reefkrazy
New member
anyone using it or heard of it? It has zero waste unlike rodi filters. Here is a link..http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_reverse-osmosis-deionization_kold_ster-il.asp?CartId= Please let me know what you think. Thanks
Kold ster-il
- Thread starter reefkrazy
- Start date
pjf
Premium Member
I have a Kold Ster-il unit and like it. It is not for all locales because it does not filter many minerals such as calcium and silica. At my Colorado location, there is a lot of silica which results in diatom blooms in my aquarium. I am trying to control the diatoms by filtering phosphates in my aquarium. I understand that Kold Ster-il is developing a ferric hydroxide disc for filtering silica should this be a problem.
I like the Kold Ster-il unit because I can hook a hose to it and turn it on as if it were a faucet tap. Unlike a RO/DI unit, there is no waste, no caustic chemicals for recharging DI media, no holding tanks, and no need for auto-shut-offs.
You may want to ask your local water department for a water quality report and see if there is anything that will become a problem if the Kold Ster-il unit does not filter it.
I like the Kold Ster-il unit because I can hook a hose to it and turn it on as if it were a faucet tap. Unlike a RO/DI unit, there is no waste, no caustic chemicals for recharging DI media, no holding tanks, and no need for auto-shut-offs.
You may want to ask your local water department for a water quality report and see if there is anything that will become a problem if the Kold Ster-il unit does not filter it.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Local reefer uses one on several large systems.
He is starting to have some serious problems and this is one of the variables we have narrowed it down to. He is in the process of switching over to RO/DI.
INPUT TDS is in the 230 range.
Note that the Kold Ster-il does not remove phosphates either. You really need to know what is IN your water. The Kold Ster-il is not "smart" as they would have you believe. If it leaves wanted minerals, it will also leave unwanted minerals
Nice units if your input water meets certain criteria, otherwise you are better off with more robust filtration.
In ANY case, a good SED and GAC filter before the KS would be a huge improvement and extend the media life of the KS for a lot less money.
He is starting to have some serious problems and this is one of the variables we have narrowed it down to. He is in the process of switching over to RO/DI.
INPUT TDS is in the 230 range.
Note that the Kold Ster-il does not remove phosphates either. You really need to know what is IN your water. The Kold Ster-il is not "smart" as they would have you believe. If it leaves wanted minerals, it will also leave unwanted minerals
Nice units if your input water meets certain criteria, otherwise you are better off with more robust filtration.
In ANY case, a good SED and GAC filter before the KS would be a huge improvement and extend the media life of the KS for a lot less money.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
No problem. The units do have their place, but if in doubt I would not risk it. From a monetary standpoint the weater savings are not that big. There are also plenty of ways to use the waste water from the RO/DI (washer, plants, etc).
argi
Everybody Talks
I am using one and do not have any issues with it. I used it when I lived in SoCal and now use it here in CT.
You can use their activiated alumina media in the middle chamber if you are worried about phosphates or you can also run it at a slow flow rate.
This is from their FAQ Section on their website (www.poly-bio-marine.com):
My tapwater contains high levels of phosphates i.e., 1.5mg/L Ortho phosphate.
Can a Kold Ster-il® remove the phosphates & silicates sufficiently to be
able to keep aquaria free of excessive algae or diatom growth?
My tapwater shows low levels of Ortho phosphate and silicates
but my reef tanks have excessive algae growth.
The Kold Ster-il® sorbs ortho phosphate + hydrolyzable phosphates + other organic bound phosphates. The 0.20µm filter bag found in the second canister will completely restrict particulate phosphates found in many types of surface water supplies. Under optimum conditions, standard Kold Ster-il® can produce filtrate containing 0.100mg/L total phosphates. If Phosphate is the major problem occurring in your water supply, we recommend slowing intake water flow down to 1-2 liters per minute. Another solution is add 1 pound of our special activated alumina to the 0.20 micron filter bag. Difficult mixing of synthetic salts (brown floc or plating) means phosphate based charged polymer water conditioners or hexa-meta, poly, tripoly phosphates (1.0-2.0 mg/L concentration) added as a corrosion or heavy metals inhibitor. We suggest a Kold Ster-il® system with our activated alumina complex. This will sorb the phosphate complex + any bonded heavy metals. Both hexa-meta and poly phosphates must be determined via hot acid digestion which converts the complexed phosphorus over into a detectable ortho phosphate. As an additional benefit silicates are fully sorbed along with the various inorganic and organic phosphates.
HTH,
Keith
You can use their activiated alumina media in the middle chamber if you are worried about phosphates or you can also run it at a slow flow rate.
This is from their FAQ Section on their website (www.poly-bio-marine.com):
My tapwater contains high levels of phosphates i.e., 1.5mg/L Ortho phosphate.
Can a Kold Ster-il® remove the phosphates & silicates sufficiently to be
able to keep aquaria free of excessive algae or diatom growth?
My tapwater shows low levels of Ortho phosphate and silicates
but my reef tanks have excessive algae growth.
The Kold Ster-il® sorbs ortho phosphate + hydrolyzable phosphates + other organic bound phosphates. The 0.20µm filter bag found in the second canister will completely restrict particulate phosphates found in many types of surface water supplies. Under optimum conditions, standard Kold Ster-il® can produce filtrate containing 0.100mg/L total phosphates. If Phosphate is the major problem occurring in your water supply, we recommend slowing intake water flow down to 1-2 liters per minute. Another solution is add 1 pound of our special activated alumina to the 0.20 micron filter bag. Difficult mixing of synthetic salts (brown floc or plating) means phosphate based charged polymer water conditioners or hexa-meta, poly, tripoly phosphates (1.0-2.0 mg/L concentration) added as a corrosion or heavy metals inhibitor. We suggest a Kold Ster-il® system with our activated alumina complex. This will sorb the phosphate complex + any bonded heavy metals. Both hexa-meta and poly phosphates must be determined via hot acid digestion which converts the complexed phosphorus over into a detectable ortho phosphate. As an additional benefit silicates are fully sorbed along with the various inorganic and organic phosphates.
HTH,
Keith
