Kold Ster-il and RO units

[PhoenixOne]

I have a Kold Ster-il three stage filter for a year and a half that was recommended by one of my bro-in-laws who has been in the hobby for 15 years. I like it because there is no waste water and I don't have to wonder where am I gonna put that pressure tank. I have a hair algae problem and I was told to get a TDS meter to check the levels. Here is the thing. Kold Ster-il units don't block everything. It allows calcium, magnesium bicarbonates.....in other words, alot of good stuff. So, that means a TDS meter will not show 0 due to this. And a TDS meter doesn't tell you what solvents are being let through like phosphates and the other baddies. Kold Ster-il offers something called activated alumina that I can put in the 2nd stage of the filter. But, I already have a phosban reactor running for 2 weeks(still have hair algae) so getting this alumina would be a waste...no? Does anyone else use Kold Ster-il? What are your experiences with it? (ordered TDS meter tuesday which will be here tomorrow, just found out about above info 20 mins ago, prob tds meter a waste of money now!:irked

AGA 72g Bow Front Reef Ready
115 lbs LR
CPR CY194 w/skimmer
Live sand/crushed coral
Three Hydor Koralia PH (two #3, one #2)
Coralife twist 9w UV sterilizer
Phosban Reactor
Kold Steril II 3 stage water filter
Ammonia 0
Nitrates <15 ppm Nitrites 0
Phosphates 0(according to IO test-I doubt it)
Calcuim (this is where it gets weird) Instant Ocean= 750. My LFS Elos test= 350. go figure!
Alk 6.5 meq
PH 8.0
25% Bi-weekly water changes using tropic marine pro reef

P.s....F*** hair algae!!!

 

[tommy818]

tropic marin has the highest phosphate of all salts.u need to get your calcium and alk up .cal over 400 alk 8-10.i dont know what cal supp u use .i have great success with b-ionic.i would also start dripping kalkwasser.the b-ionic will raise your cal and the kalk will mantain your levels.it will enhance your skimmer and precipitate the phos.when u drip the kalk make sure u drip the clear make up not any powder .the best way to drip kalk is with a kalk reactor.the solution stays super saturated.this will give u a high ph 8.2-8.4 and will encorage coraline growth and help minimize the hair algae also get some grazers like blue legged hermits scarlets and astrea snails.also try adding a kole tang will help keep your polished im not familiar with the kole unit but i dont think thats your problem.i use a ro di 6 stage from spectrapure.hope this info helps it works for me i have not a spec of algae in my tank coraline grows out of control tank 180 all sps

 

[PhoenixOne]

Sorry, I didn't list my inhabitants because they are too many. But I do have 15 astrea, 8 emeralds, 50 nassarius, 20 hermits of various kinds, and I use ESV B-Ionic Calcuim and Alk. I also have 1 hippo, 1 "lolipop and 1 yellow tang.(bastards don't touch the stuff!) So I really can't put another tang in there. Kalk reactor huh? I've heard things can go wrong with those things......

Aw crap, just looked at what one costs.:sad2:

 

[tommy818]

the one i use is made by precision marine it has a maxi jet 400 to mix the kalk.i use adigital timer mixing the kalk 3 times a day for 15 mins i add 2 scoops of kalk about 1 in in the reactor i gravity feed the reactor from fresh water res it has intake port to fill the reactor and i use a pinch valve to drip 1 drop per second.this rate keeps up with my evaporation.best unit i ever purchased.also make sure u dose your b -ionic early in the morning i use a doser to dose mine