TDS? - Aquarium Advice

seafan · 11-30-2004, 01:28 PM

First of all I'd like to say it is nice to be back. I went on vacation to israel last week for thanksgiving (lol & pics are in the lounge). Before that I was out for the weekend so it has been a long time since I was last here. (wow that was a long introduction)

What is with [acronym:08c694cfe6="Total Dissolved Solids"]TDS[/acronym:08c694cfe6]? The water out of the tap measures 202-250ppm. The water from my five stage [acronym:08c694cfe6="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:08c694cfe6] unit measures 120-163. Nitrates are miniscule <2, chlorine is at 0, phosphate is at 0, However 120-163 seems really high. What's the deal? Does an [acronym:08c694cfe6="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:08c694cfe6] unit not get rid of ionized substances?

Bearfan · 11-30-2004, 01:38 PM

That is VERY high, I think your meter is off. My inlet (from well water) is 85-95 and my outlet is 0-1.

seafan · 11-30-2004, 02:07 PM

How do I calibrate it?

jaiden · 11-30-2004, 02:24 PM

200-300 is not abnormal for source water. 20-30 is not abnormal for [acronym:136bf7bea8="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:136bf7bea8] output. 160 is too high. something is wrong.

to get 0-3, you generally need a [acronym:136bf7bea8="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:136bf7bea8] after the [acronym:136bf7bea8="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:136bf7bea8]. Bearfan either has a broken [acronym:136bf7bea8="Total Dissolved Solids"]tds[/acronym:136bf7bea8] meter or a very clean well.

seafan · 11-30-2004, 02:49 PM

How do you explain the readings for nitrates, and phosphates?

Bearfan · 11-30-2004, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaiden

to get 0-3, you generally need a [acronym:d5741a2936="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:d5741a2936] after the [acronym:d5741a2936="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:d5741a2936]. Bearfan either has a broken [acronym:d5741a2936="Total Dissolved Solids"]tds[/acronym:d5741a2936] meter or a very clean well.

Lake Superior water through a sand substrate. About as clean as a well can get.

And I do have a [acronym:d5741a2936="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:d5741a2936].

jaiden · 11-30-2004, 03:01 PM

I'd guess that the nitrates are being read by the [acronym:99c9748e9c="Total Dissolved Solids"]tds[/acronym:99c9748e9c] meter. [acronym:99c9748e9c="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:99c9748e9c] would help you, but putting 160 [acronym:99c9748e9c="Total Dissolved Solids"]tds[/acronym:99c9748e9c] into a [acronym:99c9748e9c="Deionization"]di[/acronym:99c9748e9c] will use up your [acronym:99c9748e9c="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:99c9748e9c] resin in a hurry.

seaham358 · 11-30-2004, 03:04 PM

You say [acronym:15fbc7fe27="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:15fbc7fe27] so you have no [acronym:15fbc7fe27="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:15fbc7fe27] cartridge right?
How old are your filters on the unit. Whats the GPD on your membrane. You can buy calibration fluid for a [acronym:15fbc7fe27="Total Dissolved Solids"]TDS[/acronym:15fbc7fe27] meter on line.
If you have a [acronym:15fbc7fe27="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:15fbc7fe27] then I would say its used up. What type of unit and what filters do you have. I have a Micron then 2 carbons then the membrane then 2 [acronym:15fbc7fe27="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:15fbc7fe27] units. I get 0 [acronym:15fbc7fe27="Total Dissolved Solids"]TDS[/acronym:15fbc7fe27]... Starting out with 280 [acronym:15fbc7fe27="Total Dissolved Solids"]TDS[/acronym:15fbc7fe27] with 40 after the membrane.

seafan · 11-30-2004, 03:09 PM

No [acronym:ff614fc6c9="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:ff614fc6c9], just a 5 micron charcoal then another 5 micron charcoal, then one sediment, and two other sediments I think. It's a 75 GPD membrane. It is brand new just two weeks old.

seafan · 11-30-2004, 03:11 PM

can you send me some of your water to calibrate it seaham. send me a PM.

11-30-2004, 01:28 PM	#1
seafan Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Miami, Fla Posts: 562 Images: 19	TDS? First of all I'd like to say it is nice to be back. I went on vacation to israel last week for thanksgiving (lol & pics are in the lounge). Before that I was out for the weekend so it has been a long time since I was last here. (wow that was a long introduction) What is with [acronym:08c694cfe6="Total Dissolved Solids"]TDS[/acronym:08c694cfe6]? The water out of the tap measures 202-250ppm. The water from my five stage [acronym:08c694cfe6="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:08c694cfe6] unit measures 120-163. Nitrates are miniscule <2, chlorine is at 0, phosphate is at 0, However 120-163 seems really high. What's the deal? Does an [acronym:08c694cfe6="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:08c694cfe6] unit not get rid of ionized substances? __________________ Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. -anonymous

