So Aggrivated with Phosphates!

[Biggar]

I have been getting a reading from tank water of .15ppm for many months now from a Hanna checker.

I ran GFO, huge water changes, vinegar, feed less, checked filters. Nothing works to bring this sucker down.

I said....let me test the newly made RC crystals salt I just made with my RO/DI water. Although new salt water for me is always murky, I gave it a shot. Guess what........ .15 again. Holy Cow, are you serious?

Ok, let grab the TDS meter and check freshly made RO/DI- ZERO TDS

Hmmm. Is my barrel leeching phosphates into new salt mix? I hanna tested the actual RO/DI water @ ZERO TDS. I get .16 - .18 ppm phosphates. What the hell?

I did test NSW Matt (MRX) had and my same meter reads .05 about 3 months ago, so dont think its primarily the hanna meter.

Any Gurus know how this is happening? Is the DI resin more responsible for removing phosphates or the RO membrane? I know my RO is old, but is it possible to get .15 Po4 and zero tds.

Maybe I need a new TDS meter and RO membrane? Maybe a new brain. lol Stumped. Anyone had similar experiences and suggestions?

:headwallblue:

 

[ReefJP80]

What container are you using for water storage? Is the water coming straight out of your RO reading like that?

 

[LittleBeard]

I don't pretend to be a water guru.. but could the tds meter just not be accurate enough to measure the Po4? I mean, if .18 ppm is rounded off to the nearest ppm it would be 0 ppm, so is maybe that the issue?

 

[Biggar]

What container are you using for water storage? Is the water coming straight out of your RO reading like that?

I dont store water except for ATO. Brute container.

Water change water is made fresh, and added same day

I don't pretend to be a water guru.. but could the tds meter just not be accurate enough to measure the Po4? I mean, if .18 ppm is rounded off to the nearest ppm it would be 0 ppm, so is maybe that the issue?

You might be on to something. TDS meters be a load of worthless information for phosphates.

 

[AquamanE]

Mike- I asked you this in another forum.

How is your livestock doing? That is all that matters.

 

[WhoDey64]

Biggar, I have read on many locations that the hanna meter will not measure phosphates accurately in pure fresh RO water, might be worth a glance on the googles to read up on it.

 

[Biggar]

Mike- I asked you this in another forum.

How is your livestock doing? That is all that matters.

Eddie, i responded. your frag is not looking great. others are good for most part.

Biggar, I have read on many locations that the hanna meter will not measure phosphates accurately in pure fresh RO water, might be worth a glance on the googles to read up on it.

thanks

Anyone have an Elos checker?

 

[DRThompson]

Maybe you have a bad batch of reagents? Do you have an extra box of the powder packets for the Hanna checker? Remember the error is +/- 0.04 for the Hanna.

I'd be happy to check your water with my Hanna to compare.

 

[Biggar]

Maybe you have a bad batch of reagents? Do you have an extra box of the powder packets for the Hanna checker? Remember the error is +/- 0.04 for the Hanna.

I'd be happy to check your water with my Hanna to compare.

ok, going to swing by. ill text you. thanks

 

[Biggar]

My ro portion of ro/di unit is 2 years old too, but never thought to change with zero tds.

Where should I order from?

 

[DRThompson]

My ro portion of ro/di unit is 2 years old too, but never thought to change with zero tds.

Where should I order from?

Depending on how much you use it, 2 years old isn't that bad. Check the TDS reading right after the ro and before the di. Should be around 10 TDS.

Filmtech is the brand I usually buy. I usually replace the flow restrictor at the same time. eBay has good deals

 

[Jeremy05]

Make sure your opening the valve on v the top of the ro system. There is a way to help clean some of the filter out by letting it run of before you start making water. Also make sure your not putting that water into the container your using to put the good water in. Not sure if this was clear. Having some difficulty explaining with 2 yr old jumping on me.

 

[Biggar]

Depending on how much you use it, 2 years old isn't that bad. Check the TDS reading right after the ro and before the di. Should be around 10 TDS.

Filmtech is the brand I usually buy. I usually replace the flow restrictor at the same time. eBay has good deals

Good information. I went ahead and bought a dual in-line TDS meter from amazon. No more guessing what filter is being over worked.

Question:
If RO membrane has 98 rejection rate and your tap water is 100TDS, does that mean TDS should be 2ppm going to the DI resin?

Make sure your opening the valve on v the top of the ro system. There is a way to help clean some of the filter out by letting it run of before you start making water. Also make sure your not putting that water into the container your using to put the good water in. Not sure if this was clear. Having some difficulty explaining with 2 yr old jumping on me.

Lol

Yea, I have been flushing the system for a minute first.

 

[marke]

I think it's human error. Read the instructions again ! Jokinggg! Go see dr T. He is the best. We're you joking when you said Eds coral are not doing well? His stuff is excellent!

 

[Biggar]

Verdict is in.

Went to Dr Thompson's. Thanks again. Tested my water with his hanna checker. It read .05.

So, he gave he his reagent to test with my checker, again .12.

Ran another of my reagents, .14.

So. Do i just subtract about .08 each reading or try to get a new one? Hmmmm

 

[Biggar]

I think it's human error. Read the instructions again ! Jokinggg! Go see dr T. He is the best. We're you joking when you said Eds coral are not doing well? His stuff is excellent!

I put the frag low, didnt have much room.......but Marky.....I put 40 optics on my leds. Let see what happens ( ;

 

[DRThompson]

Glad you could stop by, good to see Rosemarie and the baby! I'd say buy a new hanna checker. Maybe you can make a fuss and get them to send you a replacement. I still say it's the best PO4 test kit out there.

 

[lnevo]

I saw some recent discussion on WAMAS that you get higher resolution using a marine ULN phosphorous checker from hanna instead. Something about each phosphate molecule being made up of a few ions of phosphorous . Worth looking into if you need to replace it anyway and you'll end up getting much better granularity...

 

[Biggar]

I saw some recent discussion on WAMAS that you get higher resolution using a marine ULN phosphorous checker from hanna instead. Something about each phosphate molecule being made up of a few ions of phosphorous . Worth looking into if you need to replace it anyway and you'll end up getting much better granularity...

thanks, ill check it out.

I would be happy if they could just put the reaction powder in a small container, with the correct size spoon. The packets are not friendly

 

[Elibeans]

I have an Elos kit if you wanted to try that out.