DI resin was channeling....

[Agu]

and not getting complete contact. Discovered this when I realized the color changing resin wasn't changing color. TDS measured 14 out of the RO/DI, don't know how long it's been that high as my Hannah TDS meter died several years ago. Since I used color changing resin I never saw a need to replace it until now.

I've had a recent issue with diatoms (?) in two tanks and excess hair algae growth in the refugium of a third tank. I'm not a big water tester because with nanos multiple water changes usually solve most problems. However this time they probably exacerbated the problem.


I'm wondering what I should be testing for, or if just fixing the problem with the DI along with carbon and polyfilter will resolve my problems.

Here's a link to my local annual water quality report, http://www.venicegov.com/Files/Utilities/water_report.pdf

 

[bertoni]

I didn't see anything particular scary in the report. I'd just fix the DI and run a PolyFilter out of caution.

 

[disc1]

What Bertoni said.

When you're refilling the resin, make sure you vibrate it (for lack of a better word) to get things well packed in there. That will help to avoid creating channels. Tap it, shake it, do something to make sure that the little beads are packing together well.

 

[JMLewis]

I mounted mine vertically on the wall next to my unit so the water has to flow through it from top to bottom of both cartridges.

 

[Agu]

Thanks, I hadn't considered running polyfilter, I've been using carbon and GFO without much success.

I think the problem with channeling is because I don't use that much RO/DI water, maybe 6 gallons/week. With good water to start with the DI cartridge has probably been in service for a couple of years. For now on when I do the semi annual replacement of micron membrane and carbon block the DI will get a good shake.

 

[Agu]

Thank you Jonathan and Davd, tank sand is now white again after less than 48 hours . I'll be adding polyfilter to the other tanks too, even the one that didn't have the issues just in case.

Some of my Euphyllia which hadn't been doing well seem to be perking up too. Interestingly only the euphyllia seems to have been affected. All the other LPS didn't seem to be bothered by whatever was in the water.

 

[bertoni]

You're welcome! I wonder why the Euphyllia was sulking.