DIY Water conditioner

Discussion in 'D.I.Y.' started by MarineF, Jul 23, 2012.

  1. Greystoke
    Offline

    Greystoke Specialist

    • APSA Member
    10%
    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2009
    Messages:
    1,768
    Likes Received:
    187
    Trophy Points:
    73
    Location:
    Linton Grange,Port Elizabeth
    To improve filtration you can slow down the water inflow, but - other than that - I truly can't answer your question, except that I NEVER had problems with it.
     
  2. shihr
    Offline

    shihr Administrator Staff Member

    • Super Admin
    23%
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2007
    Messages:
    8,863
    Likes Received:
    1,786
    Trophy Points:
    223
    Location:
    Edenvale
    thats a very cool DIY Cor, you should really post more of your creations here :D
     
  3. JP01
    Offline

    JP01 Moderator Staff Member

    • Global moderator
    73%
    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2012
    Messages:
    6,091
    Likes Received:
    559
    Trophy Points:
    173
    Location:
    Benoni
    +1

    I think it depends on where you stay and how much crap they add to your water! I know in Jeffreys Bay in December the water smells worse than pool water with the amount of Chlorine that they add.

    The only thing is like Cor said is you must keep track of the ammount of water you filter, there is no real indication when the charcoal is saturated, I will still add prime just incase.
     
  4. MarineF
    Offline

    MarineF Algae harvester

    • APSA Member
    40%
    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2011
    Messages:
    140
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    26
    Location:
    JHB. Gauteng
    Ok this is getting intresting.
    I am running a Eheim canister with carbon pads from Eheim fitted between the baskets.
    Will this then help taking out all the nasty chemicals in our drinking water? I am 99% sure after Cor,s explenation on his DIY filter system that it will.
    Cool DIY project 8) +1 for the photos
     
  5. Trev Pleco
    Offline

    Trev Pleco Algae destroyer

    • APSA Member
    23%
    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2010
    Messages:
    5,767
    Likes Received:
    1,760
    Trophy Points:
    223
    Location:
    Constantia, Cape Town
    Instead of buying charcoal at your LPS which is packaged for the fish trade and relatively pricey, can you not buy it in bulk form from another souce I wonder ? I don't mean taking it out of my braai box ;D. I need to water change close to 1500lt a week, hence the question...

    Thanks Cor for the DIY photo as well !
     
  6. MarineF
    Offline

    MarineF Algae harvester

    • APSA Member
    40%
    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2011
    Messages:
    140
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    26
    Location:
    JHB. Gauteng
    Yes you can buy in bulk
    Previous company I worked for used activated carbon in 25kg bags to take yellow colour out of plastizer that they manufacture for the guys making the plastic bags that blood get stored in.
    Will phone up a friend and get details tomorrow, if I remember correctly the company was around JHB area
     
  7. Trev Pleco
    Offline

    Trev Pleco Algae destroyer

    • APSA Member
    23%
    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2010
    Messages:
    5,767
    Likes Received:
    1,760
    Trophy Points:
    223
    Location:
    Constantia, Cape Town
    cool, thanks bud !
     
  8. LIAQUAT
    Offline

    LIAQUAT Algae harvester

    • APSA Member
    53%
    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    Messages:
    129
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Nice thread this.... ;)
    even if just one person can gain from this

    You could DIY as seen by @Greystoke, Cor sounds like a BRAVE fellow, hehe
    Sans Sooty Exhaust Water Rocket Launches ;D
    His approach to PreTreatment is not to be taken lightly, this way he can obviously say that BETTER Water ALWAYS enters his tanks.

    @Trevor Pleco Call or email me

    We've had this chat on a few howling Windy nights , covering your options.
    Remember the TapWater Prefilter used at the tank set-ups and Filmshoot ?
    Removes fine particles suspended in water, AND catalytically removed chlorine as well as various "nasties, average lifespan 6000-10 000L before replacement.
    You didn't by chance get a recent borehole water analysis done did you??
    Activated Carbon only breaks Chloramine down,then removes the Chlorine part. Carbon particle size, and Activated Carbon Quality determines how well, the extent, duration, and lifespan of the filter.
    This is all well and good, BUT it leaves behind, an unwelcome guest! Ammonia !
    To THIS end, and a few other precautions. I suggest you undertake the next step!

    THEN dose a fraction of your fave water conditioner eg. Prime
    Mainly to react with compounds other than Chlorine (which has already been dealt with Water:Carbon contact time)
    I use about 50% dose, for the fish protective, slime regenerative benefits..as well as Chloramine, Ammonia, Nitrite detox* effects.
    This would work about anywhere in SA

    *Note, if water has any protein based organic matter in water ....Just by reacting WITH Chlorine , some Chloramines* can be FORMED
    Besides Chloramine dosed by municipal water boards.

