Some hobbyist level test kits are notoriously inaccutrate. What brand are you using?
Has anyone tested their RO/DI water from their home units? I finally broke down and bought a Spectrapure Max Cap RO/DI - 90gpd. No more extra trips to the LFS wasting that other valuable fluid(gasoline). Whew-hew! So I thought. I tested the water after set up (I let 5 gallons go before collecting this first round).
Phosphate .5ppm
Tap water Phosphate - between 2ppm - so it obviously removed some of the phosphate.
Nitrate - 0
I also tested the RO/DI water from the store and it tested at .5ppm but a bit lighter of a color than what I produced at home.
Has anyone tested and found the same result? I am not sure what to think, knowing introducing any phosphates to our tanks is not a good idea.
"Jim" - always learning
Some hobbyist level test kits are notoriously inaccutrate. What brand are you using?
Amphibious
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I hear you "Amp" but if it is noticeable that there is a change in the color for both the LFS water, the home water, and definitely with the tap water, it appears to have phosphate. I am using Aquarium Pharmaceuticals phosphate kit. Maybe I should try a Salifert as all the rest of my kits are Salifert and they obviously test accurately for the majority. So I take it you test "0" for your RO/DI water?
"Jim" - always learning
Yes. I have some AP kits but my phosphate is Salifert.
Amphibious
Good Luck comes to those who research and prepare.
Our Talking Reef Forum The Cultured Reef Forum
My tank journal Amphibious' 135 mixed reef.
The Cutured Reef toll free number - 888 745-0449
Amblyeleotris randalli commonly, Randall's Goby.
Wow PSH, lets hope both of our test kits are reading phosphate when they shouldn't. My TDS from the tap is about 145 and 1 after the membrane(so I am getting 99% rejection). My TDS out of the 2 DI cartridges are both 0. They are brand new cartridges, so that is what I would expect. Now I am really curious to hear what others say. Maybe these test kits are bad or maybe many are reading slight phosphate out of their units.
"Jim" - always learning
I contacted Spectrapure today and they felt the test kit must be off as well. There suggestion was to test the kit using distilled water. I don't know why I did not think of that. Does anyone know where to purchase distilled water?
"Jim" - always learning
You can buy a bottle at just about any grocery store.
alea iacta est
Make sure that if a lighting source for reading the test is recommended that you are reading the test under the correct lights.
Carmie
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Thanks for the tip Carmie. I have tried incandescent, halogen, and daylight. What light is recommended. A certain Kelvin type bulb? What phosphate kits do people use and are confident are accurate? I have yet to try Salifert, at least for phosphate.
"Jim" - always learning
I think it may depend on the test kit but usually cool white fluorescent lights.
Carmie
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I tested the water in my tanks using the same test kit and both tanks were reading "0." I decided I would run some more water through the RO/DI and after letting go a few gallons the water was producing "0" phosphate. I guess I just needed to let it run longer. I thought 15-20 gallons was overkill when starting the membrane and blocks. I guess it just takes longer for some units. One thing is for sure, I will test product water at the beginning of each batch to make sure it is ok.
Last edited by bubbletip; 09-21-2006 at 09:53 PM.
"Jim" - always learning
Thanks for updating us. Sounds like you are ready to go now!
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