• SiO2 and osmosis

  • David3217

I measured the water after reverse osmosis for silicates, and the result surprised me: 0.8 mg/L. I changed the membrane about 3 months ago. Is this normal, or is there something wrong with the membrane? I know that the filter doesn't remove 100% of silicates, but 0.8 seems a bit high to me...

James4342

We have 6 mg/l before the membrane and 2 mg/l after. Silicates are very difficult to remove from water. Only ion exchange resin works, and not just any resin. Recently, I tried a resin, and it removed everything except for silicates.

Kyle

Among the available options that effectively remove silicates, I can mention the MV20 resin from Fauna Marin. It is also quite affordable.

Matthew

Thank you, I need to try it! After my last water change (20%), diatoms started to grow. I checked the silicate level in the aquarium, and the test showed 0.6 mg/L. I put JBL SilicatEX in the filter, and after 36 hours the level dropped to 0.1 mg/L, phosphates are not detectable. However, the diatoms haven't disappeared yet...

Brianna

It is essential to test the water for replacement/top-off. In an aquarium, silicates may not be detected, as they manifest as a brown film, mainly on the glass and less on the rocks.

Scott8536

One more question: is it possible to distinguish diatoms from dinoflagellates without a microscope?

Laura4892

I'm not really an expert, but it seems to me that it can be done without a microscope... Dinoflagellates roughly resemble a greasy film with moving and swaying rays. This is just my personal opinion and my observations.

Richard2180

And who has tried this thing, does it give anything?

Brian7092

For resin placement, it is better to use this, but first replace the filler with a mixture of anion/cation resins.

Steven7574

Experienced aquarists on the RC and AL forums negatively characterize the use of nitrate filters. Two proven methods: 1. DSB 2. Algae scrubber with caulerpa and chaetomorpha.

Stacey4437

No one wants to use a nitrate filter for water treatment. The container for the resin is good. We throw the sulfur balls in the trash and fill it with resin. The container has fittings for the osmotic tube.

Joshua9847

Yes, I agree! Sorry, I got delayed.

Matthew

How much does the osmotic installation itself cost?