Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium - Page 2

Boomer · 11-01-2006, 11:08 AM

Lucy

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lgerold · 11-05-2006, 01:57 PM

Thanks Boomer!

Lucy

murkywaters · 03-25-2007, 07:38 PM

We use potassium to filter our house water then an RO/DI system to filter again before it goes to our tank. Our LFS guy told Danny that's why our phosphates are high. So what media can we use that would be ok for us to drink and not harm our tank.

Boomer · 04-02-2007, 03:52 PM

Murky you lost me. The potassium filter is a water softener correct ? And that water is then going to the RO> DI correct ?

Our LFS guy told Danny that's why our phosphates are high.

The guy is an airhead #1 what does potassium have to do with phosphate. # 2 if the water is going through a RO/DI there is nothing in it, it will be pure water, unless the RO or the DI or both have gone bad. Do you have a TDS meter ?

DaBird · 04-02-2007, 04:18 PM

Boomer, that confussion was in my explanation to Murky, You are correct, and my LFS guy is doing what you just explained, ...The problem now is a bad RO membrane...Getting a new one...New question: Do you think that using Potassium (as opposed to salt) in the water softener will have any bad effects if using as top-off water (as in no ro/di filter)...? Would it increse the nitrares in the tank?

Boomer · 04-02-2007, 05:36 PM

The potassium used in WS is salt, it is just a salt of potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride. Potassium chloride is a better salt for WS and is the most used. The purpose of the WS is to remove Ca++ and Mg++ and replace then with K+ through an ionic exchange process through a media which is in the WS, a zeolite. Nothing else really changes, so the NO3- will be the same as anything else at the WS output.

One of the big issue for hardwater is it is often high in CO2 which can deplete the DI quickly. The higher the tap water Alk and the lower the pH the more CO2 there is. And the same for the RO output water. CO2, a gas, just goes right through the RO. As it starts its journey to the DI it will react with water and produce HCO3-, which will depletes the DI. How much of a depletion there is is dependant on how much CO2 there is at the RO output and what its TDS is. All of this can be easily calculated if one measures the pH, Alk and TDS. There are also tricks in getting rid of CO2 through degassing.

DaBird · 04-03-2007, 01:02 AM

thanks for the info Boomer...

murkywaters · 04-03-2007, 01:06 AM

thanks Boomer, what is a likely source of high phosphates in our tank?

lcstorc · 04-03-2007, 07:39 AM

One of the sources is frequently prepared fish food. Do you rinse your food in RO water before feeding? Both flake and frozen foods often have phosphates as a preservative.

Boomer · 04-03-2007, 12:40 PM

Murky

It is in my first post

Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com

11-01-2006, 11:08 AM	#16 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,157 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium Lucy Shop for a HCAH PO-19 www.hach.com __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

11-05-2006, 01:57 PM	#17 (permalink)
lgerold Scopas Tang Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Brainerd, Mn Posts: 473 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium Thanks Boomer! Lucy

03-25-2007, 07:38 PM	#18 (permalink)
murkywaters Elegance coral Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,238 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium We use potassium to filter our house water then an RO/DI system to filter again before it goes to our tank. Our LFS guy told Danny that's why our phosphates are high. So what media can we use that would be ok for us to drink and not harm our tank. __________________ GO SPURS GO Spurs are the champions whoot (I was offered deluxed accomodations in the doghouse for not updating this sooner) The videos below are of Mrs. Teresa Sasquatch, http://www.reefspace.net/video/video...859:Video:9950 http://www.reefspace.net/video/video...59:Video:10166

04-02-2007, 03:52 PM	#19 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,157 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium Murky you lost me. The potassium filter is a water softener correct ? And that water is then going to the RO> DI correct ? Our LFS guy told Danny that's why our phosphates are high. The guy is an airhead #1 what does potassium have to do with phosphate. # 2 if the water is going through a RO/DI there is nothing in it, it will be pure water, unless the RO or the DI or both have gone bad. Do you have a TDS meter ? __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

