Petco "Real Ocean Water" Packaged Saltwater...Anyone test TDS?

[SkullV]

Just wondering if anyone has ever tested the TDS on the packaged saltwater from Petco? It's $11 for a 5 gallon package and seems like a reasonable idea for water changes on a nanocube at about $22 a month and never needing to buy salt again.

http://www.petco.com/Shop/Product.aspx?sku=910058

 

[SkullV]

Just found this thread:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1255993&highlight=petco+real+ocean+water

They test everything but TDS. Doesn't look like a bad idea for 5gal water changes for someone short on water change time.

 

[skunkmere]

ill sell you a 5g bucket for 10 bucks.

 

[SkullV]

Ha, I'll keep that in mind. It just seems practical to me since I will not be keeping ANY SPS in the nanocube and I use tap water (treated with dechlor) in my FOWLR which may change eventually but for right now it's not a big deal.

 

[Arc Katana]

I forget the company that makes it - but everything I've read grades it out pretty decently (albeit expensive at 2.5$ gallon).

 

[SlowCobra]

You can't test TDS on water that is not pure.

 

[SkullV]

You can't test TDS on water that is not pure.

I didn't think of that, the fact that the salt and other elements are in there ruins it. Good point.

 

[gig]

You can't test TDS on water that is not pure.

correct, it'll be pretty high considering all the salt and elements in it

 

[46cobraguy]

instead of spending 22 dollars a month why don't you just save $100 and buy a RODI.... then you save gas money, your time, and since you won't be changing that much water you won't have to change the filters hardly at all...

 

[SkullV]

instead of spending 22 dollars a month why don't you just save $100 and buy a RODI.... then you save gas money, your time, and since you won't be changing that much water you won't have to change the filters hardly at all...

It will eventually happen, but I am just moving into my new place in 2 weeks and have a LOT of work to do with moving the tanks and everything else i own. Just trying to keep things simple for a while.

 

[Stuart60611]

It will eventually happen, but I am just moving into my new place in 2 weeks and have a LOT of work to do with moving the tanks and everything else i own. Just trying to keep things simple for a while.

How are you going to top off the tank in connection with evaporation? Using tap water is not a very good idea, especially in a reef and considering that the tap water used for top off will have a major impact on a system with such a small water volume. I understand you want to keep things simple, but trust me you do not want to have to deal with major hair algae problems later from toping off with tap water. Preventing a hair algae infestation is so much easier than combating one once it has taken hold. If your display gets infested with hair algae, it will take you months and a lot of time and effort to get it under control, and you could loose plenty of corals in the process.

 

[SkullV]

5 gal jug of RODI from LFS. With a full glass top NC24 that should last a few weeks at least

 

[skunkmere]

i got a 90g open top and it goes through 7g a week. just save up for a used rodi.

 

[SkullV]

i got a 90g open top and it goes through 7g a week. just save up for a used rodi.

That is a lot more surface area for water to evaporate. This is also not open top and no sump. It is full glass top so evap will be mostly contained. I am looking into RODI though for the future.

 

[sellmecorals]

I DO want to know the Ca, Alk and Mg content

 

[toothybugs]

I DO want to know the Ca, Alk and Mg content

Buy one and test it. An 11 dollar experiment is pittance compared to other stuff we do for the sake of a trial.

 

[Dkuhlmann]

Do you realize this thread is 6 years old?

 

[toothybugs]

Do you realize this thread is 6 years old?

I did, yea. I lol'd when I saw that.

 

[ali1]

I dont trust anything from petco

 

[sellmecorals]

I do, and what of it? I searched for an answer on Google and found this thread. I brought it back up for discussion since my friend is interested in using it.