storing ro/di water

[CTurtleGirl]

I got a ro/di filter a couple months ago after battling algae for too long. The water coming out of the filter tests with a TDS reading of 001. My tap water reads 025. My algae problems have only gotten worse since using the ro water and I think I know why but don't know how to solve it. When I put the ro water into my rubbermaid garbage can to keep adding to it for a water change I tested it today (after only adding 4 gallons) and it tested 108 ppm in the can. This water came straight from the filter. I cleaned out the can after the last use and still reads high. Any advice? This rubbermaid can has only been used for water changes and nothing else. And by can I mean its a plastic one not metal.

Thanks

CTG

 

[Anonymous]

If the TDS is from the salt left over from the water change, there is nothing to worry about. Just a little bit of salt can increase the TDS reading of RO/DI a lot, you know.

 

[CTurtleGirl]

I bet your right, that is what is happening. I am just trying to brainstorm as to why I have such a nitrate problem that is causing the algae. It has gotten worse since switching to ro a couple months ago. Skimmer is working like crazy but all other params are fine. The tank has been set up for about 7 years now but moved 2 1/2 years ago and it all went downhill after that. Lost a bunch of corals and my anemone that I had for years. I've been using ro for about a year (buying it) and got the filter 2 months ago. Its been frustrating because I had a beautiful tank before the move now I have an algae filled cespool with a couple of fish and 2 corals that are still alive. Any advice as to how to get the nitrates down and my tank happy again? Ive been doing water changes every two weeks (about 30 percent) since I got the filter and it hasn't helped.

CTG

 

[Anonymous]

I know it's be a little embarrasing, but can you post some pictures of your setup currently? That _might_ help us a little.

Otherwise, my only suggestion is to get an OTB whisper and run their carbon 24/7 for a while. Change out the filter packs every couple of weeks and see if you can get the nitrates down.

 

[pcardone]

check your water flow you might have some dead pockets where the bad bacteria can thrive. take a power head and sweep it over your live rock and see what comes out.

 

[CTurtleGirl]

I do not have any recent pictures of the tank. I can describe it as an algae filled box right now. I've always battled turf algae but now its a brown slime algae. Here are some specs.

75 gal acrylic
20 gal sump
2 175 watt MH 12K
10 hour photoperiod
4 maxijet powerheads pointing in all directions with one pointed behind the live rock all on a red sea wavemaster pro
turboflotor skimmer
4 fish (2 percs, 1 lawnmower blenny, 1 six line wrasse)
3 corals left (2 frogspawn 1 hydnophora)
a number of crabs, snails, not sure if any shrimp are around due to power outage a couple months ago but I only saw them at night before.
ammonia, nitrite 0
Problem area nitrate 25-30
calcium 450
alk 8 dkh
phosphate 0
SG 1.025

I got the ro/di going about 2 months ago and have done 5 25 gal water changes with the new water since then. Before that no water changes had been done for some time but all topoff was bought ro/di water. The algae problem has increased since doing the new water changes which is what is puzzling to me. Would throwing a bag of carbon in the sump under the water flow help at all? Maybe replenishing my cleanup crew with more snails since I have way more crabs than snails? I haven't lost any fish due to the nitrate problem but I lost that 7 year old anemone I mentioned in previous post. I tested the ro water and no nitrates, I'm going to test it after I add the salt in case that is the problem. I'm using kent sea salt which I never had a problem with in the past. Sorry such a long post, just frustrated with my tank! Any advice is appreciated.

CTG