New RO/DI system installed

[dan2x38]

Well I did it ordered a 5 stage RO/DI unit with TDS meter and pressure gauge. It arrived from BRS today great service and price. The setup was easy, the hardest part was loosening the damn DI unit to let the air out. They must have put it on with an air wrench...  Any ways besides having to stand on my head under the sink pretty easy setup. Still need to get a few parts so I can install a tee and shut off valve before the DI for drinking water. I am sitting up waiting now for another couple gallons to top off my bin. I had to wait an hour for it run before keeping the water... It came with great timing today was my water change so put it off until tomorrow. I am sure the tank will survie an extra day...

If anyone is interested I will post a few picks of the install.

[ordi260]

Sure can be useful! 

I am looking forward to install it on my plumbing myself and never done that!

Thanks for sharing!

[johnrt]

Congratulations

Both Home Depot and Lowe's sell the 1/4" push-on fittings that most RO/DI units use. They might not be as cheap as BRS, but you can have them - right now - and what you save on shipping will get you a good Subway sandwitch (At Lowe's).

John T

[ordi260]

I think  i might have some of those kicking around...PM me if you need some...we could trade or w/e!

[dan2x38]

I picked up some pieces to tee before the DI but I need another 1/4" shut off valve if either have one of those could work something out. They are $6 or $7 Lowes.

Question

For my top off how to I compensate for the lower pH not messing up my display pH? How do you guys handle this? I keep my water in a bin heated and airate.

[RossW]

Your top off should be so small in comparison to your tank volume that it won't affect it.

[johnrt]

With very, very pure water, pH readings are almost meaningless. If somebody sneezes in the next room (extra CO2?), the pH will drift. RO/DI water is not very, very pure, but it is also so poorly buffered, you could do much more than a 50% water change and have no effect. The salt mix will buffer the water. The sand, live rock and existing water will buffer any top-up that the inhabitants can survive without exploding from osmotic shock.

Good that you considered it, but don't fret - unless you consider that part of the hobby.

John T

Question

For my top off how to I compensate for the lower pH not messing up my display pH? How do you guys handle this? I keep my water in a bin heated and airate.

[Rybren]

Agreed.

On the bus ride home from work today, I just happened to be reading an article on pH by Randy Holmes-Farley.  In it he says..

"Another interesting and important fact is that the pH resulting from equal volumes of two solutions being mixed together is not just an average of the two solutions' pH values (which the measurement scale's logarithmic nature alone implies), but is also determined by each of the solutions' buffering power and, to a lesser extent, by more esoteric factors. Sometimes the pH that results when two solutions are combined is not even between the two starting values. Consequently, evaluating pH problems and potential solutions requires some knowledge of more than just the pH of the solutions involved. This fact is important for reef aquarists when considering, for example, whether the pH of pure freshwater impacts the pH of seawater when added to it. In this case, the pure water's effect is almost negligible, regardless of its measured pH value."

I added the bold.  To read the whole article, have a look here... http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-05/rhf/index.php

[dan2x38]

Wow perfect timing... Thanks that was a great read and timing. So really the RO water's KH is so low that the display just pull sit back it's pH in next to no time... in laymans terms...

This is great b/c I hate messing with pH and trying to affect a final result knowing your fighting a lossing battle most times.

[lost_at_sea]

Well I did it ordered a 5 stage RO/DI unit with TDS meter and pressure gauge. It arrived from BRS today great service and price. The setup was easy, the hardest part was loosening the damn DI unit to let the air out.

Hey - I just ordered the same 5stage from BRS, very happy with it!! nice clean install under my sink with tubes running through a wall and around the tank the top off container and i'm using the AutoShut off valve and everything is working beautifully.

I did nothowever loosen  the DI canister to let the air out, were you told to do this?  I can see air in the outer part of the canister but I don't think it's an issue. Just want to make sure i'm not missing anything

Also i'm almost feeling the AutoShutOff valve is too sensative, i'd really like it if my topup water would use at least a few gallons before activating again, seems like after every time the tank uses a bit of top up water the RODI unit kicks in to produce 1/8 of a gallon or something like that.

[dan2x38]

Yes I let the air out. The system will run better without air. My only complaint is they tighten the damn canister so tight it was near impossible to get it loosened. These things should basically be hand tightened.

I think it constantly topping off is great that prevents any SG swings which is what your after with ATO plus convenience.

[Hookup]

Yes I let the air out. The system will run better without air. My only complaint is they tighten the damn canister so tight it was near impossible to get it loosened. These things should basically be hand tightened.

I think it constantly topping off is great that prevents any SG swings which is what your after with ATO plus convenience.

Be careful.  Evaporation is only one source of water volume decreasing... Your skimmer would also do this, but would be removing salt too... So check your salinity often...

[Rybren]

Also i'm almost feeling the AutoShutOff valve is too sensative, i'd really like it if my topup water would use at least a few gallons before activating again, seems like after every time the tank uses a bit of top up water the RODI unit kicks in to produce 1/8 of a gallon or something like that.

Be very careful when running your RO/DI unit directly into your ATO resevoir.  When your ATO sensor fails (Notice that I didn't say IF it fails) you will have an unlimited supply of fresh water feeding into your tank. 

[lost_at_sea]

Be very careful when running your RO/DI unit directly into your ATO resevoir.  When your ATO sensor fails (Notice that I didn't say IF it fails) you will have an unlimited supply of fresh water feeding into your tank. 

Absolutely couldn't agree more, that's another reason I love hte JBJ auto top off, it will auto shut off after 3 minutes of continuous use so that should never happen (for me).

I also bought the BRS leak detector so the RODI will shut off if either of my two sensors detect any water on hte hardwood.

[dan2x38]

Be careful.  Evaporation is only one source of water volume decreasing... Your skimmer would also do this, but would be removing salt too... So check your salinity often...

OH didn't know this thanks. How does that happen? Man so much to learn in s/w....

[lost_at_sea]

OH didn't know this thanks. How does that happen? Man so much to learn in s/w....

As water evaporates into the air, the salt remains in the water, effectively raising the Salt to Water ratio... this requires the RO water to top up and keep the ratio the same.

However your Skimmer actually removes physical water (with salt included) from the tank, granted at a very small amount if you have a larger tank, but this will overtime actually lower your salt to water ratio and would need to be replaced by adding extra saltwater.

I always check my salinity and usually just add a few gallons extra fresh saltwater when I do my PWC's to keep it up.