People that use reverse osmosis

[Cian McLiam]

Hey all,

finally got my RO unit today, its a D-Deltec 40GPD pre-filtered RO, but comes with pretty poor instructions. I havent used an RO before, so on reading the instructions which said 'remove the membrane from its protective bag' I did just that.

From this pic

you can see the membrane in a plastic bag, then blue plastic shielding around it.

the one I got had no outer plastic bag, just the blue plastic outside. I removed this, and found the membrane had paper backing all around it, which tore off partially as I removed the blue plastic (it was stuck together...) Do I remove all the paper backing on the membrane?? Its not very clear from the instructions, so please help me out!!!

Thanks in advance,

Ken

 

[ryan]

Sorry Ken cant help you, but I thought you had one already? You were talking about your Ph being down to 6.8 for the Discus in your tank. If you don't mind me asking how much was it, I am thinking of purchasing one but for the prices I have seen I am not sure if it is worth it, on average how long will they last?

 

[Cian McLiam]

Hi ryan,

I was using an API tap water purifier, an ion-exchange unit, but my water is hard enough to burn a hole in my wallet with DI Had to go RO.

It cost £80 in Belfast, probably cheaper in England I would think.

As for how long, I dont know,it depends on the quality of your water, the more crap it has to remove, the shorter the life. Im hoping to get at least 6 months of trouble free water!

Ken

 

[ryan]

Thanks Ken, the ones I have seen were 120. My PH is 7.6 which is abit high for Discus, but seeing as the local shops keep their fish in these conditions I should think it will be ok. I went to pick up my Discus last week to find the whole tank of Discus were thin, large eyed, cloudy eyed and covered in velvet so I walked straight out. Would this ion-exchange unit be useful to me? I am just thinking incase I do need to lower my PH.

 

[Cian McLiam]

Well, totell you the awful truth, the last nail in the API filters coffin was a few nights ago, I tested my tank water, and the pH was 7.8! the tap water filter had expired early for some reason and I was adding the electro right and pH adjuster as normal!
Seriously hard alkaline water!

I have it back to 7.2 after 4 days of small changes, but I will have to be much more careful in future!

If the shop has them at 7.6, this will be ok. It wont kill them certainly, and you will need to bring yours up to this anyway, if you did have acidic water, to acclimatise at least. you will just have to be extra careful about water quality, below pH7 ammonia isnt as toxic as you know, so above pH7, you must be on your gaurd!

Ken

 

[ryan]

Yes I am monitoring the conditions carefully. The lfs Display tank has just been re-done and the star attraction is a pair of Discus, they use the local tap water for this tank and do not treat it except for water conditioning so I should be fine providing I can find some healthy fish. I will test the water weekly and keep my eye on whats what to be sure. Out of interest what test kit do you use?

Thanks

 

[Cian McLiam]

I use e-SHA test strips weekly usually, but for samples I use API lquid test kits, and also Tetra Liquid pH kits to double check if needed.
The API tests are pH, GH, KH, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia.
Tetra kits are O2, Fe, and pH.
The e-SHA test strips do hardness, nitrite, pH and nitrate.

Ken

 

[ryan]

Thanks Ken,

The problem is - I use the Nutrafin Ph (6.0 - 7.6) kit. Now on the new kit it has shown what appears to be a darker colour than the 7.6 which is making me think my Ph is more than 7.6 but it is very hard to tell between paper picture colour and liquid colour, I wondered if it would measure a Ph above this. I also have the eSHA test strips but these aren't to helpful as they tend to give me a rough idea. Its strange, I'll just have to purchase the high Ph range kit and test with that to see.

Sorry for taking over the thread.

 

[tdins_2]

there was one of those in my paper for 250 buck canadian

 

[smileandnod]

Ken,

I'm really sorry to tell you this, but you shouldn't of removed the blue plastic.
I installed my own last weekend, and my instructions stated that you must not do that, as it's part of te membrane.

Maybe worth getting in touch with the supplier and explaining the situation, because you now have a defunct membrane.

For them to of supplied it out of it's plastic bag in the first place would of rendered it pretty useless anyway I think. It needs to be kept damp, hence the sealed bag.

HTH.

Ian.