About De-ionization and Reverse Osmosis

About De-Ionization (DI)

How De-Ionization (DI) Works

De-ionization, (commonly referred to as DI), is a common process for producing ultra pure water. The DI filter is filled with resin beads, some with a negative charge and some with a positive charge. When you test your water with a TDS meter (total dissolved solids), it gives you a number that tells you the sum of the different contaminates in your water. All of these contaminates are either negatively or positively charged, so when they pass through the DI filter they are attracted to the oppositely charged resin beads. Since the DI filter has both negatively and positively charged resin beads it is able to remove 99% of the contaminates in your water. Reverse Osmosis (RO) is capable of removing 95-97% of all contaminates, so when the remaining 3-5% is passed through a DI filter you are effectively removing 99.9% of the contaminates. This quality of water is comparable to distilled water and is excellent for use in reef aquariums and other application where distilled water is used.

Is It Safe To Drink DI Water?

DI water is 99% pure water, comparable to distilled water, so it is just as safe to drink as distilled water is. Due to the fact that it is so pure, a lot of people do not like the taste, so it's potability (drink ability) comes down to your own personal opinion.

About Reverse Osmosis (RO)

What is Reverse Osmosis?

Normal Osmosis

Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis is the finest form of water filtration known. The process allows the removal of particles as small as dissolved individual ions from a solution. Reverse osmosis is used to purify water and remove ions and dissolved organic molecules. It can be used to purify fluids such as ethanol and glycol, which will pass through the reverse osmosis membrane, while rejecting other ions and contaminants from passing. The most common use for reverse osmosis is in purifying water. It is used to produce water that meets the most demanding specifications that are currently in place. If two aqueous solutions of different salinity are separated by a semi-permeable membrane, osmosis will cause water to pass through the membrane in the direction of the more concentrated solution, therefore diluting it. By applying sufficient pressure to the more concentrated liquid, the direction of osmosis can be reversed. In this way, we can mechanically reverse the flow and separate the concentrated solution into its constituents: the water and the dissolved solids. One part is called the permeate, or filtrate, and the other is the reject stream, or concentrate.

How Does A Membrane Separate Substances?

Reverse osmosis uses a membrane that is semi-permeable, allowing the fluid that is being purified to pass through it, while rejecting the contaminants that remain. Most reverse osmosis technology uses a process known as crossflow to allow the membrane to continually clean itself. As some of the fluid passes through the membrane the rest continues downstream, sweeping the rejected species away from the membrane, in a concentrated brine reject water. The process of reverse osmosis requires a driving force to push the fluid through the membrane, and the most common force is pressure from a pump. The higher the pressure, the larger the driving force. As the concentration of the fluid being rejected increases, the driving force required to continue concentrating the fluid increases.

Reverse osmosis is capable of rejecting bacteria, salts, sugars, proteins, particles, dyes, and other constituents that have a molecular weight of greater than 150-250 daltons. The separation of ions with reverse osmosis is aided by charged particles. This means that dissolved ions that carry a charge, such as salts, are more likely to be rejected by the membrane than those that are not charged, such as organics. The larger the charge and the larger the particle, the more likely it will be rejected.

About pH

Ph is an ongoing concern for reef keepers and aquarists. Typically it is a concern more focused towards reef tanks because fish tanks can tolerate a larger flux in Ph levels before causing irreversible damage. In contrast a reef environment must maintain a constant Ph level in order to sustain life. The best Ph level in a reef tank ranges between 7.6 and 8.4 and best suited to the higher side of that range. The normal behavior of Ph in a saltwater tank tends to be on the acidic side (low) Here are some reasons for this.

1)Nitrification
2)Too much carbon dioxide
3)Natural acids created by metabolic waste

Sea water contains natural buffers like bicarbonate, borate, hydroxide and others that restrict any drop in Ph levels. One easy fix for a drop in Ph that is often used is baking soda which contains bicarbonates. Another dreaded method is to do a water change, this should replenish the natural buffers and minerals in your tank. One big reason for a drop in Ph is left over food and fish excrement so removing these things from time to time could be of some benefit.

Note: These facts are posted as a response to questions asked by customers and this is a free service. If you did not find what you were looking for in this article please feel free to contact us with your questions and we will post the answers to your questions as additions to this article. Thank you for choosing Purely H2O to help you with your pH concerns!

