Help water problems unsolvable?

Sohal Tang Tim · 01/03/2020, 10:42 AM

- FIGHTING HIGH PHOSPHATE FOR MONTH! WATER CHANGES DONT HELP...NOTHING SEEMS TO HELP....
- PUT PHOSPHATE RX IN...worked like a dream....
phophate over past 5 days as follows...

.500, .354, .211, .202, today= OFF THE CHART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

howwww CAN THAT BE?

MY TDS is definitely zero confirmed with 3 different meters....

when I mix a fresh batch of saltwater it measures at .352 - is that normal?

Help!! any ideas? Thx. Tim

Zalick · 01/03/2020, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sohal Tang Tim

- FIGHTING HIGH PHOSPHATE FOR MONTH! WATER CHANGES DONT HELP...NOTHING SEEMS TO HELP....
- PUT PHOSPHATE RX IN...worked like a dream....
phophate over past 5 days as follows...

.500, .354, .211, .202, today= OFF THE CHART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

howwww CAN THAT BE?

MY TDS is definitely zero confirmed with 3 different meters....

when I mix a fresh batch of saltwater it measures at .352 - is that normal?

Help!! any ideas? Thx. Tim

What are brand of test are you using? Is the test expired?

Have you tested your RO water?

What type of salt mix are you using? The salt mix should not have phosphates.

Sohal Tang Tim · 01/03/2020, 12:45 PM

Apparently PO4 in TDS zero water cannot be measured with hobby grade testers....

I know that the RO water is zero tds verified with 3 different tds meters...

When I mix it with my Fritz RPM salt I get .352 PO4

but again...perhaps the tester cannot measure such purified water?

I have a salifert PO4 test kit on the way to compare with my Hanna UL Phosphourus checker...

Zalick · 01/03/2020, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sohal Tang Tim

Apparently PO4 in TDS zero water cannot be measured with hobby grade testers....

I know that the RO water is zero tds verified with 3 different tds meters...

When I mix it with my Fritz RPM salt I get .352 PO4

but again...perhaps the tester cannot measure such purified water?

I have a salifert PO4 test kit on the way to compare with my Hanna UL Phosphourus checker...

I posted in your other thread too. If you are using Spectrapure filters, you should not have any PO4 in your RO water.

I have not heard that hobby grade testers cannot detect P04 in RO water..... The Hanna URL should be able to detect Phosphorous in your RO water. And certainly at the levels you are measuring.

Sohal Tang Tim · 01/03/2020, 01:48 PM

I just used my Hanna UL Phosphorous checker on my ZERO TDS water
and got a PO4 measurement of .306

This tester is for saltwater it is not?

Again I saw a post somewhere where it stated in the post that hobby testers cannot accurately measure PO4 in such purified water as TDS ZERO water....

???

Thx
Tim

Sohal Tang Tim · 01/03/2020, 01:50 PM

When I talked to SPectrapure they spoke about cold temperature water going in effecting the unit and water pressure etcetc....

I have been living in this area for 20 years and never had this problem....
Nobody else I know is having this problem that lives in this area.....
I believe my SPectrapure RO might be the problem? I dunno...
Zero TDS is ZERO tds is it not....can you still have PO4 water if the water is ZERO TDS? and if so..what can I do about it?

Thanks kindly
Tim

Zalick · 01/03/2020, 04:47 PM

This is a quote from AZDesertRat, resident expert on RODI units:

"You cannot accurately test phosphates in ultrapure water. Trust a good handheld TDS meter such as the HM Digital COM-100 which is 10x more sensitive than most meters are extremely accurate at low ranges. Hobbyist grade test kits and meters will not be accurate. While phosphates are weakly ionized they will register on a good low range TDS meter.

Ask your water utility if they are adding phosphates as a form of corrosion control in the distribution system, if so keep up with your DI replacements and use only Spectrapures SilicaBuster resin."

outssider · 01/03/2020, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sohal Tang Tim

Zero TDS is ZERO tds is it not....can you still have PO4 water if the water is ZERO TDS?

.49 tds will round down to -0- on your meter since the meter wont show fractions or decimals....

01/03/2020, 10:42 AM	#1
Sohal Tang Tim Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Collingwood , ON, Canada Posts: 928	Help water problems unsolvable? - FIGHTING HIGH PHOSPHATE FOR MONTH! WATER CHANGES DONT HELP...NOTHING SEEMS TO HELP.... - PUT PHOSPHATE RX IN...worked like a dream.... phophate over past 5 days as follows... .500, .354, .211, .202, today= OFF THE CHART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! howwww CAN THAT BE? MY TDS is definitely zero confirmed with 3 different meters.... when I mix a fresh batch of saltwater it measures at .352 - is that normal? Help!! any ideas? Thx. Tim __________________ "My God Reefs are Gorgeous!" Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

01/03/2020, 12:45 PM	#3
Sohal Tang Tim Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Collingwood , ON, Canada Posts: 928	to Zalick Apparently PO4 in TDS zero water cannot be measured with hobby grade testers.... I know that the RO water is zero tds verified with 3 different tds meters... When I mix it with my Fritz RPM salt I get .352 PO4 but again...perhaps the tester cannot measure such purified water? I have a salifert PO4 test kit on the way to compare with my Hanna UL Phosphourus checker... __________________ "My God Reefs are Gorgeous!" Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

01/03/2020, 01:48 PM	#5
Sohal Tang Tim Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Collingwood , ON, Canada Posts: 928	Zalick I just used my Hanna UL Phosphorous checker on my ZERO TDS water and got a PO4 measurement of .306 This tester is for saltwater it is not? Again I saw a post somewhere where it stated in the post that hobby testers cannot accurately measure PO4 in such purified water as TDS ZERO water.... ??? Thx Tim __________________ "My God Reefs are Gorgeous!" Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

01/03/2020, 01:50 PM	#6
Sohal Tang Tim Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Collingwood , ON, Canada Posts: 928	Spectrapure When I talked to SPectrapure they spoke about cold temperature water going in effecting the unit and water pressure etcetc.... I have been living in this area for 20 years and never had this problem.... Nobody else I know is having this problem that lives in this area..... I believe my SPectrapure RO might be the problem? I dunno... Zero TDS is ZERO tds is it not....can you still have PO4 water if the water is ZERO TDS? and if so..what can I do about it? Thanks kindly Tim __________________ "My God Reefs are Gorgeous!" Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

01/03/2020, 04:47 PM	#7
Zalick My reef tanks my wallet Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Portland Posts: 571	This is a quote from AZDesertRat, resident expert on RODI units: "You cannot accurately test phosphates in ultrapure water. Trust a good handheld TDS meter such as the HM Digital COM-100 which is 10x more sensitive than most meters are extremely accurate at low ranges. Hobbyist grade test kits and meters will not be accurate. While phosphates are weakly ionized they will register on a good low range TDS meter. Ask your water utility if they are adding phosphates as a form of corrosion control in the distribution system, if so keep up with your DI replacements and use only Spectrapures SilicaBuster resin." __________________ 300g custom acrylic from James 72x36x27, 4 Mitras Lx7 &6 a360, 2 Stream 3s, C2C beananimal. 100g sump, Jebao DCP- 8000 (Vectra M1 died) -> 114w aquauv -> SRO 5000ext , varios8 return Current Tank Info: Me v Dinos - I'm winning for now...