Kold Steril instead of RODI ?

[mmd]

I want to break my reliance on walmart for rodi, but do not want to waste water making my own. I found this: www.poly-bio-marine.com. anyone here of this, or have any input...

[dburr]

Sounds like a pain to rejuvinate. I don't that takes out EVERYTHING in the water. My buddy Sal bought one and returned it, LOL.

[drewdegenhardt]

mike- search rc and the archives and you will find some info

[mmd]

Well. I have cracked the secret to rc search>
do it at 5 am....plenty of hits...apparently Kold Steril is not all its hyped up to be...thanks

[argi]

Michael,

I am using the kold steril and do not have any problems with it, but (and this is a big but) right now it is next to impossible to find replacement cartridges. I have an RO/DI unit that I will probably be using soon if I can not find cartridges in the near future.

Also it is not suppose to take everything out of the water, only the "harmful" stuff, leaving calcium and other beneficial minerals.

HTH,
Keith

[justincognito]

Is anyone familiar with solar distillers? I'm working on some now. I have 3 design i going to start testing next week. You are supposed to flush out the resevoir to prevent percipitate build up but i think i found a way around that. I'll keep you posted as to how each one does. I'll post my results here and at www.asaquaculture.org

[fahz]

I just researched the Kold Steril for someone and your making a mistake if you get one. I see new systems trying to be unloaded for $150. You cannot get filters from anyone including the company. The one post I read said TDS going in 180 TDS coming out 178 not good. The best I could determine is a sediment and two carbon filters with there disks added. I think seventeen posts about them in six months tells the story.

Fahz

[argi]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6806500#post6806500 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by fahz
I just researched the Kold Steril for someone and your making a mistake if you get one. I see new systems trying to be unloaded for $150. You cannot get filters from anyone including the company. The one post I read said TDS going in 180 TDS coming out 178 not good. The best I could determine is a sediment and two carbon filters with there disks added. I think seventeen posts about them in six months tells the story.

Fahz

But they are not trying to get TDS's to zero like an RO/DI unit. That is the point of the unit. It is trying to get rid of the harmful items, while keeping the "good" stuff. I would assume, and you know what they say about assuming :D , that if calcium and other ions (minerals, not sure what the correct term should be here) are left in the water, they will show up on the TDS meter. If I have a chance today I will test mine with a TDS meter and report back the results.

Basically the water first goes through layers (disks) of poly filters (http://www.poly-bio-marine.com/polyprod.htm). From there it enters the Fin-L-Filter 0.20 Micron bag filter section. You can add their alumina media to reduce phosphates and silicates here also (I use this). Then the water goes through final stage, the .5 micron carbon block.


Justin,

Do you have any links to the solar distillers? I did a web search and it pulled up a bunch of different sites, but I did not find one that I felt could be adapted to the average home aquarist. I do like the idea and would be interested to see how they work out for you. Also (not sure if you remember or not) but last time I talked to you at F&F I mentioned I had an extra vat (about 4x4) that I wanted to donate to you. Send me a PM if you are still interested in it.

Thanks,

Keith

[fahz]

Keith I read as much as I could find about the product. Saltwater people are harsh critics and this product went in the crapper from what I can see. I think a lot of drygoods dealers were left holding the bag so to speak on this one. You can't find replacement filters anywhere, that is never a good sign. Some drygoods dealers still list this but only as out of stock to stop the return from unhappy buyers. Stripping water down to Zero and rebuilding it with your salt mixture is still the most accepted method around, just my two cents worth.

Fahz

[argi]

Yes I would agree. Kold Steril has worked for me, but for many it has not. I guess I am one of the lucky ones out there. I personally have not had any problems getting ahold of them for any questions and they usually help out anwering any questions I have.

As far as I have been told, they recently made a major move and are getting things back up and running. Their main business is with hospitals and they are focusing on getting that part back into full production. Hopefully once that is done they will get back to "normal".

Having said that, if I had to buy a filter right now, I would not get a Kold steril until they have gotten back into full production.

HTH,

Keith

[mmd]

well, im scaling down in next few weeks to a 37...i will see how this plays out...in the interim, given my minor gallons per week requirement i will stay w/walmart (which i will test with a tds next water change)...
Appreciate all the feed back....
ARGI when will you have your reef up ?

[argi]

Michael,

I still do not have the tank up and running, but it is cleaned up and ready to be plumbed. I got my other system up and running and I am going to attempt to breed some type of fish (more than likely bangaii cardinals). So that is a start. The plan is to have the system plumbed before the weekend is done, then have a tap water test run for leaks and such and then start filling.

Hmm..should I go with Kold Steril or RO/DI??? I used the Kold Steril for the breeding system, maybe I will go with RO/DI for this tank. Lets see..with my 70 gpd unit it will only take 5 days to fill the tank, refugium and sump running 24/7 if I can get the full 70 gpd. And only 1050-1400 gallons of waste water to boot. Anyone got a small swimming pool they need filled? I wish the RO units didn't waste so much water..that is the main reason I got the Kold Steril in the first place.

Not sure what I am going to do at this point yet
:confused: .

Keith

[fahz]

Hey Keith I'll get out of your club forum just want to add my last .02. We still see the greatest success for the get go with people that use RO/DI water for setup. I hear you on waste water but be assured you'll have a much better start with RO/DI. Everyday we deal with people who setup with just plain RO water and battle hair algae forever, Good luck on the new tank.

Fahz

[justincognito]

An interesting note. I got some clownfish from lady who was breeding them. She said she tried several batches with DI but always failed. One time she had none ready and used Tap water with De-chlorinator. Then she was finally able to raise them. Perhpas some of the metals or minerals in tap water are important for fish development.

[cougaran]

I remember reading somewhere that guy was trying to breed anenomes and had better luck with tap water and dechlorinator.

[njb2345]

FYI -

Champion Lighting & That fish Place each received 60 sets of replacement media last week. Reef Slendor also has media available for wholesale customers. Pet Solutions will have replacement media available next week, as they are receiving a shipment of multiple products this week.

Please contact them since we cannot accept retail sales.

Poly-Bio-Marine,Inc. (r)
O.E. Manufacturer of water filtration systems
and filter media . Established 1976.

[argi]

Thanks for the info. Bummer Reef Splendor is only selling wholesale as they had the cheapest price going on the replacement media.

Keith