[MarinePig]

I recently purchased a RO/DI unit and finally got enough water to do a water change with it. When I was at the fish store, I got into a conversation with a very helpful and knowledgable employee who said that Stress Coat or some type of additive was needed in my area to neutralize Chloramines that my area adds to the water (for what ever reasons). He stated that he believes the only thing it would do bad for the tank would be for the protein skimmer to produce a lot of foam. I hadn't made the decision for a RO/DI at the time but do I still need an additive if I ran it through the Ro/DI? Aside from adding the salt of course.

[ricksreef]

since the ammonia is bound to the chlorine and RO's remove chlorine,
i would think that an RO would remove it no problem. after you make
some RO water, do an ammonia test on it to be sure. as far as using stress
coat, you need to be careful with colliodal additives (slimy stuff) as it
can coat & smother small coral polyps, etc.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by MarinePig

I recently purchased a RO/DI unit and finally got enough water to do a water change with it. When I was at the fish store, I got into a conversation with a very helpful and knowledgable employee who said that Stress Coat or some type of additive was needed in my area to neutralize Chloramines that my area adds to the water (for what ever reasons).

I don't agree with his advice. I believe that an R.O./D.I. will remove chloramines adequately for our purposes. Dr. Randy Holmes-Farley actually ran some tests to measure this and his results can be found in this article: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-1...ture/index.htm

I believe we discussed Stress Coat in your other thread. I'm sure the very helpful and knowledgable employee is just doing what he is being paid to do but I question his motives in recommending products that he sells as being required in spite of the fact that you are running an R.O./D.I. unit. And, as I said in my response in your previous thread, I don't believe I would be adding aloe vera to my tank.

He stated that he believes the only thing it would do bad for the tank would be for the protein skimmer to produce a lot of foam. I hadn't made the decision for a RO/DI at the time but do I still need an additive if I ran it through the Ro/DI?

Why not ask the very helpful and knowledgable employee to explain exactly what's in Stress Coat and exactly how it neutralizes chloramines? How does it break up the molecules and then what does it do with the resulting ammonia? How is the ammonia bound? What are the other compounds produced? (We can't know this unless we know what's in Stress Coat.) Why is aloe vera necessary? What about all of the other unknown organics that are probably included? (Obviously he knows that it is loaded with organics, since he mentioned that it will make your skimmer go nuts.)

[MarinePig]

Originally Posted by Ninong

I don't agree with his advice. I believe that an R.O./D.I. will remove chloramines adequately for our purposes. Dr. Randy Holmes-Farley actually ran some tests to measure this and his results can be found in this article: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-1...ture/index.htm

I believe we discussed Stress Coat in your other thread. I'm sure the very helpful and knowledgable employee is just doing what he is being paid to do but I question his motives in recommending products that he sells as being required in spite of the fact that you are running an R.O./D.I. unit. And, as I said in my response in your previous thread, I don't believe I would be adding aloe vera to my tank.

I did mention that I had not made the decision to purchase the RI/DO unit when I talked to him. He just stated I needed something to neutralize the Chloramines when I mentioned about mixing the saltwater and letting it sit to allow the Chlorine to evaporate. He said setting the water out would not get rid of the Chloramines. I told him that I already had some stress coat, and if that would work. He said he was sure is would, then we walked over to the bottle of the stuff just to make sure. My question was now that I have an RO/DI unit, do I still need something to neutralize the Chloramines? Apparantly that is a no by the article you attached. I think the term were a little over my head but I think I got the jist that it takes out the Chloramines. I asked here since I haven't been back to the store. As far as the other questions, I'll have to ask him the next time I go. Thank you for your time.