How to test for chloramine

ostrow · 07/13/2017, 07:45 AM

A number of factors have lead me to order a Hach test kit.

Some test the ro waste water. I don't get why. Others test faucet. Others the output from membrane.

What is the right answer here?

Gladmaker · 07/13/2017, 07:57 AM

I don't know why test the waste water. I don't care what's in that. It goes down the drain. I can understand testing the faucet to see if there's anything to be concerned about.
I did not see any Hach that tests for chloramine.

bertoni · 07/13/2017, 01:52 PM

I would test the water that I intend to use, which generally is the output, not the waste water. I might test the tap water as a sort of sanity test on the test kit itself.

ostrow · 07/13/2017, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

I would test the water that I intend to use, which generally is the output, not the waste water. I might test the tap water as a sort of sanity test on the test kit itself.

Makes sense, thanks.

Reading more some say chloramine can kill ro membranes fast and I have had to change mine like every 18mo.

So maybe I should test at the input to the membrane (out of the booster pump)?

bertoni · 07/13/2017, 03:45 PM

Membranes that could be damaged by chloramines should have a carbon phase before the membrane itself. I don't think that the membrane should have much trouble if the filter has prefilters that are changed on a reasonable schedule, but it's hard to know what's in everyone's tap water. Some membranes are fine with chlorine (the actual chemical that damages other membranes). I think that most of those are made with TFC, but I am forgetting my acronyms. What membrane is in your system?

ostrow · 07/13/2017, 04:06 PM

I have a Dow Filmtec 75, with 2x carbon blocks in front of it. I swap the oldest and rotate up every 3mos or so. The cartridges are from one of the regular suppliers (I think these are from h20 or air/water/ice. One of those.)

ostrow · 07/13/2017, 04:43 PM

Anyway total chlorine tested 0 out of booster pump.

I am not sure what the difference is with "free" but will test that soon.

bertoni · 07/13/2017, 05:31 PM

I'm not sure what's killing your membranes, then. A water source with a lot of metals and some carbonate might do that. In that situation, an ion-exchange filter can help, although it might not be worth the cost.

tazzy695 · 07/13/2017, 05:44 PM

Another question is how much preasure is the booster pump puting out might actualy be to high causing the dammage

ostrow · 07/13/2017, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bertoni

I'm not sure what's killing your membranes, then. A water source with a lot of metals and some carbonate might do that. In that situation, an ion-exchange filter can help, although it might not be worth the cost.

Well it's Chicago. Out water is pretty good. TDS of the source is only like 173. And if this were the case there would be hundreds of such problems from others.

ostrow · 07/13/2017, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tazzy695

Another question is how much preasure is the booster pump puting out might actualy be to high causing the dammage

Frankly I am more comcerned about the corals.

Vinny Kreyling · 07/14/2017, 08:12 AM

Test tap water for reference, test membrane output for confidence of system.
A water report from the water supplier should tell you if they use chlorinates.
Usually available online.

ostrow · 07/14/2017, 10:14 AM

OK so "total chlorine" measured 0. "Free chlorine" measured 1.4/5 = about 0.3

Hach CN-70 kit.

It is the water post-carbon going into the membrane.

I could not find a good explanation of total vs free carbon or whether this level is something I must address. Anyone know?

bertoni · 07/15/2017, 09:26 PM

Sorry, I am behind on posting. I've been dealing with a mild health problem.

I am confused. I don't know how total chlorine could be zero, but there is free chlorine. I'll try to take a look at the test kit description. What are the units on the measurements?

ostrow · 07/17/2017, 12:22 PM

Yeah I don't think it can be. Likely both zero or close enough that my search is best elsewhere.

Barro777 · 07/18/2017, 01:48 PM

Free chlorine reading, by definition, cannot be higher than total chlorine. Anyhow, if your water at the point of measurement contained chloramine, your total chlorine reading wouldn't be zero. Hence, there has to be something else causing premature membrane failure.

07/13/2017, 07:45 AM	#1
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	How to test for chloramine A number of factors have lead me to order a Hach test kit. Some test the ro waste water. I don't get why. Others test faucet. Others the output from membrane. What is the right answer here? __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

07/13/2017, 07:57 AM	#2
Gladmaker Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Bentonville, AR Posts: 137	I don't know why test the waste water. I don't care what's in that. It goes down the drain. I can understand testing the faucet to see if there's anything to be concerned about. I did not see any Hach that tests for chloramine. Last edited by Gladmaker; 07/13/2017 at 08:03 AM.

07/13/2017, 01:52 PM	#3
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I would test the water that I intend to use, which generally is the output, not the waste water. I might test the tap water as a sort of sanity test on the test kit itself. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/13/2017, 03:45 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Membranes that could be damaged by chloramines should have a carbon phase before the membrane itself. I don't think that the membrane should have much trouble if the filter has prefilters that are changed on a reasonable schedule, but it's hard to know what's in everyone's tap water. Some membranes are fine with chlorine (the actual chemical that damages other membranes). I think that most of those are made with TFC, but I am forgetting my acronyms. What membrane is in your system? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/13/2017, 04:06 PM	#6
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	I have a Dow Filmtec 75, with 2x carbon blocks in front of it. I swap the oldest and rotate up every 3mos or so. The cartridges are from one of the regular suppliers (I think these are from h20 or air/water/ice. One of those.) __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

07/13/2017, 04:43 PM	#7
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	Anyway total chlorine tested 0 out of booster pump. I am not sure what the difference is with "free" but will test that soon. __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

07/13/2017, 05:31 PM	#8
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'm not sure what's killing your membranes, then. A water source with a lot of metals and some carbonate might do that. In that situation, an ion-exchange filter can help, although it might not be worth the cost. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/13/2017, 05:44 PM	#9
tazzy695 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: flint, michigan Posts: 104	Another question is how much preasure is the booster pump puting out might actualy be to high causing the dammage

07/14/2017, 08:12 AM	#12
Vinny Kreyling Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Miller Place, NY Posts: 7,206	Test tap water for reference, test membrane output for confidence of system. A water report from the water supplier should tell you if they use chlorinates. Usually available online. __________________ 250 gallon mixed reef, 2 Reefbreeder's Photon V 2, Deepwater BLDC 12, DAS EX-3 Skimmer, MTC mini cal, 2-3/4" Sea Swirls, Aquacontroller & 6 Tunze pumps.

07/14/2017, 10:14 AM	#13
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	OK so "total chlorine" measured 0. "Free chlorine" measured 1.4/5 = about 0.3 Hach CN-70 kit. It is the water post-carbon going into the membrane. I could not find a good explanation of total vs free carbon or whether this level is something I must address. Anyone know? __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

07/15/2017, 09:26 PM	#14
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	Sorry, I am behind on posting. I've been dealing with a mild health problem. I am confused. I don't know how total chlorine could be zero, but there is free chlorine. I'll try to take a look at the test kit description. What are the units on the measurements? __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

07/17/2017, 12:22 PM	#15
ostrow It's Dr. Goodluck Himself Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Oak Park, IL Posts: 11,654	Yeah I don't think it can be. Likely both zero or close enough that my search is best elsewhere. __________________ It's the return of Dr. Goodluck Himself. fml! Current Tank Info: 156G "brick", 150 sump and 75 fuge replaces Fire, Destruction, Sad :(

07/18/2017, 01:48 PM	#16
Barro777 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 173	Free chlorine reading, by definition, cannot be higher than total chlorine. Anyhow, if your water at the point of measurement contained chloramine, your total chlorine reading wouldn't be zero. Hence, there has to be something else causing premature membrane failure.