About Chloramine

Commercial, scientific and residential fish owners have tanks and ponds that range from one gallon to several thousand gallons, and there is no "magic formula" for . We can give you some general ideas of what works or what others have done to neutralize chloramine:

Activated charcoal (carbon) filtration systems

Sodium thiosulfate (dechlorinates but doesn’t deal with ammonia)

Commercially available dechloramination products (check the labels, since some simply remove the chlorine, while others "lock up" or detoxify the remaining ammonia)

Catalytic ( GAC) carbon

A chemical agent plus a biological filter (agent to remove chlorine, biofilter to remove the ammonia)

It is important to test your pond water to make sure there is not a build-up of ammonia.

FACTS AND ANSWERS

Unlike chlorine, chloramine will not dissipate to the atmosphere by standing or aerating.

Boiling will not remove chloramine.

Chloramine passes through the gills of fish and directly enters their bloodstream.

In the blood, chloramine chemically binds to the iron in the hemoglobin in red blood cells causing a reduction in the cells capacity to carry oxygen.

Chemical additives for dechloraminating water you add to your tank or pond (makeup water) are available at pet/fish supply stores.

Sodium thiosulfate added to chloraminated water will neutralize chlorine, but ammonia is released.

Water should ideally be dechloraminated in a separate container to neutralize chlorine and ammonia before being added to a tank or pond.

A pond with an established biological filter (one that has cycled through the nitrogen cycle – has converted ammonia to nitrite to nitrate) can remove ammonia.

Tap water used with artificial sea salts for makeup water in salt water fish tanks must be dechloraminated.

The proper amount of neutralizing chemical is sometimes added to the pond prior to or simultaneously with the makeup water.

Water additions should be as small as possible, so the fish are not stressed as the biological filter cleanses the water. Avoid large water changes.

Adjustment of pH may be more critical because of the possible addition of ammonia. At a pH of 8.5, ammonia is about 11% un-ionized, which is the potentially toxic form but at a pH of 7.0 it is only 0.4%.

The quantity of makeup water to be added should be estimated to determine the required amount of dechloraminating chemical. The water quantity can be found using the water meter, timing the filling of a bucket, or by the amount the pond depth would increase, not the total pond volume. (Depth increase: multiply length times width times depth – all measurements in feet – to obtain the volume in cubic feet, multiply that by 7.5 to obtain the gallons of water to be added.)

Automatic makeup water systems may have to be operated manually to allow the proper amount of dechloraminating chemicals to be added simultaneously with the makeup water.

Carbon filters should be operated at a slow rate for best chloramine removal. They should be monitored carefully to determine when the carbon media has reached the end of its useful life and needs to be changed. Manufacturers often indicate the maximum number of gallons that can be filtered before renewal of the filters is required. Check with the supplier for proper operation. Testing the residual from the filter will help determine the best filtration rate.

Runoff from lawns or gardens should not be allowed to enter a pond because of the possible presence of chloramines, fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, and/or any other material that might contaminate the pond.

About Water Softeners

BY THOMAS KLENCK (Popular Mechanics; August 1998)

It's easy to forget how important water is in our lives. Of course we need it in our diet, but in our homes, it's a tool–a fluid medium that carries material from one place to the next. And one of the reasons it does this job well is that it's very good at holding things, either by suspending them or dissolving them. Unlike most tools, though, water doesn't come with an instruction manual. If it did, you'd know why the dishes you thought were washed are covered with spots when dry, why the water in your shower leaves a film on everything it touches, and why what you thought was clean water has clogged up your plumbing system.
The solution is the problem


While water is in the ground, it picks up soluble bits of whatever it passes through. While this can mean contamination that makes the water unfit to drink, in many cases it simply means that the water contains minerals found in the earth. Of these, calcium and magnesium are of particular importance because they affect the water's ability to function in our homes. These minerals make our water hard. One effect of hard water is that soaps and detergents lose some effectiveness. Instead of dissolving completely, soap combines with the minerals to form a coagulated soap curd. Because less soap is dissolved, more is required. And the sticky insoluble curd hangs around–it clings to the skin and may actually inhibit cleansing. Washed hair seems dull and lifeless. In the laundry, things aren't much better. The soap curd can work its way into your clothes as they're being washed in your automatic washing machine. This can keep dirt trapped in the fibers, and it can stiffen and roughen the fabric. In addition to affecting the actual washing process, insoluble soap deposits leave spots on everything you wash–from your dishes to the family car–and a soap film will build up in your bath and shower. Another reason to be concerned about hard water is its effect on your plumbing system. Calcium and magnesium deposits can build up in pipes, reducing flow to taps and appliances. In water heaters, these minerals generate a scale buildup that reduces the efficiency and life of the heater.
The Fix


