Water parameter questions (1 Viewer)

[SnMan]

I need some opinions on my water parameters. I started to use an online company to test my water. I sent them water samples and they sent me reports via email. I have done this twice so far and implemented corrective actions based on my first set of results. However things have not turned out as I expected.

SiO2-3 went from 0.8 t o 2.1 which was bad to worse! After the first result I replaced all 4 filters in my RO/DI (even though TDS was 0) and doubled the frequency of my water changes. I bought a Salifert silicate test kit and I plan to test my RO/DI water and then test some freshly made saltwater to see if either of these are the culprit. Any other ideas on what might be doing this?

B (boron) went from 1.9 (low) to 6.1 (high). Any ideas where this might have come from besides the salt mix?

On a good note my Cu++ went from 0.02 to 0.00! Not even a trace!

 

[crvz]

Are you using silica sand? Better question, are you having a problem with the tank such that you're worried about silicates?

Honestly, I wouldnt put a ton of stock in one data point of testing, especially if I didnt understand how it was performed or how accurate it is.

 

[SnMan]

I am not sure about my substrate but I believe it to be a calcium based sand. No problem except my continous fight with algae. I tested my RO/DI water and it is between 2.0 and 3.0 so I found my culprit. But my TDS reads 0 and I have all new filters. Any idea how to clean my RO/DI water of the silicates?

 

[Guest]

How old is this tank? Do U use any ohter rock beside live rock? Wat is ur ph show day n night ? calcium,DkH? How do U topoff ur water each time ? Each time that u buffer the PH buffer n the calcium buffer how do u do it ? wat kind of lights u r using n temperture of ur tank when the light on?

 

[SnMan]

This tank has been set up in this spot for 4 years but it was up for 1 year in another house before. I just have LR with DSB. My ph varies by just under .2 from 8.2 to 8.4. I think my ph probe is calibrated a little off that is why it seems on the high side. My ca was low so I bought the Salifert test kit and I have it up to 445ppm. Alk is 4.08 meq/L. I use RO/DI water into the sump 1 gal every other day. I tested the RO/DI water and it read 2-3 on my Salifert test kit for silicates. Way high basically off the chart. I mix my Kent super buffer and my turbo calcium in cups of tank water and then poor into the return portion of my sump. I run a Coralife pro with 2x150MH, 2x96W PC, and 3 moon leds. I just took out the 10k Ushio and put in the 12.5k Gieseman Marine bulbs. I run a 1/10th hp chiller and my AC3 is set to keep it between 78f and 80f 24/7. My ORP without ozone stays around 390 - 425. I use an AquaC EV240 with a mag 12 to skim. The interesting thing is that I have an AquaMedic 1000 Ca reactor that for some reason I can ot get it to produce a good effluent. I am going to remove it totally and just ose until I can make a DIY Ca reactor. I put 2 reactors on the sump, one with 150g of Phosban and the other with 1 cup of Phosphate sponge. My Phosphates were 0.02 (lab tested) so I was using them to remove the silcates. Now my silicates are zero in the tank but I am going to continue to run them because my top off water is loaded with silicates. In the meant time I have ordered new cartridges for my 35GPD Kent Maxxima HI-S RO/DI unit. I believe that the RO/DI is my culprit. I also have a fuge (5g) that runs on reverse photo period. BTW, the tank is only a 75g. My NH3-4 is 0.005, NO2 is 0.003, NO3 is 0.5, and PO4 is 0.02. My potassium is low @239 and my Magnesium is low @913. I am switching to Tropic Marin Pro for the next water change after the new RO/DI cartridges arrive. Thanks for any comments. Should the RO/DI unit remove all the silicates? My TDS reads zero but they are still there.

 

[SnMan]

My silicat problem has been solved by replacing my cartridges in my RO/DI unit. The old ones weren't even two months old and hadn't made 100 gallons of water. The water being produced now is free of silicates. The only thing I did was replace the catridges with name brand made in the USA where as the 2 month old ones were made in a foreign land as stated clearly on the membrane label. The packaging was even better. Another lesson learned the hard way.