Ro water ??

[Jag75]

Only Ro water I can find says minerals added for taste ? J dont trust the Glacier water machine as it's not showing the last service date .

 

[RPh_Guy]

You can use a TDS meter to test the filter quality. The meters are cheap.

 

[MakeDankBeer]

Have you tried aquarium stores? Usually they sell RO with nothing in it

 

[Jag75]

Have you tried aquarium stores? Usually they sell RO with nothing in it

Hmmm I'll have to check that out ty

 

[Jag75]

One machine I found said last service was 2-20

 

[Jag75]

I have a ph meter

 

[Gnomebrewer]

I have a ph meter

pH doesn't matter. It's the alkalinity that matters. TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) is a reasonable indicator of alkalinity, but not always. If TDS are low, alkalinity is low. If TDS are high, alkalinity may or may not be high.

EDIT: As per RPhGuy, TDS meters are a reasonable way to determine if RO filters are working.

 

[Jag75]

Problem is bottled RO water says minerals added for taste. Those minerals are calcium chloride , sodium bicarbonate. If you brew with 100% ro water does that change the amount of acids and salts originally planned for the recipe. Those bottles dont tell you how much was added. The Glacier machines are they strictly RO with no minerals added?

A ph meter wont detect TDS?

 

[RPh_Guy]

A ph meter wont detect TDS?

Correct.

It might be worth talking to the store manager to get the machine serviced.

If you brew with 100% ro water does that change the amount of acids and salts originally planned for the recipe.

Compared to tap water, yeah.

The Glacier machines are they strictly RO with no minerals added?

Right.

 

[Jag75]

So if a machine has been serviced on 2-20 would you feel ok with using it ?

 

[Jag75]

@RPh_Guy - what I mean is if I planned a recipe using RO water and I have a set amount of acids and salts does it matter if the bottled RO water says it has minerals added for taste . If I'm adding 2g of calcium chloride does the already added minerals in the bottled RO water gonna be too much or no real significant difference.

 

[Gnomebrewer]

Not RPh Guy, but yes it does matter. The sodium bicarbonate more so than the calcium chloride. Does it list the bicarbonate amount anywhere? What brand is it?

 

[Jag75]

Not RPh Guy, but yes it does matter. The sodium bicarbonate more so than the calcium chloride. Does it list the bicarbonate amount anywhere? What brand is it?

Unfortunately it doesn't say how much. That leads me to believe I'm better off using the Glacier RO machine water at the store . It was serviced on 2 -20 so it shouldn't be too bad

Ty Gnomebrewer for the quick response

 

[Gnomebrewer]

Definitely the Glacier over the one with bicarbonate added.

A TDS meter would help though.

 

[Jag75]

Looks like I'll hunt down some 5 gallon jugs and get to it . Thanks everyone for your assistance

 

[couchsending]

I’m sure the amount of “minerals” added are rather minute.

Malt adds a ton more of those minerals regardless, I wouldn’t really worry about it.

Alkalinity is the thing you really need to worry about. I’ve never used RO where the alkalinity was that far out of whack. I adjust my sparge water every time just to make sure and it’s never taken more than say 7 or 8 drops of lactic in 3-4 gallons to get the ph close to say 5.4.

 

[Gnomebrewer]

I’m sure the amount of “minerals” added are rather minute.

Malt adds a ton more of those minerals regardless, I wouldn’t really worry about it.

Alkalinity is the thing you really need to worry about. I’ve never used RO where the alkalinity was that far out of whack. I adjust my sparge water every time just to make sure and it’s never taken more than say 7 or 8 drops of lactic in 3-4 gallons to get the ph close to say 5.4.

One of the minerals that's added is Sodium bicarbonate. Bicarbonate = the thing you need to worry about.

 

[Jag75]

Update guys . I got a TDS meter . Just got 8 gallons of Primo RO water . Cost me 3 dollars . Checked it when I got home and it has 10ppm. All ready for my brew on Saturday

 

[RPh_Guy]

 

[RPh_Guy]

Update guys . I got a TDS meter . Just got 8 gallons of Primo RO water . Cost me 3 dollars . Checked it when I got home and it has 10ppm. All ready for my brew on Saturday

Take the meter with you so you don't buy 8 gal of crap water.

 

[Jag75]

Take the meter with you so you don't buy 8 gal of crap water.

That's a good idea !