The solution to the problem is to get rid of the calcium and magnesium. While there are chemical treatments that do this, the most popular answer is a water softener. The typical water softener is a mechanical appliance that's plumbed into your home's water supply system. All water softeners use the same operating principle: They trade the minerals for something else, in most cases sodium. The process is called ion exchange. The heart of a water softener is a mineral tank. It's filled with small polystyrene beads, also known as resin or zeolite. The beads carry a negative charge. Calcium and magnesium in water both carry positive charges. This means that these minerals will cling to the beads as the hard water passes through the mineral tank. Sodium ions also have positive charges, albeit not as strong as the charge on the calcium and magnesium. When a very strong brine solution is flushed through a tank that has beads already saturated with calcium and magnesium, the sheer volume of the sodium ions is enough to drive the calcium and magnesium ions off the beads. Water softeners have a separate brine tank that uses common salt to create this brine solution. In normal operation, hard water moves into the mineral tank and the calcium and magnesium ions move to the beads, replacing sodium ions. The sodium ions go into the water. Once the beads are saturated with calcium and magnesium, the unit enters a 3-phase regenerating cycle. First, the backwash phase reverses water flow to flush dirt out of the tank. In the recharge phase, the concentrated sodium-rich salt solution is carried from the brine tank through the mineral tank. The sodium collects on the beads, replacing the calcium and magnesium, which go down the drain. Once this phase is over, the mineral tank is flushed of excess brine and the brine tank is refilled. In ion exchange, hard water ions replace sodium ions on beads. Process is reversed to flush minerals away.
The Brains


Most popular water softeners have an automatic regenerating system. The most basic type has an electric timer that flushes and recharges the system on a regular schedule. During recharging, soft water is not available. A second type of control uses a computer that watches how much water is used. When enough water has passed through the mineral tank to have depleted the beads of sodium, the computer triggers regeneration. These softeners often have reserve resin capacity, so that some soft water will be available during recharging. A third type of control uses a mechanical water meter to measure water usage and initiate recharging. The advantage of this system is that no electrical components are required and the mineral tank is only recharged when necessary. When it is equipped with two mineral tanks, softened water is always available, even when the unit is recharging.

Judging Water Hardness


Companies that sell water softening equipment generally offer test kits that help you determine the hardness of your water. For commercial testing sources, check your Yellow Pages under "water analysis." Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon (GPG) or milligrams per liter (mg/l, equivalent to parts per million, or ppm). Water up to 1 GPG (or 17.1 mg/l) is considered soft, and water from 60 to 120 GPG is considered moderately hard. A water softener's effectiveness depends on how hard the incoming water is. Water over 100 GPG may not be completely softened.

Health Concerns


Hard water poses no health hazard. On the other hand, the sodium that remains in softened water may be a problem for those on sodium-restricted diets. Other people simply may wish to avoid the slightly salty taste of treated water. In either case you can install a separate water dispenser that bypasses the softener. You also can use potassium chloride instead of salt, although this costs about three to four times more

What Is Reverse Osmosis?

In order to reverse the natural tendencies of water and salt movement and force clean water to flow from salty water, the osmonic pressure must be overcome, i.e. osmosis must be reversed. In order to reverse this flow of water, membrane systems, and Reverse Osmosis systems in particular, utilize a special constructed semi-permeable membrane element enclosed inside a pressure vessel. Pressure is applied to reverse the flow of water, the source of which is usually and existing, pressure is applied to the feed stream, water molecules are passed through the membrane while salts are retained in the feed. Thus, utilizing the principles of water and salts movement, and combining them with pressure and membrane technology, the natural osmotic flow of solution is reversed.

