RO advise

[Holdenon5]

I'm going to be moving my rhom to a new tank here soon and I'm considering on getting an RO system and using that for now on and then use Kent marine RO right to replace the needed minerals. My current pH is around 8.4-8.6 and I right now I filter with peat which brings it to around 8ish. So should I make the change or keep it how it is? It would make it easier on water changes not needing to treat with BW extract. All opinions welcomed!

 

[D-RIG]

I use a RO system for my 200 gal tank and add the trace
minerals back to the water .

I would do the change very slowly as you should not change
the PH more than 1 point in a 24 hour period .

Start your new tank and start with the RO water changes that
will lower the PH slowly .

 

[Holdenon5]

Should I start the RO water changes now and then by the time I get the new tank just use RO for that? How big of water changes do you recommend with the RO? My water is very hard.

 

[D-RIG]

Should I start the RO water changes now and then by the time I get the new tank just use RO for that? How big of water changes do you recommend with the RO? My water is very hard.

Sure that sounds like a good plan , please get yourself a test kit if your going with
RO water my system produces a water PH at 5.5-6 and has a TDS of 4 ppm .

I do 80 gal water changes on my 200 gal every 7-9 days I'm going to try going
with 40 gal water changes and see how that goes .

Some people like going with 1/2 RO water and 1/2 city water sometimes you get
a good PH that way .

 

[Holdenon5]

Sure that sounds like a good plan , please get yourself a test kit if your going with
RO water my system produces a water PH at 5.5-6 and has a TDS of 4 ppm .

I do 80 gal water changes on my 200 gal every 7-9 days I'm going to try going
with 40 gal water changes and see how that goes .

Some people like going with 1/2 RO water and 1/2 city water sometimes you get
a good PH that way .

Ok thank you! I was thinking of using the Kent marine RO right to supply the needed minerals back. I have the API master test kit and I'm planning on buying a KH and GH kit as well. So what % water change should I do to convert his current aquarium to RO?

 

[D-RIG]

you could go 30 % then right before your next water change
check your PH . Eventually you will need to be checking the PH
and adjusting it before your water change is placed in the tank ,
I use rain barrels to capture the the unused water from my RO
system and water the yard with it

 

[Holdenon5]

you could go 30 % then right before your next water change
check your PH . Eventually you will need to be checking the PH
and adjusting it before your water change is placed in the tank ,
I use rain barrels to capture the the unused water from my RO
system and water the yard with it

When I'm done producing water do I drain the RO system or leave water in it? Untill next use.

 

[D-RIG]

I leave the water in and just run it for a few minutes
then start saving the RO water , also cleaning the pre
filter every 2nd or 3rd time helps a lot .

 

[Beetlebug515]

D-RIG, have you ever tested your RO waste water? I have had this idea for a while of using RO waste water along with the RO water. From my understanding, most RO units pass water through three filters and the waste wated is discharged after the second filter. The idea is the water after the second filter will come out with an even KH and GH of 4 degrees, with a PH of around 7.5. I think. Maybe. If it does come out like that, it is perfect for some of the softer water fish we keep. Uaru, geos, silver aros, etc.

 

[D-RIG]

I for one would not drink the waste water from a RO system
so I sure would not give it to my fish , I just capture it and
water the front yard with it ( cactus and rocks )

The PH on the waste water with a API kit is about 7.8
The TDS are 350ppm with the waste water as to standard tap water is 192ppm