Remineralization Cartridges: Thoughts?

[TripleT]

New to the forum here and was wondering if a person has an acidic water source that using one of these after the DI is viable?

Articles claim that the remineralization cartridge will bring Ph to around the 8.2 - 8.3 level. Also, if anyone uses one of these cartridges, what is the life span of it? ie:gallons of H2O before replacement.

Which brand/manufacturer would be best for our hobby?

Thanks

[rayjay]

IMO, absolutely no need for it as everything needed is already in the salt mix.

[TripleT]

So, if you have acidic water, the salt mix would bring Ph into the correct range?

I hope that it is not by "Trial and Error" that a salt mix and water ratio is determined. This would seem rather futile. Unless you know what your water Ph is and what the alkalinity of your brand of salt will correct.

Am I missing something?

Cheers!

[Aquattro]

Adding the correct amount of salt into your fresh water will give you a pH in the correct range. Unless your tap water is pulling from beneath a volcano or some other weird source

[rayjay]

Measurement of pH of RO/DI water will not give you a factual result because the pH reading is going to be dependent on salts in the water which are non existent if your unit is working properly.
All salt mixes have buffers in them that will give you the proper pH assuming all other factors are correct.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by rayjay

Measurement of pH of RO/DI water will not give you a factual result because the pH reading is going to be dependent on salts in the water

No. pH measures the concentration of H+ ions in solution, not salts. RO, DI or other water can all be measured with a meter calibrated for the expected range. RO should be theoretically 7.0 and will be dependent on dissolved gases (O2, CO2) contributing ions to the mix.

TDS will measure salts and other dissolved solids in solution.

[Myka]

As i was reading this, Brad I'm glad you read the article and replied because I didn't want to type it oht on my phone.

pH is probably the most misinterpreted parameter in our tanks.