Yeah I purchased one, every time i test the mix its either 175-7 (so i just put a range number)
Amazon.com: HM Digital TDS-4 Pocket Size TDS Tester Meter Without Digital Thermometer, 0-9990 ppm Measurement Range , 1 ppm Resolution, +/- 2% Readout Accuracy: Home Improvement
Very well mixed, stir and air stone in (4way gang valve) each bucket (TAP, Mix, RO)
So you're saying once I find the right mix all I have to do is match the TDS each time and it will produce the same mix?
Trying to make this a great tank for really only GBR's
So in this situation knowing this will be for GBR's (very possible breeding) would you bother messing with the KH (3) or just leave this as the right mix (provided everything tests good in the AM)? I always do a weekly water change (used to be 50% but going to do 30% and I can do this 2 times a week if needed)
ALSO:
Do you have any resources I could read up on, for making your own water "Straight RO/DI w/ mixing agents to achieve what you want?"
Quote 1,
Ok, got ya. (Sorry!) I thought it might be fluctuating.
Quote 3,
Yes, that's what I do. Test the mix fully GH/Kh/TDS. Then make a mix to the TDS. (You can test it, it will be the same) this is influenced slightly by the changing TDS of the source water but it is negligible. My tap water fluctuates slightly. (So 50:50 might sometimes be 45:55 etc.)
If the TDS numbers are the same, the water will test the same in a full range test. (Slight variable but it is lost in the volume of tank water)
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This only applies to NEW water, not water which has seen biological activity!
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Finally, yes I do 2-3 changes per week on most of my tanks, the TDS in my tanks is the figure I keep steady. (But I do this by water changes of a mix plus top up, I adjust the mix slightly to compensate, eg, 50:50 plus 2RO, or, if the tank should be 116, and I get 126, I add 30% @ 106)
Umm, the data you require is not available, at least I never found any.
I started off at 0.2 gram per litre each (GH/Kh)
Test record etc.
(You need scales with at least 0.00 accuracy, these are cheap!
0.0 accuracy is not precise enough.)
What you have here is an account of my own work (free of charge!)
You gotta love this place!
(I make a stock solution of buffer mix @ 10:10 up to 25:25 (grams, into 25litre container, GH:Kh)
It's diluted on the day, in a bucket, quickly mixed by immersion of a jug on its side, lift, drop, lift drop. Test TDS, ready for tank)
The stock is mixed overnight for the stronger solution and at least 5 hours for the weak blend.
The big tank is mixed in the tank, I don't have the facility to prepare 225 litres of water, so I add 4x25 litres RO (poured straight in) then half of the stock mix (12litres approx) then I add the remaining RO and then the rest of the container of stock mix. THIS IS DONE IN THE TANK.
I have done it this way since I first set up the big tank, so 6-7 years.
No problems.
The key to it is pre testing, then you know what you are adding.
LOTS OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY DO NOT DO THAT! (Add RO in this way)
It works for me, just pop in and see my clown loaches!
(If you test you will realise that 100 litres RO doesn't make much difference to 600 litres of water. It is perfectly safe, I have experienced no losses that I can say were caused by mixing LIVE in tank, I haven't lost any clowns in over 9.5 years)