How a membrane separates substances

Metals, Organic compounds, and other contaminants are either too large, or due to their chemistry unable, to pass through the reverse osmosis membrane

Private Water Supplies

Over 19 million American households and cottages rely on private wells. Tens of thousands more rely on lakes, streams, and other surface water sources. Unfortunately, not all of them have a UV water disinfection system protecting them from harmful microorganisms. While nation-wide studies do not exist, smaller scale studies have commonly found that between 20 and 40% of wells in any given region suffer from E.coli and/or coliform bacteria at any given time ? not to mention the countless other microorganisms that may be in a water supply. The fact is that the quality of well water can vary from day to day and from year to year. In the short term, things like heavy rainfalls or snow melt can affect water quality. In the longer term, quality may be affected by distant contamination sources, earthquakes, and other factors. Water that has been safe for years will not necessarily be safe tomorrow.

What Is UV?

Although we can't see UV light, we are exposed to a small amount every time we step out into the sun. In fact, UV light is responsible for sunburns. The water treatment industry uses special lamps that emit UV light of a particular wavelength in order to disinfect water.

UV light works by attacking the genetic core (DNA) of bacteria and viruses, destoying their ability to function and reproduce. The process is simple but effective: our systems destroy 99.99 percent of harmful microorganisms without adding chemicals or changing your water's taste or odour.

Advantages Of UV

There are some very important reasons why homeowners and large cities are choosing UV technology: Highly effective: For over 25 years, UV light has been trusted as a safe, cost-effective way to purify water and eliminate harmful microorganisms. It?s a proven, EPA-endorsed technology that has been chosen by thousands of cities, bottled water manufacturers and others around the world. Chemical free: UV provides water purification without the addition of harmful chemicals like chlorine. It also avoids the potential of generating harmful chemical disinfection by-products. Recent EPA guidelines are forcing cities across the US to reduce or eliminate the use of chlorine for exactly these reasons. Taste & odor free: UV does not change the taste, odor or color of water More effective than chlorine: Unlike chlorine, UV is effective against both Cryptosporidium and Giardia.

Private Water Supplies

Over 19 million American households and cottages rely on private wells. Tens of thousands more rely on lakes, streams, and other surface water sources. Unfortunately, not all of them have a UV water disinfection system protecting them from harmful microorganisms. While nation-wide studies do not exist, smaller scale studies have commonly found that between 20 and 40% of wells in any given region suffer from E.coli and/or coliform bacteria at any given time ? not to mention the countless other microorganisms that may be in a water supply. The fact is that the quality of well water can vary from day to day and from year to year. In the short term, things like heavy rainfalls or snow melt can affect water quality. In the longer term, quality may be affected by distant contamination sources, earthquakes, and other factors. Water that has been safe for years will not necessarily be safe tomorrow.

Munincipal Water Supplies

Around the world, governments invest heavily in order to assure the safety of the drinking water for their citizens. However growing pollution and the costs of maintaining distribution networks make boil water advisories increasingly inevitable. Beyond the inconvenience they cause, such advisories are a clear warning that the clean water we've taken for granted is becoming a scarce resource. In May, 2000, 220 communities in British Columbia and 250 in Newfoundland faced boiled water advisories.

Disinfection

The most common application of UV technology is for disinfection. From water bottling to rinse water disinfection in food-processing plants, and from cooling towers to wastewater disinfection, there are countless disinfection applications of UV. Ultraviolet light, which exists at the invisible, violet end of the light spectrum, is able to disinfect because it is able to penetrate the cells of bacteria and viruses, destroying their ability to reproduce. Unable to reproduce, these organisms die and no longer pose a health threat. The process is simple but effective: our systems destroy 99.99 per cent of harmful microorganisms without adding chemicals or changing taste or odour. Chlorine contributes taste and odours to the water, and can damage RO membranes. For this reason, dechlorination is most often required. Furthermore, both chlorine and ozone may produce by-products that have been linked to cancer, such as trihalomethanes (THMs) in the case of chlorine. UV light does not produce harmful chemicals in drinking water. It's safe, effective, and environmentally friendly.

Solutions For Aquaculture

Water purity is the lifeblood of aquaculture. As higher stock densities and the constant pressures to reduce operating costs drive the industry, dependence on efficient, effective water treatment solutions is growing. Increasingly, the approach to keeping fish stocks free from dangerous viruses and bacteria is the incorporation of Ultraviolet light (UV) into water treatment systems. UV is a safe and extremely cost-effective approach to safeguarding aquaculture facilities from bacteria, viruses, protozoa, spores, and other microorganisms. It is an environmentally friendly approach to water purification that offers these important benefits: • Proven effectiveness • Chemical-free treatment - safe to handle • No toxic by-products • No effect on pH, odor or color • No residue • No risk of overdosing

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