What's a good TDS reading for RO water?

Gizmo · 12-10-2011, 06:56 PM

The TDS of my RO water is 43 ppm. Is this a decent reading for RO, or should I look into new cartridges? Thanks!

jrman83 · 12-10-2011, 08:23 PM

What is the TDS of your tap? Keep in mind that if anything is in the bucket your water is going to, and I mean anything, the TDS will go up.

fishguy2727 · 12-10-2011, 10:54 PM

0 is ideal. IME you usually need to run DI as well to really get it down to 0.

Many times only one stage needs to be replaced, like the prefilter.

Try to get a sample as it is produced, not sitting in the container. that way you know exactly what the water is being produced at.

sivakv · 12-12-2011, 05:37 AM

the fishes need some salts, 43 is soft water. you could google and find out the fishes you have and TDS range it requires.

fishguy2727 · 12-12-2011, 08:15 AM

I didn't realize all the OP's tanks are FW.

Why are you using RO water?
What are you adding to it?

Gizmo · 12-12-2011, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishguy2727

I didn't realize all the OP's tanks are FW.

Why are you using RO water?
What are you adding to it?

I have very hard water where I live (GH = 11 deg, KH = 10 deg). I use RO to lower the hardness and lower the pH. I add back in SeaChem equilibrium to get a GH of 5 deg, SeaChem Alkaline Buffer for a KH of 5 degrees and a pH of 7.4, and some dry chem fertz and iron supplements for my plants. I'm intending to have south american cichlids like GBR's and some tetras and through research I've found they like soft water with low pH.

Plus I use the unit for water for ironing ;)

I'll test the tap water and fresh out of the RO unit when I get home tonight.

fishguy2727 · 12-12-2011, 04:57 PM

Were you having problems before you used RO?
-If not then I would not change things.

High water quality and stability is more important than specific hardness/pH. Discus can breed in 7.6 water, they don't need it 4.5 (or 6.5).

I would NOT use 100% RO in your situation. You would save some money by using half tap half RO. This does exactly what you want (reducing GH, KH, pH, TDS, etc.) but do it much more safely. It uses the natural chemistry of the tap water, just dilutes it. This is safer than starting from 0 and trying to work your way back up and hope it is stable.

12-10-2011, 06:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Gizmo What do fish think about? Gizmo's Photo Gallery Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,350 Name: Guy Miller Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 183 Times Said "Thanks" 451 Times Was Thanked 603 Times in 573 Posts	What's a good TDS reading for RO water? The TDS of my RO water is 43 ppm. Is this a decent reading for RO, or should I look into new cartridges? Thanks! __________________ Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

12-10-2011, 08:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
jrman83 ....has no life.... jrman83's Photo Gallery Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,468 Name: Ben Location: White Plains, MD My location Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 3,396 Times Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 2,431 Times in 2,286 Posts	Re: What's a good TDS reading for RO water? What is the TDS of your tap? Keep in mind that if anything is in the bucket your water is going to, and I mean anything, the TDS will go up.

12-10-2011, 10:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
fishguy2727 Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 114 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 31 Times in 31 Posts	Re: What's a good TDS reading for RO water? 0 is ideal. IME you usually need to run DI as well to really get it down to 0. Many times only one stage needs to be replaced, like the prefilter. Try to get a sample as it is produced, not sitting in the container. that way you know exactly what the water is being produced at. __________________ Biologist-Professional Aquarium Care-Published Author (Aquarium Fish International Magazine) Stocking has NOTHING to do with tank volume, it is all about water changes.

12-12-2011, 05:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
sivakv sivakv's Photo Gallery Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 60 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 19 Times Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: What's a good TDS reading for RO water? the fishes need some salts, 43 is soft water. you could google and find out the fishes you have and TDS range it requires.

12-12-2011, 08:15 AM	#5 (permalink)
fishguy2727 Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 114 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 31 Times in 31 Posts	Re: What's a good TDS reading for RO water? I didn't realize all the OP's tanks are FW. Why are you using RO water? What are you adding to it? __________________ Biologist-Professional Aquarium Care-Published Author (Aquarium Fish International Magazine) Stocking has NOTHING to do with tank volume, it is all about water changes.

Members currently in the chatroom: 2
	The most chatters online in one day was 16, 03-02-2012. Vampa, TaylorM237

12-12-2011, 04:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
fishguy2727 Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 114 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Welcome to Aquarium Forum" 1 Times Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 31 Times in 31 Posts	Re: What's a good TDS reading for RO water? Were you having problems before you used RO? -If not then I would not change things. High water quality and stability is more important than specific hardness/pH. Discus can breed in 7.6 water, they don't need it 4.5 (or 6.5). I would NOT use 100% RO in your situation. You would save some money by using half tap half RO. This does exactly what you want (reducing GH, KH, pH, TDS, etc.) but do it much more safely. It uses the natural chemistry of the tap water, just dilutes it. This is safer than starting from 0 and trying to work your way back up and hope it is stable. __________________ Biologist-Professional Aquarium Care-Published Author (Aquarium Fish International Magazine) Stocking has NOTHING to do with tank volume, it is all about water changes.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)