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Hello! I'm using a 100 micron filter sock in my sump on the water coming from the overflow box. I'd like to keep it clean, of course. Do I need to replace it with a new one when it gets dirty or can I possibly throw this one in the washing machine? If I can wash it in the machine... only...

I live in central Virginia and have scoured every Lowes, Home Depot, Wal-Mart and K-Mart in my area looking for the elusive arragonite playsand. So far all I can find is the usual silicate crap. The stores can't find any options for me and the UPCs and SKUs I've offered come up as useless or...

I call this "stupid shrimp tricks" and often stick my hand in the tank for visitors. :) Everyone is always amazed when he hops on my hand and runs up and down my arm. I guess people don't tend to associate animals in a saltwater tank with being that interactive or tame. Always a good...

I'll check, but my profile should be pretty accurate. None of the mechanics of the system have changed for sure (size, equipment, etc). My water changing was all over the board in the last few months - but levels have remained the same nonetheless. I'm getting back onto a more regular schedule...

By "mechanical pre-filter", do you mean the pad I removed? The pad that came out is a real nightmare to handle. How does my filter-sock compare to the pad's role since the outflow water is having to pass through it before it goes into the sump. Just want to make sure I understand your meaning...

I've not been active in the forums for several months... life has been busy and the tank has been plodding along fine in the meantime. No new problems I haven't always had... no new real developments, either. I'd say I've just been "maintaining" things while I've been absent and not making any...

Not to sound utterly negative, but I'm predicting the Angel is on the way out... maybe tonight. He still refuses to eat and his face and body are getting a gaunt, sunken appearance. His breathing is very labored as well and he spends a good deal of time near the bottom. Water parameters...

Tomorrow I'm going to get the water checked pretty thoroughly at the college where I work. We have an Environmental Studies department that has a whole water test lab and, from what I gather, some pretty extensive testing capabilities. The professor who runs that lab is going to meet me there...

True. Well, like I said, I'm going to weigh all the options. For instance, if getting just a DI that will work is at all comparable to a new full RO with a higher GPD rating AND integrated DI... I suspect new systems are frequently cheaper based on the razor blade theory of selling me...

Your comment there does bring up a question for me: what is there to go wrong on these? You replace the key pieces of them from time to time (filters and membranes) inherently... the rest just seems to be pretty innocuous tubing and framework. Do they become less functional over time? Of...

Well, Kent was right. Before they even told me to do it, I had inserted the new membrane and pressed it hard against a wall, the floor, etc., until I was literally red in the face. All I could imagine was breaking something (either the RO or me) and decided there is no WAY this will work...

Which I might still do since I don't yet have a DI unit and these systems are complete. Bummer is that I just bought all new filters for about what this cost and now I've got a membrane that I still can't be sure I can use. Kent Marine just told me "push harder", so I'm off to try that. We...

I agree if the membrane is going to cost me anywhere near a new system. Do you have any recommended systems that are cost effective? The Kent ones are kind of a premium and, if the membranes I'm getting are "generic" (as they seem to be from just about all vendors), I'm not sure what justifies...

Well, the output rate with the original membrane is the correct 4:1 balance of waste to production. The previous owner used it as it came and I've never changed it, so my gut feeling is the output hoses are right. The thing is that when I use the new membrane, I ONLY get output from the blue...

I could take some shots of it... but, honestly, it looks like the pictures I see online and I don't know quite what to change in the "wiring". Yellow hose goes in to the bottom left pre-filter, moves to the right pre-filter, out to my booster pump, back through a PSI guage and into the right...

I just spoke with our environmental sciences professor (he called me this morning) and we're planning to do some extensive water testing tomorrow. I hope to have some pretty detailed and accurate profiles of this and that and I'll report back my findings. :) Thanks! - Aaron

Well, they were pretty helpful today and I don't know that they won't take it back. I'm curious, though, about why the membrane won't work and what the differences are. They seem certain it should work in a Kent unit. Thanks! - Aaron

Hello! I have what I've been told (by Kent Marine) to be a 24 GPD TFC R/O unit (it was given to me, so I wasn't sure and it's not labeled). Since I don't know the age of the filters, I ordered a new membrane and all new pre-filters. The pre-filters are no problem, but there are differences...

Also, is there an acceptable target TDS? 0 is likely the best, I imagine, but what is tolerable so I have some guidelines while I seek to get it tested? Thanks! - Aaron

Cool - this is helpful (as always). :) I'll start the changes and hope it's not too late for him. I do have a refractometer, so I'm fairly confident in the salinity measurements I'm getting. Thanks! - Aaron

Well, I can switch to hypo fairly easily, I suppose. I guess I got the impression that cupramine was the way to go, but that's obviously my mistake reading your linked post again. <sigh> Water changes and maybe replace the current polyfilter with the original polyfilter with carbon granules...

The angel has no interest in eating whatsoever. Two pieces of food, soaked in garlic sit there without garnering his interest. One bounced off his head on the way down... Scopas dead, Angel looking like he's next soon. So far my QTs look like a death setence instead of a place for cures...

I'm snagging an inexpensive TDS from eBay right now. I'll hopefully know more in a few days time. I'll also try to get it tested more immediately in some other way, but I figure I need the TDS for the long term if I'm operating an RO. Thanks! - Aaron

Does this look to be a decent TDS meter and, if so, is the price reasonable? Anyone else bought this on eBay before? http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=20684&item=4385234256&rd=1 Thanks! - Aaron

No - but I can get the well water and the RO water tested pretty soon, I think. I work for a small college with a good environmental sciences department (along with Chemistry and Biology) and I think they can do some pretty extensive tests for me. I'll find out - I've been meaning to do it for...