammonia and Nitrates in RO/DI Water

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6919256#post6919256 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Gary Majchrzak
I've never heard that large water changes are "bad" because of contaminents in the salt mix. No salt mix is perfect, but new saltwater usually replaces old saltwater that contains undesirable substances in much greater quantities.

I wrote that because, often people will do water changes to get nitrogen compounds down. Since, freshly mixed salt water contains ammonia, that doesn't really work. Also it changes the chemical make up of the water to the point that may stress the livestock. Small to medium water changes are the way to go IMO.

 

[moriartiholmes]

You can see this mix that appears to be a natural mix (dehydrated ocean water) has no ammonia.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12176&N=2004+113009

Instant Ocean, which is synthetic, cannot make this claim:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=4856&N=2004+113009

I cannot find an article that mentions this, but I know I've read it.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

FWIW- "Oceanic", "Reef Crystals" and "Instant Ocean" are all synthetic sea salt mixes. IME none of them mixes up to NSW values (I use all 3 brands). As a result of the production process, slight variations in batches of all salt mixes occur from time to time- but these brands have been very reliable for me.

 

[Jamie2337]

Also, I was reading another forum where with Sailfert ammonia tests it several people have had a hard time getting a perfect reading. Most have said that their test results are always a little cloudy, very faint. So I am guess I am safe.

All my corals and fish are doing great. I would venture to say thriving but they are adjusting to new 10K lights and no actinics till my ballast gets back...I think they would be happier with a little more hours of light.

I don't really have a preference on salt. Whatevers on sale. As long as fish and corals are happy then I am happy. When you have to drive 70 miles or pay for shipping cheaper is always better!

:fun4: