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Thread: DIY Remineralization for RO Water

  1. #1
    Homesteader DiscusLoverJeff's Avatar
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    Default DIY Remineralization for RO Water

    Hello friends,

    In an attempt to experiment with bringing down the costs of the remineralization of RO water and using RO Right, I dug through many websites, forums and blogs to find that not many people have researched this experiment.

    I did however find an old thread from 5 years ago that listed a formula compatible to RO Right and Seachem Equilibrium.

    Here was the formula:

    Powdered compound Grams needed
    K2SO4 43.5
    CaSO4 34.7
    MgSO4 24.7
    FeSO4 0.30
    MnSO4 0.16
    Total weight 103.3

    This should give a percentage concentration that will do the job. The author of the thread is in the UK and found that the costs to do this were much higher making 100 grams almost 6 to 1.

    Here is the complete thread I found.

    http://www.apistogramma.com/forum/in...ro-water.6147/

    The reason for this experiment is simple, since I use 250 grams of RO Right weekly, the costs add up pretty quick. And given no conclusive evidence that Instant Ocean sea salt is the same composition as RO Right I feel compelled to try and make my own solution without harming my fish and altering the water with respect to RO Right that I currently use that is much cheaper with the same results.
    DiscusLoverJeff

    Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
    Confucius

  2. #2
    Registered Member Chad Hughes's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Remineralization for RO Water

    You should be able to make this recipe for less than one US dollar. I use all of these chemicals in planted tanks.

    K2SO4 43.5 $0.19
    CaSO4 34.7 $0.68
    MgSO4 24.7 $0.05
    FeSO4 0.30 $0.01
    MnSO4 0.16 $0.01


    Total weight 103.3 $0.94
    Chad Hughes

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  3. #3
    Homesteader DiscusLoverJeff's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Remineralization for RO Water

    That is good to know Chad. Do you have a source for buying them in bulk possibly?
    DiscusLoverJeff

    Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
    Confucius

  4. #4
    Registered Member Chad Hughes's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Remineralization for RO Water

    I don't have a sole source but most of these items can be found on Ebay. Make sure you purchase solution grade products!
    Chad Hughes

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  5. #5
    Registered Member Larry Bugg's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Remineralization for RO Water

    Larry Bugg

    NADA - Vice President
    Atlanta Area Aquarium Association

  6. #6
    Registered Member Jeff O's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Remineralization for RO Water

    Quote Originally Posted by DiscusLoverJeff View Post
    That is good to know Chad. Do you have a source for buying them in bulk possibly?
    +1
    When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable.
    -Walt Disney

  7. #7
    Homesteader DiscusLoverJeff's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Remineralization for RO Water

    Quote Originally Posted by Chad Hughes View Post
    I don't have a sole source but most of these items can be found on Ebay. Make sure you purchase solution grade products!
    Thank you again. I will pickup all these and mix to the quantities in the formula and test it on a single tank.
    DiscusLoverJeff

    Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
    Confucius

  8. #8
    Registered Member Chad Hughes's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Remineralization for RO Water

    GREAT source!

    I forgot all about this site.

    Quote Originally Posted by Bugman View Post
    Chad Hughes

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  9. #9
    Homesteader DiscusLoverJeff's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Remineralization for RO Water

    Quote Originally Posted by Bugman View Post
    Thanks Larry!
    DiscusLoverJeff

    Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
    Confucius

  10. #10
    Registered Member Larry Bugg's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Remineralization for RO Water

    Yup, before I got into Discus I had a house full of planted tanks. Still have some of the ferts sitting around. Might have to use them.
    Larry Bugg

    NADA - Vice President
    Atlanta Area Aquarium Association

  11. #11
    Homesteader DiscusLoverJeff's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Remineralization for RO Water

    Quote Originally Posted by Chad Hughes View Post
    You should be able to make this recipe for less than one US dollar. I use all of these chemicals in planted tanks.

    K2SO4 43.5 $0.19
    CaSO4 34.7 $0.68
    MgSO4 24.7 $0.05
    FeSO4 0.30 $0.01
    MnSO4 0.16 $0.01


    Total weight 103.3 $0.94
    Chad I was able to find the first 3 ferts but not the last 2. Are they known by another name?

    Thanks again everyone!
    DiscusLoverJeff

    Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
    Confucius

  12. #12
    Registered Member Chad Hughes's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Remineralization for RO Water

    Chad Hughes

    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  13. #13
    Homesteader DiscusLoverJeff's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Remineralization for RO Water

    Hello friends,

    I received the ingredients needed to re-create RO Right (Generic).

    Powdered compound Grams needed
    K2SO4 43.5
    CaSO4 34.7
    MgSO4 24.7
    FeSO4 0.30
    MnSO4 0.16
    Total weight 103.3

    Using a fresh batch of RO/DI water with "0" TDS in my 32 gallon holding barrel, I added a half teaspoon at a time to get the desired 100 TDS (just for experiment). It required, just like RO Right just a bit over 1 full teaspoon.

    The only difference that I noticed is it took a bit longer to disolve and get me to 100. Normally I can get there in 15 minutes with RO Right, this took about 30 minutes. I then tested it after 1 hour and it was still at 100 and then again after 2 hours.

    I also checked my GH and KH and both were at zero. Same as using RO Right.

    So, I will use this water in one of my next water changes today and see if there are any effects on the fish. Stay tuned.

    Thanks.
    DiscusLoverJeff

    Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
    Confucius

  14. #14
    Homesteader DiscusLoverJeff's Avatar
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    Default Re: DIY Remineralization for RO Water

    Just a one month update.

    So far all my water parameters are doing great with the new RO mix. There are no visible effects on the fish. No added algae growth, nothing. All is working out perfectly for 1/4 the cost.

    Cost for 1kg (1000 grams) of my mix is about $6.00 compared to RO Right at $26.00 (including shipping).
    DiscusLoverJeff

    Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.
    Confucius

  15. #15
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    Default Re: DIY Remineralization for RO Water

    Thanks a lot Jeff...appreciate your good intentions and follow up.

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