Alakline water machines (1 Viewer)

[julian.cubelli]

Has anyone ever had experience with RO /Alkaline machines, I'm purchasing one to use for drinking water, but what are y'all's thoughts on using it to top off with? I don't see why you wouldn't, It raises the PH of the water.

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[Clownfish Chris]

These machines use two metal plates ionizing the water. These are usually platinum plated copper and titanium. Sometimes nickel is in those plates too. All of those chemicals can leach into the water. Not only would I not use it for top off, I wouldn't drink the stuff. For drinking, I would purchase mineral spring water to drink and stick with buffered RODI or dosing to maintain alk in the tank.

 

[webster1234]

These machines use two metal plates ionizing the water. These are usually platinum plated copper and titanium. Sometimes nickel is in those plates too. All of those chemicals can leach into the water. Not only would I not use it for top off, I wouldn't drink the stuff. For drinking, I would purchase mineral spring water to drink and stick with buffered RODI or dosing to maintain alk in the tank.

b..bb...bbuttt I hear those machines can cure cancer...

 

[julian.cubelli]

What about one like this though?
These are not electric and do not ionize the water using those plates. It supposedly removes all of those harmful contaminates.
MRET Water Activator With 5 Stage Reverse Osmosis water filter

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[julian.cubelli]

Bump

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[steveb]

so RO water I think has a ph of between 5 and 6 which is acidic, 7 is neutral.

It looks like they are passing the RO water over (I'm guessing) lime stone or some similar mineral in the "alkaline".

Since the RO water is slightly acidic its going to dissolve the minerals in the "alkaline" and add them to the water.

Have no idea what impurities might be in the cartridge from a reef inhabitant perspective...so I wouldn't use it...

I suppose if you want to drink that, that is fine though.


You would be better served on your tank to put a 3 way valve/T after the RO membrane and push that water over a mixed DI resin to get 18 meg ohm water (pure). I would also add a booster pump to gain better efficiency on the RO membrane.

 

[Clownfish Chris]

I just did a little research via Google and ultimately came to the same conclusion. There is little if any information on how they raise the ph. Most of the information I found was nothing but sails pitches. I don't trust something that has to be sold so hard. Also, how stable is the affluent? Is there any fluctuation at all?

I stick to my recommendation of traditional dosing methods.

 

[steveb]

The process of adding alkalinity and hence raising the Ph of the water... Since I think I understand the process but it has been way to many years since I had college chemistry I'm going to cheat and post someone else's answer.


Limestone is mostly made up of the mineral calcium carbonate (CaCO3). This is not very soluble normally. But if you add an acid, you add hydrogen ions (H+), which will react with the carbonate to form hydrogen carbonate HCO3- ions, which are very soluble in water, and the limestone will dissolve. Or, if there is more acid, about the two hydrogen ions will react with a carbonate to form carbonic acid - H2CO3 - which will decompose to form carbon dioxide - CO2 - and water H2O.


references:
acid & limestone What Happens When Acid Reacts With Limestone? - Science Questions, from the Naked Scientists
why does RO water test slightly acidic? PH
RO/DI systems to purify tap water Reverse Osmosis/Deionization Systems to Purify Tap Water for Reef Aquaria by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

 

[Clownfish Chris]

So its basically like a calcium reactor only using limestone as the media. I could see how you may be able to use RODI water through a reactor using a known media like what is sold for carx. The issue I see with using it as an ATO is that the rate of introduction to the tank would have to be stable. The evaporation rate of my tank certainly is not. Most of the evaporation in my house takes place in the afternoon then the temps are higher. But I guess it is not much different than using Kalk washer.

I still wouldn't drink it or use it on my tank. I would be interested to see how well it works though and what impurities there are.

 

[steveb]

So its basically like a calcium reactor only using limestone as the media. I could see how you may be able to use RODI water through a reactor using a known media like what is sold for carx. The issue I see with using it as an ATO is that the rate of introduction to the tank would have to be stable. The evaporation rate of my tank certainly is not. Most of the evaporation in my house takes place in the afternoon then the temps are higher. But I guess it is not much different than using Kalk washer.

I still wouldn't drink it or use it on my tank. I would be interested to see how well it works though and what impurities there are.

which is also why using kalkwasser for topoff is also risky and has caused me issues in the past. better to add a set amount per day and let auto top off of freshwater make up the difference (when using kalkwasser)...

2 part dosing (alk/ca) is different.