Using RO Water for first time

[OzShrimp]

So i have spent last 3 days making RO water i think i have about 80-100 litres made up so now i want to clarify something.

 

I will be adding water into 30 litre buckets and then adding it to the tank, but i am not sure how much of the shrimp mineral i should be adding to the water at a time before testing etc, should i also be testing the calcium and hardness aswell at same time before i put it in the tank?

 

I am not 100% sure exactly what process i should be undertaking for the remineralisation process.

 

I will be removing all my shrimp and holding them in a bucket whilst i add the R/O Water to the tank and acclimating them to the new water and then hopfully giving my surviving 3 crs some friends :) 

[Squiggle]

For 30L you can add a spoonful & see what your TDS is, from that you can judge how much more you need to add to get to the right TDS. Don't worry too much if you add too much on the first go cause you can just dilute it with some more RO water. You can test GH, KH & calcium to see what the results are, this way you'll have a guideline for any subsequent mixing.

[OzShrimp]

For 30L you can add a spoonful & see what your TDS is, from that you can judge how much more you need to add to get to the right TDS. Don't worry too much if you add too much on the first go cause you can just dilute it with some more RO water. You can test GH, KH & calcium to see what the results are, this way you'll have a guideline for any subsequent mixing.

Is it imperative to test the gh kh and calcium when i am doing this or can i get away with the tds as my test kits havnt come yet. Hoping they come tomorrow but if not was wondering if i could still do it?

 

Is it normal for RO water to have a blue tinge in a white bucket? 

[Squiggle]

Of course dude, you don't have to but it will be good to get baseline readings.

I don't know about a blue tinge but I've always thought it does look a bit different, but that's just me, lol.

[OzShrimp]

well fingers crossed i do it all right lol.

 

I probably have about 180ltres of RO water and taken me 3  1/2 days lol 

[inverted]

I find my R O water just looks really clear can't say I notice a tinge......but I will look next time I make some.

[OzShrimp]

It looks clear when its not in the bucket like being poured out or dripping in but sitting in the bucket its blue

[inverted]

Actually just checked the 20 litre (white) drum I have some in and it definitely has a blue hue.

[OzShrimp]

its interesting hey 

[Squiggle]

Definitely an interesting/weird effect!

[OzShrimp]

okay question,

i drained my tank tolike 10% i had a tds of 286. i hAve added r/o water consisting of minerals and got it to 170 so i added straiht ro water and its now around 155 - 160. bcause i added straight ro water to the tank is it a bad thing?

 

sorry typing 1 handed got fish tank hands lol

 

really wish i could call someone to ask in moments like these i am stressing,

 

i did a shrimp count and i have gone from a once decent colony to 1 crs 2 snow whites and about 5 red rili blue genes and 2 blue cherries

Edited June 6, 2014 by OzShrimp

[OzShrimp]

squiggs where are youuuuuuuuuu lol.

 

my tank water is warming up and going to reaccclimate if you say adding the straigh ro water wont be a negative thing :) would of been about 30-40 litres of straight RO water 

[newbreed]

Shouldn't be a bad thing. If you want to reduce TDS, you add pure water (RO or Rainwater without added mineral) instead of remineralised!

 

Think you have done the right thing mate. Just will need to re-acclimatise them slowly, once the temp is similar, if they are going from TDS 280 down to 155. 155 will be great for them.

 

Hope someone else can confirm this for you!!

[OzShrimp]

well i will start acclimating them now :) 

[OzShrimp]

Acclimatising is under way! hoping to have them back in the tank by 22:30, Got a few benefits out of this.

 

1. Dropped my tds massively

2. Got to gravel vac a crap load of muck out of my shrimp sand which i didnt know was there

3. Got the opportunity to rescape my tank,

4. Better environment for my colony when i eventually buy more

5. Got a little more passion back for the hobby at the simplicity of remineralising the water! Always dreaded doing it wrong!

 

 

Next on to do list -

Buy more low grade shrimp

Buy a uv steriliser for my filtration setup come tax time

[Squiggle]

Yeah dude, all is good with straight RO, I do it all the time to lower the TDS.