Aged RO/DI!?

[NaCl_H2O]

Ok, so here is a new debate :skeezy

Should you aerate your RO/DI?
How long can you store RO/DI?
How to store RO/DI?

Why do I ask? ... I mixed up 80g of RO/DI for TexasTod to use for his RedBug treatments. Coming out of the unit, TDS was "1". Checked it several times during the 1.5 days it took to make up 80g. Wasn;t able to sync up with Todd for the first water change, so the RO/DI sat in my holding tank for about 5-6 days. I keep it constantly circulating, and have an airstone in the holding tank.

He was going to come get the water this past weekend, so I quick went and tested the TDS of the water in the holding tank ... TDS = 600 :o :o :blink

Checked the RO/DI unit again ... TDS = 1 :unsure

So ... I ran a little experiment. Filed two glass containers with fresh RO/DI water. TDS = 1 in both (tested after it was in the glas container). One container I left sitting on the table, uncovered with no aeration. Glas #2 got a small airstone and aeration.

After 24 hours, TDS in glass #1 (No aeration) = 8, TDS in glass #2 with aeration = 39 :o

I am assuming that the dust, mold spores, etc. in our air get "injected" into the water through aeration and the 600 TDS was due to this, plus bacterial growth after a few days.

I'm planning a different holding tank - with a cover, with no aeration! Also intend to use all RO/DI within 1-2 days of being made.

Anybody have any RO/DI that's been in a closed container for more than a few days ... can you measure the TDS & post here?

... that should start up a good discussion :P

[hammondegge]

Yikes. I am sure this could give cause to go out and buy something!! :cry :innocent do you aerate with bubbles or circulate with powerhead or both.

[JimD]

I dont aerate or circulate my top off water for just that reason, I let it sit stagnent and covered until I need it, usually no more that 24/36 hours. I do however always aerate my waterchange water, it seems to mix better and is uaually crystal clear. Just tested a 7 gallon bucket of RO/DI made yesterday,,, 0 tds.

[hammondegge]

i do the same as Jim and dont seem to have a problem with my water getting heavier as it gets older (i wish i could say the same) i do not use airstone though only powerhead in change water. top off water is in tightly covered jugs. but i will test tonight just to be sure.

[::pete::]

I do not aerate any water and use the mix for water changes within a half hour. The make up water is in a sealed container that doesnt last more than 3 days.

[hammondegge]

i am thinking that this might not be anything to be concerned about?? as the bacteria that are the growing solids would be the same as those responsible for a tank cycling?? It's all good!?

[NaCl_H2O]

i am thinking that this might not be anything to be concerned about?

Sorry, 600 TDS water without any salt in it ... belongs in the sewer!

Forgot to add, the holding tank may have had a little salt residue in it, but not much. One thing I am going to do is make sure my next holding tank can drain completely and can be rinsed easily.

[CD]

YIKES! :blink
Went and checked as soon as I read this...
RO/DI is kept in a food grade 55G barrel with a hole cut out large enough to get a large cup and my arm in there to scoop out water...I keep a cover over it - usually a towel or a piece of styro - not "sealed" shut. There is no circulation or air stone in the container. OK - the water in the container is a week old, and the TDS measures at 2 (comes out of the RO/DI unit at 1).

NOW - here's the yucky part...in the other barrel, we keep SW for changes mixing with a small powerhead...took the TDS reading on the SW and it was at 400 :o :blink

I'm glad you did this experiment, Steve! From now on, I'm only going to mix the SW with the PHead for about 30 minutes or so after adding the salt! Thank you!! ;)

W. :)

[JimD]

If youre getting a tds reading at all from saltwater, theres a problem, most hobby grade tds meters wont read tds in saltwater at the levels are in the 30k range. Or did I just read that wrong.