04-02-2007, 04:18 PM	#20 (permalink)
DaBird Smart Alec with feathers Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Spring Branch, Texas Posts: 1,042 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium Boomer, that confussion was in my explanation to Murky, You are correct, and my LFS guy is doing what you just explained, ...The problem now is a bad RO membrane...Getting a new one...New question: Do you think that using Potassium (as opposed to salt) in the water softener will have any bad effects if using as top-off water (as in no ro/di filter)...? Would it increse the nitrares in the tank? __________________ "When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging..." Will Rogers 75 gal Oceanic started in 2001 30 gal fuge/sump 125 lb. LR, 100 lb. LS 2x 250w Reflux MH 12,000k pendants Remora pro skimmer W/1200 mag. Hydor Korlia #4, 6 assorted PHs. 1 pair of Ocellaris, Powder Blue Tang, Yellow Tang, Regal Tang, Scooter, Lawnmower, Red Mandarin, Flame Angel, 2 chromis, Copperband, 1 Emerald, 2 Blue legs, 1 Zebra hermit... Acros,Rainbow Monti, Leathers, Zoos, Zoos and more Zoos, Shrooms...

04-02-2007, 05:36 PM	#21 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,157 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium The potassium used in WS is salt, it is just a salt of potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride. Potassium chloride is a better salt for WS and is the most used. The purpose of the WS is to remove Ca++ and Mg++ and replace then with K+ through an ionic exchange process through a media which is in the WS, a zeolite. Nothing else really changes, so the NO3- will be the same as anything else at the WS output. One of the big issue for hardwater is it is often high in CO2 which can deplete the DI quickly. The higher the tap water Alk and the lower the pH the more CO2 there is. And the same for the RO output water. CO2, a gas, just goes right through the RO. As it starts its journey to the DI it will react with water and produce HCO3-, which will depletes the DI. How much of a depletion there is is dependant on how much CO2 there is at the RO output and what its TDS is. All of this can be easily calculated if one measures the pH, Alk and TDS. There are also tricks in getting rid of CO2 through degassing. __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

04-03-2007, 01:02 AM	#22 (permalink)
DaBird Smart Alec with feathers Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Spring Branch, Texas Posts: 1,042 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium thanks for the info Boomer... __________________ "When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging..." Will Rogers 75 gal Oceanic started in 2001 30 gal fuge/sump 125 lb. LR, 100 lb. LS 2x 250w Reflux MH 12,000k pendants Remora pro skimmer W/1200 mag. Hydor Korlia #4, 6 assorted PHs. 1 pair of Ocellaris, Powder Blue Tang, Yellow Tang, Regal Tang, Scooter, Lawnmower, Red Mandarin, Flame Angel, 2 chromis, Copperband, 1 Emerald, 2 Blue legs, 1 Zebra hermit... Acros,Rainbow Monti, Leathers, Zoos, Zoos and more Zoos, Shrooms...

04-03-2007, 01:06 AM	#23 (permalink)
murkywaters Elegance coral Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,238 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium thanks Boomer, what is a likely source of high phosphates in our tank? __________________ GO SPURS GO Spurs are the champions whoot (I was offered deluxed accomodations in the doghouse for not updating this sooner) The videos below are of Mrs. Teresa Sasquatch, http://www.reefspace.net/video/video...859:Video:9950 http://www.reefspace.net/video/video...59:Video:10166

04-03-2007, 07:39 AM	#24 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 20,008 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium One of the sources is frequently prepared fish food. Do you rinse your food in RO water before feeding? Both flake and frozen foods often have phosphates as a preservative. __________________ Peace LYNN You can't change the past but you can change how you view it. A reef tank is like a racecar. The faster you go the harder you crash. Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Every 60 seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. In Loving Memory Of Z 01/22/07 - 08/19/08

04-03-2007, 12:40 PM	#25 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,157 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium Murky It is in my first post Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium by Randy Holmes-Farley - Reefkeeping.com __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

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