Help with high TDS

[FlynnFlynn]

I purchased some ro/di water from lfs and brought it home to do a water change on my reef tank. It was late so I put 30gal in my mixing barrel and added salt, I usually let me mix sit with a heater and powerhead in it for a day before adding to tank. Tested parameters and it looks ok. Still have another 30gal in 5 gallon buckets for top off, 6gal a week. Forgot I hadn't tested water for TDS,so I checked the buckets and to my surprise they range from 75 to 105. Lfs is over an hour away and is the nearest one. Not sure what to do especially with the mixed water, was going to do water change, not sure if I should use it?

 

[Fish Keeper82]

If those buckets had salt water before and were not rinsed very thorough it is possible to show TDS that high.
Regardless looks like this should be your best reason to purchase an RODI unit. Just a few trips to the LFS at your distance would cover its cost in gas.

 

[FlynnFlynn]

thanks for the reply, that makes sense. I have a unit, but are on a well and it is bad water with minerals.

 

[Reef Frog]

Welcome to RC.

What is the TDS of your raw well water?

Bad well water can be fixed easily in almost all cases if you're willing to spend the money. In addition to not fouling a RODI unit early, your laundry will be cleaner, you won't spot the car when you wash it, and showers & sinks won't build up with soap residue. I just wanted to give you some sales tools in the event you need to help convince somebody on a softening system....like a spouse for example!

 

[drillsar]

My town has well water as well. The thing with most well water has c02 in it. The way I learned to deal wit this is to put your well water in a container or tank with air stone in it let it sit 24 hours or more to degas it. Than use a booster pump to your RO/DI unit. I would go with a 5 stage RO/DI unit for well water though. Again depends on the water quality.. Ask spectrapure or bulkeye and filter guys all of them sponsors here. Tell them what you have in your water and what they recommend.