Does Distilled=Silicates if so can I DI

[4angel]

I have had my tank up for two years now I have been using distilled H2O from the jump. Because of regular water changes I have had success with my Nitrate levels have which have been 10 at most. I have a 40 brd. CPR bac pac and a aqua clear 300 for circ. I also have a couple of power heads for circ as well. I have had some dayatom blooms as well as some hair that I manage to control, I have checked and had little to no PH 4 traceable. I heard and read of silicates being a cause of these things I don't know if distilled H2O has silicates is there a kit to test.? Also I read on a thread that Ion exchange resins by way of deionizing can help control this problem. If this is the case can use this method in the system described. And if so where can I purchase these at a LFS.
_________________
pot joints

 

[wombat1]

I've heard silicates cause diatoms also, but I've never heard of distilled water having any amounts of it. I'm not sure where else it could enter your system. What salt do you use??

 

[4angel]

I would use reef crystals at first. Then I heard the same company that puts out instant ocean owns reef crystals. So its been instant ocean for a while.
_________________
schrom plant

 

[SPC]

Also I read on a thread that Ion exchange resins by way of deionizing can help control this problem. If this is the case can use this method in the system described. And if so where can I purchase these at a LFS.

-I am not sure if I understand your question, but the deionizing that you read about is done in the DI portion of an RO/DI unit. If your system is not to large, you can get excellent results with the Tap Water Purifier, which is basically just the DI portion. The reason most of us don't use this product is that it is only effective for about 50 gallons of water.
BTW, I don't believe that silicates are your problem seeing as you also have hair algae.
Steve

 

[4angel]

not much hair. only in one or two spots. The D Ionizing
occurs with a tap water purifier.?
_________________
grapefruit pics

 

[danmhippo]

I think you should invest in a silicate test kit to determin if this is the culprit before you buy any tap purifier. I know salifert has silicate test kits.

 

[O P Ing]

hi.
Is any of the Si test kit any good?

If you nitrate is 10ppm, it is more of a problem than the amount of Si in your distill water when it comes to hair algea and diatom.

Si is very difficult to carry over in the distill process. If there is any, it is probably due to post-distill containmation.

 

[Bubafat]

By definition, distilled water should have 0 silicates due to the method in which it is processed. The problem with distilled water is that many places who process distilled water use copper pipes which is a problem in reef tanks, especially with crustaceans.

Bubafat

 

[tstone]

I have been useing distiled water in my nano for about a year with no ill effects. Distiled water is not the culprit for algea or diatoms.
I have never heard of there being a problem with copper either.

.02