TDS Disaster

[mark.nicodemus59]

Five years ago I set up a display tank using local tap water treated with conditioner. I was excited to start my reef system!

I started out with classics...Clownfish and anemones. Everything seemed well cycled, so I introduced some corals. A long-tentacled plate and a small mixed zoa community were my first "victims."

The torch looked great, for a couple weeks, and went downhill from there. It succumbed within two months.

The zoas hung on like little champs, even propogated for a short while, so I added a single Palyzoa grand is, which sprouted two more polyps.

That's when the algae bloom exploded. I rushed to my LFS, where my arms were loaded with containers of remedies. Nothing worked...another armload of alternative treatments. Nada. A cleanup ARMY was employed...they all died!

I eventually surrendered and accepted my fate: marine aquaria failure! Lucky thing that I love my fish...what were left of them...that I cared just enough to feed them regularly and maintain equipment.

Well...four weeks ago, I'd had enough of being a Saltwater POW. I armed myself with scrapers, brushes, and initiated blackout conditions.

The algae is gone or dying. The tank is clean. I replaced a faulty skimmer, added a NanoMat, and went armpits-deep into a 50% water change with substrate siphoning. I even went to a local store to grab some RO/DI water from a vending machine...pulled out my brand new TDS meter...11 TDS! What?

Distilled water: 0 TDS.

Local water supply: 501!!!

I checked the local annual water report. Copper, barium, antimony...all high, all deadly to invertebrates. The missing denizens of my DT, the many, many shells still waiting for blue-legged hermit crabs to take up residence--all ghosts because of the local water supply.

I have a new arsenal today, Cuprisorb, for one element. My LFS sells 0 TDS water and premixed saltwater. I'll be utilizing that option as well. I'm dedicated to finding chemical equilibrium...and making this DT a happy home for a small reef.

Recommendations? Advice? Escoriatioms?

I'm still learning, after 50 years of experience.

 

[c4haskett]

Brother! Lol. RODI water is a must. I'm sure you've learned by now. I would invest in a 7 stage RODI system to eliminate having to make trips back and forth to the LFS. It would also be helpful to glance back over some guides to cross any other mishaps off your list. Check out

 

[mark.nicodemus59]

Thank you for the response!

I actually wanted to buy my own RO/DI system...was even shopping for it; however, I have a small house with limited space and even worse water source internal logistics. I could go portable system, but then I considered that with the local water at 501 TDS, how long will my DI medium actually last?

I'm within 20 miles of my LFS, and have the means to get what I need in one trip...plus, I get to window shop!

 

[slythy]

My TDS out the tap is around 400. My rodi system is pretty large

Inlet-> Sediment -> carbon-> carbon-> booster pump -> 100gpd ro membrane ->100gpd ro membrane -> mixed di-> mixed Di -mixed Di -> outlet.

In is 400 after RO i get ~8tds then out of my di’s I get 0.

I dont really time how long they last but I normally only change the 3 every 4-6 months. I do a 2gallon auto waterchange a day. So i make 50g every month and then make about 25g of rodi for ato weekly. So i get 400-600gallons out of my 3 chambers of DI before i change them.

A really high quality RO membrane with 98%+ rejection and an higher pressure efficient setup is key to keeping DI from getting wasted.

 

[ashs_exotics]

501 is high! I would say a 6 or 7 stage system would be the way to go.

When I was in SoCal, my tap TDS were usually around 450. My 4 stage would burn through the Di resin after filling up the brute can twice… Not easy on the pockets. If you buy an RO/Di system and it still doesn’t bring you to 0, you can also add in solo carbon, RO, and Di canisters in line with your system.

 

[c4haskett]

Thank you for the response!

I actually wanted to buy my own RO/DI system...was even shopping for it; however, I have a small house with limited space and even worse water source internal logistics. I could go portable system, but then I considered that with the local water at 501 TDS, how long will my DI medium actually last?

I'm within 20 miles of my LFS, and have the means to get what I need in one trip...plus, I get to window shop!

That is the nice thing about taking trips to the LFS for water. 20 miles is a good trip. Your DI resin should last a good while, because almost all the heavy lifting is being done by the R.O membrane. The membrane lasts a really long time. I replace mine every year whether it needs to or not.

