RO/DI Question

[rsbomar]

If this has been posted before I apologize (I did search the forum and didn't find anything). Does anyone use RO/DI water for their planted tanks? If so, what do you dose it with to get started?

Thanks
Robbie

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

If this has been posted before I apologize (I did search the forum and didn't find anything). Does anyone use RO/DI water for their planted tanks? If so, what do you dose it with to get started?

Thanks
Robbie

Hey Robbie,

There are a few of us that do use RO/DI water for our planted tanks. Personally I only dose my storage barrels with CaSO4 and MgSO4(Epsom salt), this provides gH. I then dose each tank individually with NPK, but you could front load macros like @GreggZ or @Unexpected. Really you are pretty open with macro dosing. Id highly recommend dosing the storage barrels a few days prior to water changes as the CaSO4 takes some time to dissolve fully. In terms of numbers it is really up to you but 3-6gH is pretty safe and I(or others) can help you use rotalabutterfly to see how many grams you need.

In the long term it is much cheaper to buy your own salts then it is to use a liquid fertilizer. It is also extremely easy to do and just need a gram scale to do so.

-Sean

 

[Unexpected]

Thank you @SkaleyAquatics,

I just add CaSO4 and Epsom salt as well to my storage water. I dose 35ppm of Ca and 6ppm Mg (Epsom salt). I use Ca from Alpha Chemicals and Epsom salt from any pharmacy. The calcium is a bit lower purity, so it will have some impurities that settle in the storage barrel. Nilocg and GLA Ca options are more pure and have seen no impurities. That said, the cost is higher on those options.

I also front load NPK in those barrels, and to make front loading work, you'll need to do greater than 60% water changes.

 

[rsbomar]

I need to test my tap and get a baseline. We have really hard water and I have a whole house water softener that I can't bypass, I'm sure it is removing all or most of the CaSO4 and the MgSO4. Maybe don't need to go as far as RO/DI but I'm just wanting to do everything as good as possible starting this tank up.

Thanks Sean for the feedback.

 

[rsbomar]

Complete Rookie here. What is NPK?

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

I need to test my tap and get a baseline. We have really hard water and I have a whole house water softener that I can't bypass, I'm sure it is removing all or most of the CaSO4 and the MgSO4. Maybe don't need to go as far as RO/DI but I'm just wanting to do everything as good as possible starting this tank up.

Thanks Sean for the feedback.

If your whole house water softener uses salt to soften the water you will want a RO/DI. I could not grow any plants in my non-co2 tanks before I started bypassing it.

Complete Rookie here. What is NPK?

N = Nitrogen(Nitrate), P = Phosphorus, K = potassium - Macronutrients that plants uptake besides calcium and magnesium.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

N-Nitrogen P-Phosphorous K-Potassium

 

[GreggZ]

I wrote a couple of posts in my journal that may help you out.

Here's one on remineralizing RO water.

How to remineralize RO water

And here's one on front loading macro nutrients into my RO tanks.

Front Loading Macros

And if you really want to give yourself a headache read this one about custom micros too!

DIY Micro Nutrients

And don't let your head explode. All these new terms and words may seem like gibberish right now, but it will all make perfect sense over time.

Good luck and reach out with any questions.

 

[Kwyet]

The pictures for the 1st and 3rd link are missing.

 

[GreggZ]

The pictures for the 1st and 3rd link are missing.

Do you mean in my links? If so I remember this crept up once before.

I can see them all fine.

@Art any ideas??

 

[Kwyet]

Yes, the jpg links. I have an iPhone, if it makes any difference.

 

[rsbomar]

Ok, so what are you guys using to test your water with? I would like to have a digital solution if possible. I don't trust myself to differentiate between slight shades of color from test strips.

 

[Unexpected]

Ok, so what are you guys using to test your water with? I would like to have a digital solution if possible. I don't trust myself to differentiate between slight shades of color from test strips.

Test the RO water or tank and source water?

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

Ok, so what are you guys using to test your water with? I would like to have a digital solution if possible. I don't trust myself to differentiate between slight shades of color from test strips.

Testing? Whats that?!?!?!
In all seriousness I use an aquarium labs kit I got from bulkreefsupply. It works okay, better than API imo. Hanna would be the best option for you but price is a factor. Salifert would be your next best option but finding them has been difficult.

 

[rsbomar]

I wrote a couple of posts in my journal that may help you out.

Here's one on remineralizing RO water.

How to remineralize RO water

And here's one on front loading macro nutrients into my RO tanks.

Front Loading Macros

And if you really want to give yourself a headache read this one about custom micros too!

DIY Micro Nutrients

And don't let your head explode. All these new terms and words may seem like gibberish right now, but it will all make perfect sense over time.

Good luck and reach out with any questions.

Thanks for the feedback and links. Do you use a dosing pump system to dose daily?

 

[rsbomar]

Testing? Whats that?!?!?!
In all seriousness I use an aquarium labs kit I got from bulkreefsupply. It works okay, better than API imo. Hanna would be the best option for you but price is a factor. Salifert would be your next best option but finding them has been difficult.

I'm finding other items difficult to find as well. I purchased 2 3L bags of ADA Amazonia v2 but now realize I need more. I can't find the 9L bags anywhere but on Ebay.

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

I'm finding other items difficult to find as well. I purchased 2 3L bags of ADA Amazonia v2 but now realize I need more. I can't find the 9L bags anywhere but on Ebay.

Here you go
Ive ordered there before

 

[Kwyet]

I put this comment on the wrong thread. Ignore, lol!

 

[Unexpected]

I'm finding other items difficult to find as well. I purchased 2 3L bags of ADA Amazonia v2 but now realize I need more. I can't find the 9L bags anywhere but on Ebay.

Check with Aqua Rocks Colorado.

 

[GreggZ]

Thanks for the feedback and links. Do you use a dosing pump system to dose daily?

I dose all macros right after a water change to bring the nutrients levels back up. It's referred to as front end loading. For some a large dose right after a water change and then two more doses later in the week works well.

I do dose micros daily but it's my routine to walk over the tank every morning with my coffee and toss the micros in.

With macros it all has to do with accumulation and how large and often water changes are. If you dose daily your nutrient levels will be very low after a water change then gradually rise as you dose throughout the week. So not stable.

If you really want your head to hurt here's a link to my thoughts on accumulation. In the end it's doing your best to keep nutrient levels stable and avoid wild swings. Some plants don't care but many sensitive stems do. Hope that helps.

Accumulation and why it matters