11-30-2004, 01:38 PM	#2
Bearfan Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Marquette, MI Posts: 3,554 Images: 45	That is VERY high, I think your meter is off. My inlet (from well water) is 85-95 and my outlet is 0-1. __________________ 75 gal w/ 75 gal sump, 25 gal fuge with Chaeto and 25 gal frag - 4x65 PC w/ Moonlite on the main tank, 2x20W PC on the fuge, 4x20W PC on the frag 72 Gal Bowfront Planted w/ 2x65 PC and 40W T8

11-30-2004, 02:07 PM	#3
seafan Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Miami, Fla Posts: 562 Images: 19	How do I calibrate it? __________________ Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. -anonymous

11-30-2004, 02:24 PM	#4
jaiden Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sturbridge, MA Posts: 586	200-300 is not abnormal for source water. 20-30 is not abnormal for [acronym:136bf7bea8="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:136bf7bea8] output. 160 is too high. something is wrong. to get 0-3, you generally need a [acronym:136bf7bea8="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:136bf7bea8] after the [acronym:136bf7bea8="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:136bf7bea8]. Bearfan either has a broken [acronym:136bf7bea8="Total Dissolved Solids"]tds[/acronym:136bf7bea8] meter or a very clean well. __________________ 54g all-glass bowfront corner AquaC Remora with MJ1200 three MJ900 [acronym:71b198ebe2="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:71b198ebe2]'s Phosban reactor, 65lb [acronym:71b198ebe2="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:71b198ebe2] (mostly hirocks), 60lb aragonite ~3" sand bed Lonely O Clown

11-30-2004, 02:49 PM	#5
seafan Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Miami, Fla Posts: 562 Images: 19	How do you explain the readings for nitrates, and phosphates? __________________ Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. -anonymous

11-30-2004, 03:01 PM	#7
jaiden Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sturbridge, MA Posts: 586	I'd guess that the nitrates are being read by the [acronym:99c9748e9c="Total Dissolved Solids"]tds[/acronym:99c9748e9c] meter. [acronym:99c9748e9c="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:99c9748e9c] would help you, but putting 160 [acronym:99c9748e9c="Total Dissolved Solids"]tds[/acronym:99c9748e9c] into a [acronym:99c9748e9c="Deionization"]di[/acronym:99c9748e9c] will use up your [acronym:99c9748e9c="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:99c9748e9c] resin in a hurry. __________________ 54g all-glass bowfront corner AquaC Remora with MJ1200 three MJ900 [acronym:71b198ebe2="power head or Measure of the concentration of hydrogen ions, depending on context"]PH[/acronym:71b198ebe2]'s Phosban reactor, 65lb [acronym:71b198ebe2="Live rock"]LR[/acronym:71b198ebe2] (mostly hirocks), 60lb aragonite ~3" sand bed Lonely O Clown

11-30-2004, 03:04 PM	#8
seaham358 Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: May 2004 Location: Poughkeepsie, NY Posts: 3,296 Images: 21	You say [acronym:15fbc7fe27="Reverse osmosis"]RO[/acronym:15fbc7fe27] so you have no [acronym:15fbc7fe27="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:15fbc7fe27] cartridge right? How old are your filters on the unit. Whats the GPD on your membrane. You can buy calibration fluid for a [acronym:15fbc7fe27="Total Dissolved Solids"]TDS[/acronym:15fbc7fe27] meter on line. If you have a [acronym:15fbc7fe27="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:15fbc7fe27] then I would say its used up. What type of unit and what filters do you have. I have a Micron then 2 carbons then the membrane then 2 [acronym:15fbc7fe27="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:15fbc7fe27] units. I get 0 [acronym:15fbc7fe27="Total Dissolved Solids"]TDS[/acronym:15fbc7fe27]... Starting out with 280 [acronym:15fbc7fe27="Total Dissolved Solids"]TDS[/acronym:15fbc7fe27] with 40 after the membrane. __________________ 9/02-125 REEF, 125 lbs LR,LS 4x160 VHO, Reef Devil /Sump, Fuge 7/03-55 FOWLR 60lb LR, 50 lb SD sand 2x40 NO strip light, Reef Devil/sump, Fuge TANK PICS http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=98202

11-30-2004, 03:09 PM	#9
seafan Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Miami, Fla Posts: 562 Images: 19	No [acronym:ff614fc6c9="Deionization"]DI[/acronym:ff614fc6c9], just a 5 micron charcoal then another 5 micron charcoal, then one sediment, and two other sediments I think. It's a 75 GPD membrane. It is brand new just two weeks old. __________________ Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. -anonymous

11-30-2004, 03:11 PM	#10
seafan Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Miami, Fla Posts: 562 Images: 19	can you send me some of your water to calibrate it seaham. send me a PM. __________________ Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. -anonymous

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