Ammonia in RO/DI

Beverly · #1 03-14-2006, 03:29 PM

A few weeks ago, I checked the water coming out of our RO/DI unit for ammonia. It measured .5 ppm! So we changed all four membranes in the unit last week. This morning, checked ammonia again, and it's still .5 ppm!!

Could other folks in Edmonton check the water coming directly from their RO or RO/DI units for ammonia?

Am wondering why the membranes are not removing all the ammonia from our chloramine-treated tapwater. Chloramine in untreated Edmonton tapwater is about 1 ppm (tested it for someone on a recent thread who was having trouble with their tank).

Thanks

Willow · #2 03-14-2006, 04:47 PM

did you test am in your tapwater?

Gizmo · #3 03-14-2006, 05:31 PM

I'll test mine when I get home for ya bev.

Beverly · #4 03-14-2006, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willow

did you test am in your tapwater?

Yup. It states in my post that ammonia in tapwater is 1 ppm (maybe I didn't make myself clear on that). Ammonia in Edmonton tapwater is due to it being treated with chloramine, which is a compound of chlorine and ammonia.

Thanks, Giz. Looking forward to what you find out.

Willow · #5 03-14-2006, 06:23 PM

yeah actually what you said was "Chloramine in untreated Edmonton tapwater is about 1 ppm". i asked if you tested ammonia in your tap water.

figure it out yourself

TheReefGeek · #6 03-14-2006, 06:24 PM

I will try to remember to test some of my RODI water for you tonight Bev, I just ran 30g last night I will test it tonight.

Aquattro · #7 03-14-2006, 06:37 PM

Bev, Hagen kit?

StirCrazy · #8 03-15-2006, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beverly

Yup. It states in my post that ammonia in tapwater is 1 ppm (maybe I didn't make myself clear on that). Ammonia in Edmonton tapwater is due to it being treated with chloramine, which is a compound of chlorine and ammonia.

Thanks, Giz. Looking forward to what you find out.

and the worst part is you are letting chlorine to your membrain which will eventualy destroy them.

we had a big thread on chlorimeans and what is required to break them up and remove the chlorine and one carbon filter isn't going to do it. I run two carbon block filters and it barly works on mine and doesn't last that long (3 to 4 months) I am going to be putting two granular carbon filters befor the carbon blocks which should get me up to the 8 to 12 month mark. Carbon block are nice but they do not remove stuff as good as granular carbon.

Steve

Beverly · #9 03-15-2006, 01:40 AM

Thanks for the reply, Steve, even though it's bad news.

Just tried the search function to locate the thread you were talking about, but it's not working right now. Can you give me an approximate date for the thread I'd be looking for? I do not remember seeing it.

Also, I know nothing about RO/DI stuff. Chris looks after that part of our reefing endeavor. He's busy tonight and tomorrow night, but I've told him basically what you've said. He will probably contact you via this thread or by PM to talk more about this issue, if that's okay with you.

Dang!!!! But, thanks

StirCrazy · #10 03-15-2006, 02:16 AM

I can't remember probably about a year ago or longer.. come to think of it maybe 2 or more as it was shortly after I bought my new house. it was more or less a statment on the effects of chlorimene and how hard it actualy is to seperate the chlorine and amonia (something like I just said.) no great volumes of wisdom from what I can remember.. that is the time frame when I switched to two carbon block filters.

what I run now is one "big blue" 25 to 1 micron graduated sedimat filter, then two carbon blocks (inline) then my two 160GPD membrains.

so I am basicly going to add two more granulated carbon stages befor the carbon blocks.

something that will work good but is expensive is run your DI befor the membrains.. personaly I wouldn't do it due to the cost but I have heard it removes chloramin like a hot damn.

Steve