 

[mark.nicodemus59]

So...I went to my LFS, bought 31 gallons of RO/DI water at 99¢/gallon, and realized that the RO/DI home system would pay for itself in well under a year. No more convincing needed! Thanks guys...this was a great help!

 

[mark.nicodemus59]

Spoken too soon. I just tested the LFS haul. It meters at 12 ppm TDS. Can't trust anyone.

 

[slythy]

Spoken too soon. I just tested the LFS haul. It meters at 12 ppm TDS. Can't trust anyone.

Oof yea , i was gonna say test the TDS of it. Most local fish stores Ive encountered dont test it frequently enough to catch it. Im not sure 12 is gonna kill ya if youve been using 500 lol. Just sucks you paid for it

 

[mark.nicodemus59]

Spoken too soon. I just tested the LFS haul. It meters at 12 ppm TDS. Can't trust anyone.

Oof yea , i was gonna say test the TDS of it. Most local fish stores Ive encountered dont test it frequently enough to catch it. Im not sure 12 is gonna kill ya if youve been using 500 lol. Just sucks you paid for it

Exactly! Truth is, I'm trying to purify a system that is WAY out of control...big copper and phosphate problems. I don't need to add "unidentified" solids to the mix. I need purity at this point so I can actually enjoy reefing rather than posture as an invert undertaker.

 

[saltyfins]

Exactly! Truth is, I'm trying to purify a system that is WAY out of control...big copper and phosphate problems. I don't need to add "unidentified" solids to the mix. I need purity at this point so I can actually enjoy reefing rather than posture as an invert undertaker.

what about an RODI Buddy? they're not that much, small footprint, and to be honest, they work really good. Hook to your faucet, and when done, store it in a closet or cabinet?

 

[BryanM]

So...I went to my LFS, bought 31 gallons of RO/DI water at 99¢/gallon, and realized that the RO/DI home system would pay for itself in well under a year. No more convincing needed! Thanks guys...this was a great help!

This is the way

 

[c4haskett]

Spoken too soon. I just tested the LFS haul. It meters at 12 ppm TDS. Can't trust anyone.

To be fair, after RODI is made and sits in a reservoir for awhile, dust and other contaminants can get in and raise the TDS even if the water produced was 0 when it came out. Glad to see you've made the decision to get a unit. The Saltwater Aquarium and BRS make great units. Again I would get a 7 stage. Don't forget your booster pump and cables as well. More than likely you'll need the booster pump. For a little more money you can get an auto flush and pressure cut off switch to make the process more safe and easy. This prevents overfilling your reservoir. Check out some videos on YouTube before purchasing so you can get an understanding of how all these things work and how they are installed so you know what to buy and what to do when your stuff arrives. Good luck!

 

[Alexander1312]

I have 25-30 TDS out of the tab, and still use an 8 stage RODI.

 

[ashs_exotics]

Exactly! Truth is, I'm trying to purify a system that is WAY out of control...big copper and phosphate problems. I don't need to add "unidentified" solids to the mix. I need purity at this point so I can actually enjoy reefing rather than posture as an invert undertaker.

My RO Buddy got chewed to pieces by 400-450 TDS water. With 500 TDS he would do better with a system that has more stages and bigger RO and Di cartridges than the RO Buddy.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I lived in a townhouse and was able to comfortably fit a 4-stage RODI unit in my house. Plumbed it underneath my downstairs bathroom sink. Out of the way and never noticed it being there.

 

[commod0re]

I have 25-30 TDS out of the tab, and still use an 8 stage RODI.

Wow! Might be overkill. I get about 20-25 TDS out of the tap, I use a 4-stage RODI and barely go through DI resin because it comes out of the membrane at 0

For 500 TDS though I would definitely use an 8 stage

 

[Alexander1312]

Wow! Might be overkill. I get about 20-25 TDS out of the tap, I use a 4-stage RODI and barely go through DI resin because it comes out of the membrane at 0

For 500 TDS though I would definitely use an 8 stage

Mine comes out of the two membranes between 3-4 TDS, and resin consumption is relatively low.

 

[commod0re]

Wow! Might be overkill. I get about 20-25 TDS out of the tap, I use a 4-stage RODI and barely go through DI resin because it comes out of the membrane at 0

For 500 TDS though I would definitely use an 8 stage

Mine comes out of the two membranes between 3-4 TDS, and resin consumption is relatively low.

Dang you have some strong stuff! Sounds like you have what you need for it