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Old 09-27-2004   #56 (permalink)
MikeM
Daihonmei
 
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Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Orlando, Florida
Posts: 5,297
Welcome to the K-B board! It gives a unique window on koikeeping around the world.

I'll defer to others regarding reverse osmosis units available in your area and cost of operation. The problem many encounter is storing until ready to use and disposal of the waste water, which contains the concentrated minerals which could not pass through the membrane. This is a small amont if your maintenance regime involves few water changes, but the more water you use as part of the maintenance routine, the more waste water you will need to dispose. For example, if you use 50% RO water to get the water where you want it, and do 35% water changes during the week, you will be replacing about 10 tons per week, using 5 tons of RO water. To avoid fluctuating water conditions, you will need to have storage for that 5 tons of RO water so it is available when you need it. RO units vary in their efficiency. Some produce almost as much waste as they do pure RO water and it will vary depending on usage between replacement of membranes etc. If you will be disposing of, say, 2.5 tons of water for each 5 tons of RO water produced, you may be able to use it in the garden without inconvenience, if your unit is located where disposal lines can be conveniently run. Using RO becomes the critical factor in maintenance and operation. All of your routines will be re-adjusted around availability of the RO water. So, be sure you understand how it impacts you before you jump in. If the change in you routines is workable, then go for it.

As to using ozone, I have seen terrible damage done by it. It is a very dangerous gas. Before you go that route be sure you fully appreciate how destructive ozone is. If not removed from the filtered water before being returned to the pond, your fish will be at risk. All plastics, rubber etc. degrade rapidly in the presence of ozone and begin to crumble. So it must be removed before it enters pvc piping etc. Ozone can reduce TDS to the extent the TDS is organic. While some non-organic dissolved solids may be oxidized to a non-dissolvable form, ozone is best limited to oxidizing organics. I would never recommend ozone to anyone simply because I've seen the damage it can do.
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