Re: Reconstituting RO/DI Water

[Randy Carey <carey@spacestar.net>]

I've got to think that adding salt is worse than adding back tap 
water.  The water of South America has some natural balances of various 
ions.  As I recall, Calcium is usually present by a 2:1 to 10:1 ratio over 
Magnesium.  Sodium is usually far less present.  These numbers for various 
biotopes are given in the Mayland/Bork book.  So if your hard water has 
calcium and magnesium and sulfates in it, adding a little of that would 
make the water more like those of the biotopes.  Adding NaCl would not.

For some reason, many aquarists think that if they pumped the water through 
an r/o system it would be a shame to put back some of what they took 
out.  Why?!  If one needs to add some hardness back and one's hard water 
has the right mineral mix, it would be a shame to use something else.

--Randy


At 05:36 PM 3/23/2002, you wrote:
> Greetings all.  List discussions have often included the use of RO/DI water
> for just all about the ailments of our apistos guests.  A recent addition,
> my RO/DI produces TDS 003 and pH 8 (starts at 9.2 and stabilizes at 8).
> I've continued my older practice of adding a teaspoon NaCl to 5 gallons
> which seemed to give the best results given my tap water.  However...
>
> I would like to ask the list about -
> How do people reconstitute their RO/DI water for apisto's?  I would offer
> two categories of tanks - breeding tanks and planted community tanks (if
> people agree that that makes a difference).
>
> Thanks!
> J Sullivan


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