Tds

[TWallace]

I finally got an RO/DI unit today in my ongoing struggle against bryopsis. My tap water always shows 0 phosphates anyway, but I figured RO/DI can't hurt. The unit came with a TDS meter, and to my shock my tap water measures 30. I was expecting at least 100-300. Is this normal for the Seattle area? I'm in Edmonds. I have a feeling this RO/DI unit is going to do squat for my bryopsis battle, much like everything else has.

 

[MarineTeng]

i know bellevue is pretty good, i think seattle and the greater eastside i think is pretty good, that 30tds might be nitrates or something, so it might help a bunch, u never know until you test it or something, one this is for sure, it won't hurt it, maybe test ur tap water for nitrates

edit* o and btw i really like the clam in ur avatar, i hope to get a clam soon, kinda need to find room for it first

 

[TWallace]

Yeah, I've tested my tap for nitrates too, that's also always 0. Could be silicates I guess, which I've heard are sometimes in tap water and not good for our tanks.

 

[scytale]

FWIW: My RO/DI TDs meter usually reads 25-30ppm on the input.
(It's a cruddy meter with a resolution of +/-20ppm @ that range.)

But, yes, my tap water (from Kirkland/NorthShore PUD) is in the sub-50ppm range...

 

[NaH2O]

Lucky ducks...I wish my tap water was that good...

Here is a previous thread: What's your Tap Water TDS?

 

[davidabrown66]

That's about what I get in Kent (30-40). Depending on the season that is. I read slightly higher in the summer, and suspect more pesticide and other things might contribute to higher TDS readings on the input side.

I've heard others in Midwest, and central states being well into the 300 to 400 range.


I guess we're pretty lucky here...all that rain has to give us some benefits somewhere

 

[Blazer88]

Mine is about 30 in Bellevue. I thought my meter was busted when I first tested it but we just have good water around here.

 

[burning2nd]

I have a feeling that your RODI isnt gonna do much for that brypsis, but its a good start....

 

[MarineTeng]

ya, i think the midwest does more well water and that has more nitrates and phosphates in it from the soil, i think

 

[Sherman]

Those 30ppm could also be chloramine, fluoride, and so on. RO/DI is still a good. idea. 30ppm... wow. Here in central CA, I've seen it as high as 650ppm! My town tends to run in the 180ppm area.

 

[Boomer]

Most are from Akalinity, General Hardness (mostly Ca++ and a tad of Mg++), sodium, chlorides and sulfates. The chloramines and fluoride would not exceed 5 ppm or so.

 

[burning2nd]

i guess that means you have to change filters more often?


I get about 75-150 outta the well, depending on whats runing in the house.

 

[NaH2O]

ya, i think the midwest does more well water and that has more nitrates and phosphates in it from the soil, i think

It depends on where you are located.....us city folks are on city water lolol. The high TDS, as Boomer stated, is from hardness. We run a whole house water softener, and my TDS is somewhere in the high 400s to low 500s. We have horribly hard water here, and also have water high in chloramines. The nitrates are fairly low.