Well water emergency.

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sedrostyle

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 13, 2012
Messages
759
Location
mount vernon
As you know I just moved.
Setup the tank Sundayish. And have even fighting to stabilize my tank.
So today after my third 10 gallon change I figured things would settle down a little.
My nitrates were red. And yellow being the best.
API test kits. Bought last march.
Never had a problem before.

Anyway this is my NEW. Salt water from the tap I tested just to be curious.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1359752674.223247.jpg

Like I said yellow being good. First sign of orange is maybe 15ppm.
I'd say this is 40 to 60

:( what do I do??! Sell my tank :(
I can't afford a rodi unit right now.
 
Ugh is it possible to have nitrates coming from a tap.
I'm wigging out now.

Second test.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1359754639.090115.jpg

Thanks in advance. Feel fre to criticize.
 
Perhaps u could use some water conditioner and let it run in ur 20g with chemipure before you mix it with salt? Just throwing Ideas out there sorry to hear about the troubles hopefully something works out. The other option would be to buy some spring water from the store for .75 cents to a buck a gallon and use that till you can figure something out. IIRC Reefkeepers supply up in arlington used to give customers free ro/di water might be worth a call even though its super far from ur new place.
 
I've always just gotten water from the store, whole foods has the kind you can get in the big jug or you can get the 1 gallons from any grocery store.
 
Do you still live in skagit county? I have a unit you can use until you can get one. I dont have a membrane for it. I just use the carbon block sediment filter and resin and it gives me 0 tds. So i never replaced the membrane. Heck, its still a new membrane. I can change out the resin for you and the sediment filter and your welcome to it. Just let me know. We can figure out a mid way meet point.
 
We are 35 minutes from the free way now From Stanwood. Lol

I could pay for shipping if it comes to that. I called the IGA here mid way on the island and they have water for 41 cents. Don't know if it's RO OR RODI
unemployment suuuccckkks :D

she had no idea. So I'll have to go by there and see. I'll call you Todd right now I am just charging my phone.
Thanks everyone. :)
 
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You can buy gallon jugs of distilled water cheap, this over well water should (not always) be much better. If you continue to use well water and a RO/DI, you most likely will need to add a couple pre-filters to help with metals etc, depending on your source. Also you should have it tested first to see exactly what you need to make good water. It may not be so bad after all.
 
I have used well water befor with a RO/DI and just had to change the sediment filter evry once and awhile, but thats the cheap filter. The water you get from the store is RO water , but better than well water.
 
anyone know where to get a 30 maybe 20 gallon water container... something i could pick up bymy self yet be worth not lugging buckets through the store :D
 
You think you can lift a 20 or 30 gallon water container? Fresh water weighs 8.8 pounds per gallon. Do the math.... I have an 8 and I wouldn't go much bigger. It isn't just the weight to consider, size is a factor too.
 
well with help.. maybe a 15 for sure by my self...
on second thought maybe ill just stick to 5 gallon buckets LOL
hopefully they bakery or deli at this IGA will give me free buckets with lids :D
the Walmart in MV did :D
 
Yeah i lug 5 gallon jugs to the store once a week, I have 4, yeah it sucks, yeah its expensive (I estimate $400+ a year just on water) but it is better than the dreaded red nitrate test! Good luck with that, I'm familar with the IGA you talked about, and they use the same company that I get my water from, and I do not have problems.
 
TWO ten gallon jugs would be awesome that way I could make up one batch and save one for the next week.
my tank is defnitly in the red today... I should take care of it tommorrow do a water change, I feel bad. My tank had never even been in the orange range :(
 
Make sure you put less than ten gallons in the one you are saving for next week so there is room for your pump to circulate the water.
 
sedro,

if you want to make a trip down to Bothell. I have several FREE 5 gallon IO buckets and a 32g Brute container you can have.
 
GAHHH I wish I would've seen that earlier today, I went to the true value and got two more buckets and leak proof lids... 12 dollars. Which is fine.
then got my first dose of 10 gallons of water from the store. A whole whopping 4 dollars.
Hopefully I can get my tank back on cruise control.
Also we were in everett today ;/
next time im in the neighborhood ill hit you up for some buckets. I need to figure out a pump system so I can flush out my sump AND not have to dump buckets up and over my glass into the tank.
About to cut up a garden hose :D and turn my MJ600 into a pump. sounds good right?

taxes didn't go quite like I thought it would so I may not be able to get a filter or my lights for another little while.
 
I have an API Tap Water Filter that you can have. The cartridge that I have was producing 0 tds when I used it last, but that was 6 months ago. If you want it I have to go up by the Tulalip Casino on Thursday or Friday. I bought a BRS 5 stage RODI and can meet you and I will tell you how to use it, it's pretty simple. It is only a DI unit but served me well for 1 1/2 years. You can get new cartridges from DRs Foster and Smith, they are usually the cheapest. Let me know.
 

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