Can phosphates leach out from plastic container

[nycfishy]

I've got a couple of these
http://www.tank-depot.com/productdetails.aspx?part=TRANS25
that I use to keep my RO/DI and saltwater in.

My phosphates are pretty high and I'm constantly try to control a red cyno problem, is it possible the plastic storage tanks are leaching PO4 into my tank water?
they are supposed to be FDA approved but not sure what tha tmeans for this situation.

 

[bizzarro]

Did you test the water in the container and straight from the RO/DI unit?

I don't think the phosphate leaching can cause the problem alone since the phosphates in there isn't much.

 

[nycfishy]

ok this is weird, my ro/di water test 0 (using hanna phospate checker), my other container with mixed salt water (IO reef crystals) test .11ppm.....does that make any sense?

 

[xxxAngeloxxx]

Have you checked your tds meter to see what's your level on? If your pressure guage is over 50 then your filters are due to be changed out. If it's under 40 on the pressure guage then your filters are still good.

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

Yes, phosphate is known to leach out from plastic containers and it varies from manufacturers and models. I do not remember how serious it can be when you are unlucky enough to get the wrong ones.

Some salt batches have higher phosphate than their normal level once a while too.

 

[fishman1069]

Have you checked your tds meter to see what's your level on? If your pressure guage is over 50 then your filters are due to be changed out. If it's under 40 on the pressure guage then your filters are still good.

Thats totally not true dude. An ro/di unit HAS to run between 40 and 80 psi. My old unit ran at 80 without a booster pump. If your unit is running lower than 40, then I would look into a booster pump or changing the filters

 

[xxxAngeloxxx]

Thats totally not true dude. An ro/di unit HAS to run between 40 and 80 psi. My old unit ran at 80 without a booster pump. If your unit is running lower than 40, then I would look into a booster pump or changing the filters

So Mrsaltwatertank was lying to me when he was talking about the pressure guage

 

[fishman1069]

So Mrsaltwatertank was lying to me when he was talking about the pressure guage

I guess so lol I know my old unit( water general rd-102 100 gpd 6 stage ) ran ay 80 psi for 2 years without changing any filters. The tds was 2 ppm. The instructions said anything below 40 psi coming into the unit needed a booster pump to up the pressure

 

[tomtoothdoc]

Have you checked your tds meter to see what's your level on? If your pressure guage is over 50 then your filters are due to be changed out. If it's under 40 on the pressure guage then your filters are still good.

So Mrsaltwatertank was lying to me when he was talking about the pressure guage

can you post a link to mr.saltwatertank stating this? this doesn't make sense at all.

 

[xxxAngeloxxx]

can you post a link to mr.saltwatertank stating this? this doesn't make sense at all.

Sure its one 4:30 on the video

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=1QKJbO4UBJw

 

[tomtoothdoc]

thanks for the link.
i watched through the whole video and i think you're misquoting him. he's saying that it should be at least 40 psi....higher is better. if it's below 40 psi then it's either clogging or you need a booster pump for higher pressure.

 

[KathyC]

ok this is weird, my ro/di water test 0 (using hanna phospate checker), my other container with mixed salt water (IO reef crystals) test .11ppm.....does that make any sense?

Yes it does as salt mix does contain small amounts of phosphates.
Also keep in mind that anything you are feeding your fish also contains phosphates. Do you feed flake food, if so, it's pretty high in phosphates.

The typical concern with plastic containers is petroleum based chemicals leeching into the water, not phosphates. If the container is FDA approved would not be overly concerned that it is adding anything dangerous to your water.

 

[nycfishy]

phosphates in the the salt mix is a suprise but does explain what is happening.
I've got .09 in my tank after adding some GFO in a mesh bag (have a RSM 130, so did not go the reactor route).
So now the question becomes why do I get some red cyano, is .09 still too high?

 

[JonnyJ]

Syphon it out and run some sort of gfo/chemi pure to lower it.

I have had great results with using special blend.