[hammondegge]

isn't this going to happen in the tank anyhow? what is the TDS of cycled tank water (i only have an in line TDS meter)? and isn't there essentially good TDS and bad TDS? I believe that this is a very interesting post. Perhaps even thought-provoking. if TDS is zero, is the water then empty? and is it not the nature of the water to be filled again.

[hammondegge]

Oh sorry, forgot the ;)

[CD]

isn't this going to happen in the tank anyhow?


That's a good point, Robert! LOL...going to check the TDS in the display now....

OK...all reading the same figure as the mixing SW barrel. :wacko

W. :)

[hammondegge]

Really, 30,000?! :o RO/DI sure is empty. I wonder if sound echos in there?

[hammondegge]

I am assuming that the dust, mold spores, etc. in our air get "injected" into the water through aeration and the 600 TDS was due to this, plus bacterial growth after a few days.

i wonder what contributes the most? is bacterial growth measurable with TDS meter??

[::pete::]

The next reef gadget!! (http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/productview.jhtml?sku=SI637GRY&source=21400&cm_ven =GOOG&cm_cat=Media&cm_pla=Ionic%20Breeze-Promo&cm_ite=ionic%20breeze)

[NaCl_H2O]

Wendy, saltwater should have a VERY HIGH TDS, my TDS meter hits its upper range limit (1999) on saltwater, when I accidentaly tested it.

TDS is actually a measure of conductivity of the water, the amount of "Dissolved Solids" changes the conductivity. Basically, anything other than pure H2O will give a reading > 0.

Somebody correct me if I am wrong?

[NaCl_H2O]

The next reef gadget!! (http://www.sharperimage.com/us/en/catalog/productview.jhtml?sku=SI637GRY&source=21400&cm_ven =GOOG&cm_cat=Media&cm_pla=Ionic%20Breeze-Promo&cm_ite=ionic%20breeze)

LMAO - that will look cool with coraline growing all over it :D

[Richard]

i wonder what contributes the most?


A good percentage of household dust is dead human skin. Some people think that dust mites are part of household dust but that's not true. Only their dead carcasses and fecal matter float around in the air of your home. The live ones stay on the surfaces of your couches, chairs, beds etc. and feed on peices of your skin that land on those surfaces.

Hope that helps...LOL!

[NaCl_H2O]

Only their dead carcasses and fecal matter float around in the air of your home...LOL!

How much Seachem reef dip do I need for a 150g bathtub? :sick

[hammondegge]

i knew this would go there.

[GaryP]

You're just reading the dissolved gases as TDS. Don't freak out. The RO water is absorbing gases like CO2 from the air and giving you the reading.

Think about it, how can your "dissolved solids" go up if you haven't placed any solids in the water? Mold spores aren't dissolved. The actual term for something like that is TSS - total suspended solids.

[NaCl_H2O]

Don't freak out.
<_< :unsure <_< :unsure

I dunno Gary, I use to trust you before I heard about the Zucchini :P

And besides, wouldn't disolved gases be TDG ;)

[hammondegge]

Really no reason to freak unless it's STD's

[CD]

Why would anybody freak over a strawberry topped danish? LOL :lol
I feeling vewy goofy tonight...it's all Steve's fault! :lol

W. :)

[NaCl_H2O]

I feeling vewy goofy tonight...it's all Steve's fault!
I have that effect on older women ;)

[CD]

I have that effect on older women


That's a GOOD thing! A wonderful sense of humor is rare these days ;)

W. :)

[hammondegge]

well, if it looks like a strawberry topped danish....probably should see a doctor

[hammondegge]

sorry Salty, i know you are still a little queezy from the mite poop. :sick :P

[hammondegge]

Awwww c'mon guys. Dont leave. Okay, ...about that water, errrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[CD]

well, if it looks like a strawberry topped danish....probably should see a doctor


LMAO...Ah well, the danish thing sounded much better than a Sh@tty Training Diaper :sick

Ok Ok...I know - this is getting WAY OT. :P

Anyway - about that water....nope, looks like that's handled....about that air purifier....

W. :)