Mixing sw

[jay0705]

Ok folks iam having issues . When ever i mix fresh sw my test shows ammonia threw the roof!!!! Why??

 

[2quills]

Could be from the tap water. Does your city sanitize with chloromines? Most do these days.

 

[jay0705]

Its ro

 

[2quills]

Yeah but what type of carbon block are you using?

 

[jay0705]

Hmm no idea, its a new unit i got for xmas

 

[jay0705]

If this helps its the aqua fx barracuda

 

[2quills]

Well I'd test the tap water and test some freshly made (non mixed) ro water.

Our city water fluctuates a lot so I run dual carbon because the levels can be so high sometimes. And not all carbon blocks are created equal.

BRS did a good video on how well or not so well some of the carbon filters on the market perform.

 

[jay0705]

Ok thank you. How bout this theory. I googled it and this was one answer.
When newly mixed ammonia will show until gas exchange is completed. Believable??

 

[2quills]

Check your ro water for ammonia. If it's not there then it seems fairly plausible.

 

[jay0705]

Ok quills thank you. Now will my sw kit still show it in just the fresh ro?

 

[2quills]

It will let u know if ammonia is there one way or another. Just might not be super accurate. But then again, which test kits are?

 

[jay0705]

Lol true, lets see what i get. Brb

 

[jay0705]

Just the r o is zero. I truely feel like an ass, i almost dumped all 30 gals of it. Thinking one of the cats some how peed in my water lol

 

[2quills]

He could have tried marking the bucket like it's his territory ya never know.

I don't know how you mix your water but I like to use a decent sized power head that keeps the water churning on the surface. The more aeration/agitation the better IMO.

 

[jay0705]

Ah hmm, i could use a bigger one. I use to use a big one until i put it in a tank. Now i use a smaller one.

 

[jay0705]

Ok quills, this am i tested the mix still ammonia after mixing all night. . Tested my ro again this time let it sit an hr, it does show trace ammonia

 

[lmforbis]

I’d look into a carbon block that removed chloramines.
I’m assuming you don’t add anything but salt to your mix, no water conditioners correct?

 

[jay0705]

Correct, ok i will look into this. This do it your self ro thing is new to me. I use to buy it. I was really getting pissed bc i even changed salts thinking that was an issue.
So the carbon block will say it removes this stuff?

 

[2quills]

I use the universal carbon blocks from BRS. They're $16 but well worth it. If chloromines or ammonia male it past the carbon stage it will burn out the membrane a lot faster.

 

[jay0705]

Ok and this block goes in to replace the current carbon block rt?