DI System for the Aquarium Industry

SINGLE STEP TREATMENT FOR SMALL WASTE GENERATORS

Jenchem, Inc. has developed a new deionization (DI) system to generate low cost/high purity water that is ideal for use in water changes by the aquarist or small volume user. With Jenchem's DI system, you can connect directly to either tap water or an RO (reverse osmosis) system. Our unit is designed to generate 18 meg ohm water (laboratory grade/ high purity water) at a cost of $0.16/gal. The resins can be regenerated at our plant which means there is no waste. Jenchem's DI system removes mineral hardness, chlorides, silica, nitrates, ammonia, and phosphate.

By using a special method to regenerate each resin column, we increase the removal capacity of each column thereby optimizing the amount of water generated from each unit. We have found that after regeneration, our resins' removal rate of TOC (total organic carbon) is increased. TOC has been found to be harmful to aquatic life.

Why purify water for your aquarium?

Most municipal water supplies are adequate for general aquatic applications. The need for soft, low-pH water is required specific applications like raising Discus, having a planted tank, or when mixing salt water for a mini reef.

In order to make your source water pure, you must first be aware of its qualities. This knowledge will enable you to apply the correct methods to remove undesirable components. Most municipal water systems use chlorine or chloramine to help control bacterial growth, and many older systems contain phosphate compounds to help control leaching of heavy metals (like lead and copper) into the water supply. Another component of source water may be ammonia/nitrate, found in rainfall runoff or from the break down of organic matter. You should also be aware of your water's pH and alkalinity (usually in the form of carbonates and bicarbonates). You can usually get a report on all these factors from your local municipal treatment facility.

All hobbyists should neutralize chlorine and chloramine, but the removal of the other "impurities" depends on your requirements. Discus breeders will want to eliminate alkalinity and general hardness to help maintain a lower pH. Reefkeepers will want ammonia, nitrate, and phosphates removed to avoid algae blooms. There are basically two methods available to purify your water: RO (reverse osmosis) and DI (deionization).

Deionization is the process of chemically purifying water by means of ion exchange. Ions in water will have either a negative (anion) charge or a positive (cation) charge. Most deionization systems use man-made resins which contain exchange or bonding sites designed to remove specific ions. Cations are removed (replaced) by using a cation resin. This will, for example, bond magnesium (Mg2+) and calcium (Ca2+) ions, which are a source of hardness, and replace these ions with hydrogen (h+).

Anions are generally what concern aquatic hobbyists the most. Phosphate (PO43-) and nitrate (NO 3-), for example, will be removed by anionic resins and replaced in solution by hydroxyl ions (OH-). (Please note that home "water softeners" do remove general hardness (Mg and Ca), but replace them with sodium (Na+) cations and the anions are replaced with chloride (Cl-)). These softeners soften the water preventing calcium build up in your pipes, but as far as fish are concerned, one "rock" has been exchanged for another. Increased Na+ may bother Tetras and some catfish.

The advantages of deionization:

High water purity.
Large quantities of water can be produced quickly.
Easy unit set up.
Resins will last until it is saturated when kept wet.
Low water waste.

How Jenchem's DI System is Different from Others

At Jenchem, we use only the highest quality materials in construction. The industry evaluates each system on its capacity to remove impurities. Since silica is the most difficult ion to remove, it is one of the methods used to determine a system's effectiveness. Along with silica, conductivity is another measurement used to evaluate effectiveness. The lower the conductivity, the "cleaner" the water.

Using these qualities as factors, the Jenchem Model 370's rated capacity is 1400 grains(17.1 ppm of TDS per grain). This means that if the water being treated has a conductivity value of 100 ppm TDS (total dissolved solids), the JC 370 can produce 239 gallons of 18 meg ohm water (almost distilled water). For your reference, average tap water is around 100 ppm TDS or 200 micro ohms.

If you supplied RO water to the JC 370, the average TDS would be 10 ppm. One would expect to generate 2,300 gallons of 18 meg ohm water before resin regeneration is required.

Below are tables comparing leading manufacturers of DI systems and the cost per gallon treated.

* Using water having 100 ppm TDS

*If you used a RO System in front of the DI Unit

As you can see from the tables, the Jenchem JC 370 is the most cost efficient DI system available to the hobbyist, saving you up to ten times the money when using other DI systems. Contact us at the number below to order yours today.

Copyright 1997 Jenchem, Inc.