Refiltering

[DonW]

Wondering about refiltering freshly mixed SW. I have a three stage water filter for this purpose. The first stage is a .5 micron sediment, second is a rowa chamber and the third is empty. I'm considering adding carbon but dont want to strip out to much of what is in need of replentishing by doing water changes.

Any thoughts?

Don

 

[dnjan]

What would you be trying to remove? Phosphate from the salt mix? Precipitated calcium carbonate?

 

[Kensn]

I guess if there was something I kew I had in the salt mix that was above natural seawater concentrations then I would target that. Otherwise I would not do it. I have the same concern of stripping trace elements that we are trying to replenish with the fresh SW. I believe I would concentrate of filtering the tank water before the addition of the SW to remove any nasties, then add the new SW.

 

[DonW]

The sediment filter removes undisolved ?? and who know's what else. That filter usually plugs up after about 150g. So what ever its trapping is not going into my tank. The rowa removes P of course. Ive done this for a long time since IO does have some P.
I know it seems odd to refilter 0 tds rodi water. I'm just searching for different ways of nutrient removal. The standard seems to be same, heavy skimming and tons of flow. Its pretty apparent that it works to some degree but there is always room for improvement. Just got to be open minded enough to try something new. Ive changed from the standard rule of thumb 10% or 20% weekly to about 95% weekly waterchanges. I still run the beckett skimmer and turn the tank over 100 times per hour. There has got to be something that we are missing, someday somebody is going to stumble onto it.

Don

Don

 

[Kensn]

After filtering , have you taken a sample and tested it for what the substance is your trapping? I am curios to see what you are getting.

 

[dnjan]

Are you continually running waterthrough the particle filter, or do you filter enough for the next waterchange, and then let the filter sit until next time?

I, too, would be interested in what the particle filter is trapping, but I would guess there is a good amount of calcium carbonate in it.

 

[DonW]

I have no clue what its filtering out. I do keep it running 24/7 with rodi water flowing through it. It does get shut down for 6 hrs while the sw is mixing then it filters for 8-10, then the sw gets used. Figured if I shut it off the water in the chambers would get funky. I use about 150g every 7 days 120 of that is for water changes 3@40g.
My set-up is simple and uses a push/pull single pump set-up and a 44g can with a float valve at 40g. On Fri. night I dump in 20cups of salt push the delay switch and the filter pump shuts down for 6hrs then turns back on. The mixing pump runs 24/7. On sat morning I turn on the suction side and drain 40g from the sump then switch the flow sending the sw mix to the sump. The container automaticly refills with rodi water. I do this process three times a week.
Since I havent tested the sediment, my theory would be if it was ca carbonate the plain rodi water with low ph would disolve it back into the clean water.???
Our tanks are obviously lacking or exceeding something, just dont know what it is. I choose to go after the exceeding theory. I think if hobbiest keep searching someone is going to find it eventually, even if by accident.

Don

 

[NaH2O]

Hmmm....Don, very intersting. I have run my salt-mixed water through a 1 micron filter sock before, when adding to the sump during a water change. I haven't thought about using Rowa, too. I wonder if using the carbon after the others would be overkill? Tagging along on this one.....

 

[DonW]

Nikki,
Overkill?? Who knows? I'm going to find out a little more about my water and IO. I just got the paperwork and am waiting for bottles and collection pipets from Spectra Laboratories. I'll have these in a few days then we'll run the samples down town.

Don

 

[NaH2O]

What are you testing for?

 

[DonW]

What are you testing for?

They are going to give me a full spectral analysis of both my tank and freshly mixed IO. Some of what the tech mentioned was metal, organics, inorganics and a few others that I didnt understand.

Don

 

[NaH2O]

Look forward to seeing the results. If possible, can you also post the method of testing they use (not sure if they will provide that)? Thanks, Don!

 

[DonW]

Look forward to seeing the results. If possible, can you also post the method of testing they use (not sure if they will provide that)? Thanks, Don!

Here are the testing methods.
http://www.spectra-lab.com/alphabetical_reference.htm

Don

 

[Kensn]

I cant wait to see the results. Don when is the data going to be ready?

 

[DonW]

I cant wait to see the results. Don when is the data going to be ready?

I'm waiting for the sample bottles to come in the mail. Then we'll take it downtown. It usually take about a week after that.

Don

 

[dnjan]

So you've done something like this before (chemical analysis of tank water)? Any comments on cost and results?

 

[DonW]

So you've done something like this before (chemical analysis of tank water)? Any comments on cost and results?

I use this same company for engine oil analysis. Generally we need to know what washed out a engine, how hot the oil got, presence of polymers and metals content to determine exact cause of failure. They are usually pretty quick and can find just about any contaminant. Normaly you would spend around $100. I get it discounted being a business customer.


Don