    The above outlined water prep method doesn't reduce GH, KH, TDS
    pH may be altered by max 0.5-1.0 depending on CO2 entrained in your supply, and degassing by aeration after prefiltration..

    Here are Two more reliable Ammonia removal methods PRIOR to Tank use:

    1. Good Quality Aquarium Clinoptilolite (Alumino-Silicate) Zeolite in a commissioned or DIY chamber can/will remove Ammonia by ion-exchange . Advantageous that it's rechargeable to a large extent.
    1. Passing water into a vat or tank with lighting, and rapid growing floating plants can also holistically remove ammonia and "Biologically" condition your water before it's used in your aquaria...
    Simple adjustment to within a few degrees celcius of ideal aquarium maintainance Temperature may be all that's needed for most , except extremely delicate aquarium species.
    Within reason, of course, you would'nt dump 18C water into a Discus aquarium at 29-30C, if you did more than 10% on a cold, wintry day...
    Common sense will help with this part :eek:



    @MarineF , maybe you mean simple TapWater Dechlorinator, not a Complete Conditioner per se?
    if so then
    @Shihr I STILL get mine from China, so I have those "crystals" Your Dad used.
    "hypo" Still common in Chinese, South East Asian hobby circles where Chlorine is about all that they need to bother with.

    Soft , neutral to slightly acidic water, in temperate to tropical climates can be such a curse! :p

    UK hobby market has Metal Ex, and "MetalAxe" units which WILL remove Chlorine AND Chloramine, these are special Carbon based Catalytic Filtration units which are good enough for inline use at Discus Breeders who require clean, safe, good quality water .

    Those who wish to, then choose to manipulate hardness and/or pH if needed , AFTERWARDS by DeIonising, Reverse Osmosis, proprietary buffers, Alkalisers, Acidifiers, peat , mineralisers, Or Ion Exchange

    ***hypo = Sodium thiosulphate = Na2S203
    An oldschool Chemical fixative in photographic "DarkRoom" pic development.
    Basis of virtually all known simple Dechlorinators.
    Refined, combined with synergistic sompounds this is what you willl encounter in your li'l bottle at LFS

    AVOID modern photographic HYPO formulations, they contain Ammonium salts...a NONO !!!

    Me?
    I use 2 Stage tapWater Prefilters, Or RO depends on final species water needs.
    Then I use Seachem Prime, fractional dose.
    After that I prepare water according the needs of the species...
    Be it harder , alkaline, acid, softer ,or saline.

    [I keep marine fish, Coral, Planted , Brackish, Discus, ColdWater, Riftlake, and all manner of species in between not mentioned here. ]


    HTH
     
  9. Greystoke
    Offline

    Greystoke Specialist

    • APSA Member
    10%
    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2009
    Messages:
    1,768
    Likes Received:
    187
    Trophy Points:
    73
    Location:
    Linton Grange,Port Elizabeth
    Very constructive points.[​IMG]
     
  10. MarineF
    Offline

    MarineF Algae harvester

    • APSA Member
    40%
    Joined:
    Jul 13, 2011
    Messages:
    140
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    26
    Location:
    JHB. Gauteng
    Ok lesson learned I thought that activated carbon and charcoal at the LFS is the same thing.
    So what you gyus are saying is that charcoal filterd water is the way forward.
    I have a proper RO system in the house mainly for drinking water and was always weary to use the filterd water in my tank because off the pH etc. and aslo growing plants it was not a option because off the pure water

    I presume that one can get a charcoal filter for a RO system then?
    Awhile back my daughter came home from a fleamarket with two small boxes one yellow and one blue (writing in Chinese)
    and the guy selling the stuff swore this was the next best thing since sliced bread.
    The Blue box had a greyish powder which was supposed to make your water crystal clear and I have to admit,it did indeed! my tank water was hazie and after adding the powder cleared up to crystal clear water.
    The yellow packed had a sticky substance like wet sugar which was supposed to be bacteria, but I never gave it a try
    I tried to Google the name and company but had no luck in finding anything and as luck has it cannot find anymore off the stuff :'(
     
  11. Trev Pleco
    Offline

    Trev Pleco Algae destroyer

    • APSA Member
    23%
    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2010
    Messages:
    5,767
    Likes Received:
    1,760
    Trophy Points:
    223
    Location:
    Constantia, Cape Town
    Glad to see Lqt is back and on form, will call !
     

Share This Page