How do you know if your RO/DI System Is Working?

MeMyFishandI · May 13, 2020

Hi,

I decided to upgrade recently from my 10g to a 25g. I also decided it was time for an RO/DI system. I filled the new tank up with all new RO/DI water. Cycled it and even took some extra time to make sure the parameters matched the old tank exactly. However, less than 24 hours after adding my two fish, two snails, two crabs and a bunch of corals to the new tank, I had one dead fish, one in "critical care" and my inverts were moving very slowly. The corals were still not fully opening. I added some Prime, and carbon and within two hours of doing so, the inverts were moving about and scavenging, the corals were starting to open up more and the fish in "critical care" is improving. My suspicion is that the water has not been filtered properly. How do you know if your RO/DI system is working?

Thanks for your input.

Snoopy 67 · May 13, 2020

My suspicion is --how much live rock do you have?
Sounds like you encountered something like a spike of ammonia.

MeMyFishandI · May 13, 2020

Snoopy 67 said:
My suspicion is --how much live rock do you have?
Sounds like you encountered something like a spike of ammonia.

Tested the water as soon as I noticed the issue (this morning), ammonia was still 0. Nitrites 0 Nitrates around 5ppm.

I don't know exactly how much rock is in there but I think we are sitting at around 30+ pounds.

C. Eymann · May 13, 2020

TDS meter

Snoopy 67 · May 13, 2020

Came from the 10 gallon?

FishLvR · May 13, 2020

Mine has built in tds meters.

MeMyFishandI · May 13, 2020

Snoopy 67 said:
Came from the 10 gallon?

Sorry I don't understand your question. The new tank has all new water, and a mix of old and new rock.

Snoopy 67 · May 14, 2020

I was speaking about the rock. If the old rock was only a small amount you might not have enough biological filtration. This could lead to an ammonia spike.

MeMyFishandI · May 14, 2020

Snoopy 67 said:
I was speaking about the rock. If the old rock was only a small amount you might not have enough biological filtration. This could lead to an ammonia spike.

About half the rock is old rock, and i did cycle the new rock before adding the fish. I also tested and there were no spikes.