Water Purifier

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Aquafreak

Aquarist
Dec 11, 2002
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I recently bought a water purifier. It's one of those that you put under your kitchen sink and it connects to an additional outlet on the sink. Well I'm gonna use it as a water purifier for my tanks.

Question is, it says it's filtering size is 1 micron and also says it removes chlorine lead etc etc, is this the same as RO water? and would I have to be buffering my water before I add it to the tank. I haven't hooked it up yet because I'm renovating the house and making a few adjustments before I do that. Just pondering on that thought at the moment.

Aquafreak
 
I have been debating the same time, although on a larger scale.

I was wondering what effects those house scale water purifiers/softeners have on water you might use in a tank. Does it remove all the chlorine/chloramine?
 
Originally posted by Aquafreak
I recently bought a water purifier. It's one of those that you put under your kitchen sink and it connects to an additional outlet on the sink. Well I'm gonna use it as a water purifier for my tanks.

Question is, it says it's filtering size is 1 micron and also says it removes chlorine lead etc etc, is this the same as RO water? ....Aquafreak
Click to expand...
Not quite the same as R/O water....
 
It's definitely not the same as r/o. It is probably a one or two stage system. If it's one stage it's a carbon block that also has a micron filter in it. If it's a two stage the first is either a sediment or carbon filter. With the second stage being still a carbon block with a micron filter. They are both good to use for making tank water. If you have chloramines you will still have to use prime or amquel.

It's a good idea to buy a chlorine test kit for $5.00 at Home Depot or Lowes. They are in the pool supply section. This way you will know when the carbon is exhausted. Also let the unit run water for about one minute ecah tme you use it. This will flush out bacteria from when it sat idle.

A water softener is something different. It replaces minerals in water with salt. It will also cause the conductivity or the tds of your water to rise. It registers softer water because your kh test kit will show a lower reading. It might also cause your gh test kit to show a lower reading. Neither test kit shows salt in the water. It's not good with certain fish like South American fish who don't like salt. (eg. discus, cardinals, killies)
 
Originally posted by yogi
It's definitely not the same as r/o....... Also let the unit run water for about one minute ecah tme you use it. This will flush out bacteria from when it sat idle
Click to expand...
Great advice.. It is good to do this.
 
Thanks for the great replys. Yes it's a 2 stage filter, first one is for sediments and second is carbon and micron. I think I'll take the advice on flushing it too. Thanks again.

Aquafreak
 
i have a 3 stage filter, sediment/carbon 1 micron/di. any thing i need to be aware of?
thanks,
:)
 
A DI unit is great at cleaning water. A single stage DI is a mixed bed resin of both positive and negative. It makes the water so pure that fish can't live in pure DI water. You will need to add some sea salt or some tap water to add back minerals. The drawback of DI is they can be exhausted quickly depending on how much water you use and how good your tap water is to begin with.

Most mixed bed resins change color as they become exhausted. Never continue to use an exhausted DI. It will leech back all that it has absorbed. Depending on how much water you use. How fast the DI becomes exhausted. And how much replacements cost. You will have to decide wether to keep it DI or change it over to another carbon block. This would be one sediment and two carbons.
 
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