Top Off h2o

[BCT182]

My system currently has a 55gallon drum filled with RODI top off water. I have a electric float valve that controlls an aqualift which over the course of three weeks will drain the 55g drum. So I fill it up again and repeat.

My question is, can I add something like a two-part calcium mix, or purple up, or some sort of essential elements to the drum of top off water? I do les than frequent water changes and thought maybe I could make the top off better!

I dont know if kalkwasser would work. Its a 55 gallon drum so I dont know how to make that work.

 

[apollothesun]

forgive me if im wrong, but doesnt rodi water in storage bins degrade in quality over time? 55 gallons of rodi is alot of water to store. for me i have a tupperware 2 gallon that is controlled with a electronic foat switch that is pumped into a kalk stirrer by use of an litermeter 3. the most that is stored in my tupperware is 2 gallons. my evaporation rate calculations are done through the litermeter. it basically pumps out throughout the day. i know that if im gonna store rodi water, i put IO salt inside.. for instance if im going away for vacation, i make 4 pail 5 gallon saltwater buckets close to the salinity of the tank.
i read somewhere that rodi quality deminishes in time due to the atmosphere

 

[apollothesun]

although i have a 90 gallon tank your evaporation rate is probably bigger.
i wouldnt put anything in your rodi, it will destroy the purity.

 

[roblou]

I use kalkwasser (Mrs Wages) in my top off water. 2 tsp/gal IIRC.

 

[trido]

Ideally, a kalk mixer or stirrer seperate from the RO/DI would be best Brett. Then it could be stirred a few times a day for maximum saturation. If you add Kalk to the drum it will be potent on Monday and weak by Friday unless you seal it from O2 and stir it frequently

Also, to answer the second post. No RO water doesnt go bad if you keep it covered and away form light. My 20G RO/DI resevior is continually topped off and only cleaned once a year. Ive done this for near four years without problem

 

[BCT182]

Good advice guys. Hey Trido, what if I added some essential elements?

 

[trido]

Good advice guys. Hey Trido, what if I added some essential elements?

That surely couldnt hurt. I'd stir it once a day if possible. Worst case scenario is that it may cause a FW algea bloom and the bin would need cleaned somewhat regularly.

 

[ashton]

When I was trying to raise my Magnesium I was dosing and also adding some mag to my ATO reservoir and never had any issues. I would stir it every few days but Im using a 5 gallon bucket not a 55g drum.

 

[Myteemouse]

FINN actually puts a few scoops of kalk in his ATO barrel for his 220 and has no problems with it..
I would only be worried about the slurry on the bottom clogging and pumps..??

 

[iroll253]

What about running a powerhead in the drum? If it has a lid and the water is in darkness then i wouldn't' worry about algae. Im not sure about adding kalk.. don't have much experience with it.

 

[BCT182]

Good advice guys. I may try the essential elements. I will have to cut the light out somehow.

 

[Holygral]

I would dump the Purple up. It can really screw up you tank chemistry.

 

[BCT182]

ok, never used it before so I dont know much about it. Steven had given it to me when he took his tank down.

 

[roscoe]

I think Sqwill uses a 30 or 55g water barrel and he just adds kalk into it keep it covered and uses it as his top off.

 

[BCT182]

now, would all the kalk drop to the bottom of the tank and harden? Does it need to be mixed, or does it only disolve to a maxium saturation?

 

[roscoe]

It needs to mixed to keep full saturation but if you are doing mostly softies I doubt you would need full saturation anyways. Just a side note. On my kalk reactor I have it on a timer to mix 3x a day.