RE: Reconstituting RO/DI Water

[Randy Carey <carey@spacestar.net>]

1) The percentage depends on the target parameters you want.  I'm known for 
going rather soft, and my water is rather hard (15 degrees dH and 15 
KH).  So I might add from a pint to a gallon of tap per 10 gallons of 
r/o.  And sometimes I just add all r/o.  My r/o has a conductivity of about 
20µ, and this is ideal for breeding some of my more challenging species.

The formula for knowing how much to add is rather simple.  I guess I'll 
restate it:  Multiply the number of gallons times the hardness for each 
water source, add the two results, and then divide this sum by the total 
number of gallons.  So if my r/o is a half dH and my tap is 15dH, then 10 
gallons of r/o plus a gallon of tap sums up to 5 +15 = 20.  Divide that by 
11 gallons and I see the result is close to 2 dH.

But I also have invested in various "salts":  Calcium chloride, Calcium 
sulfate, Magnesium sulfate, and Potassium chloride.  These allow me to mix 
the right combination of ions -- in case I really, really want to replicate 
some readings.  But for now, I've only done that for experiments when 
working with challenging tetras.

I guess I should also mention that for my spawning tanks (for black water 
tetras) I often use straight r/o with black water extract.  I think the 
extract adds a little something while keeping the water quite soft and 
acidic, but the fish are not stressed.


2)  I assume that Instant Ocean is mixed for marine use, and not to mimic 
Amazonian streams.  Read the product's ionic content.  Does it sound 
comparable to what you want?  My point is this, while it might be important 
to add the right amount of hardness back, it is also important to add the 
right types hardness back.

I would assume that R/O Right would be better than Instant Ocean, 
especially if you are keeping soft water fishes like most Apistos or tetras.


3)  Yeah, I know.  I realized the double meaning of "salt" when I wrote my 
response.  As a result I just got winked at ;-)   there... got you back ;-)

--Randy


At 10:24 PM 3/23/2002, you wrote:
> Randy
> 1. at what percentage of bypass water or tap water would you recommend
> adding?
> 2. I realize the original question was stated with NaCl. however I use
> Instant Ocean as my tank "salt" of choice if and when I add any "salt" at
> all. Would this change your recommendation at all.
> 3. the calcium, magnesium, and sulfate that are in your water are also salts
> (Dad was a chemist) So I would say you do recommend adding salt, just not
> NaCl. ;)
>
> Erick


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