Nano-Reef may have just saved my tank

[uwharrie]

Ran the RO/Di yesterday and mixed a bucket of salt water for a water change. I always mix in the spare bathroom. Was getting things ready to do a change and noticed the cat litter box needed a cleaning. Then I remembered ready about "stray" ammonia and the fact RO/DI water will absorb elements from the air. Tested the mixed water and it was 3! Thank goodness I checked.

[rolyat113]

Yet another reason cats are evil.

[uwharrie]

It wasn't the cats fault. I love my tank but fish can't curl up on the sofa when you are sick.

 

Yet another reason cats are evil.

[uwharrie]

But the point being RO/DI water will attract unwanted elements fro the environment.

[hockeyhead019]

never knew this, great information!

[blasterman]

If your tank is cycled and has livestock a small amount of ammonia will be metabolized instantly.

 

However, limiting contaminents is alway a good thing.

[uwharrie]

I am not sure what constitutes " a small amount" I thought ANY ammonia was bad. At any rate not willing to change out 10% of my water with water containing that much ammonia. My tank is well cycled and stable but why chance it

[Salty Pickle]

Thank you for the information, I never knew this. I wonder if people that smoke in their houses have any issues with their tanks.

[ajmckay]

This is a super interesting topic... I have my Kids' hamster cage next to my tank on a little rolley cart and it can sometimes get a little bit of an ammonia smell.

 

It doesn't seem to have affected my tank. If the effect is only/more noticeable with pure RO water I do have my RO reservoir in the stand - but it's mostly closed off. Not sealed, but closed off.

[uwharrie]

I have not seen in ammonia creep into my RO/DI water that is in a closed container ( in the same room but a couple of feet away)

My issue was with an open bucket of water that I was mixing reef salt into. I don't think it is the RO as much as the DI that causes the water to absorb environmental "toxins" my limited Chemistry recalls that once you dionize the water those molecules try their best to "re-attract" those ions,

I am sure someone can explain it a bit better-

[ReefWeeds]

I am not sure what constitutes " a small amount" I thought ANY ammonia was bad. At any rate not willing to change out 10% of my water with water containing that much ammonia. My tank is well cycled and stable but why chance it

 

Well, almost everything in your tank expels ammonia as waste. Your fish, etc. And your biofilter digests it and turns it into nitrates.

[braaap]

Ya...... Your tank would have never known you put 3ppm ammonia in. It would have been converted over so quickly it would have had no ill effects.

[seabass]

There seem to be conflicting reports about litter boxes and stored water on the forums. And it's not just RO/DI, it might also be mixed saltwater (basically anything without a bio-filter). However, it doesn't appear to affect everyone, and can even be inconsistent for those that it does affect. Looks liie we need more information about this phenomena.

 

While your established tank shouldn't have a problem processing extra ammonia, it could develop a nitrate problem. It might be worth testing for nitrate in your tank more frequently, and occasionally testing for ammonia in water storage (or mixing) containers.

[CronicReefer]

I had this exact same problem with my newly mixed saltwater. I'm still not convinced the litter box is 100% to blame. I also switched to arm and hammer brand which seems to work better at controlling free ammonia. I just mix my water on my porch now to be safe. My display tank has never shown any I'll affects so again I'm confused as to where the ammonia in the newly mixed water came from.