TDS reading and SPS colors

[palyam]

I have an interesting question for the SPS experts here.. How important is the TDS reading regarding the coloring of the corals?

I ask this because I was thinking changing the RO membrane to a new one, since my TDS reading is 70.

Does a high TDS (like 70-80) affects the colors compares to 10 TDS for example? will I notice a change with lower TDS?

 

[timmytank]

I wouldnt put anything other than zero into my tank as soon as it hits one then ill take action. The problem is is you cant tell what impurities are entering the tank so its best to keep a good r.o/di maintanance shedule. You could end up with algae issues etc so my understanding is if you put inferior water into the tank it will effect youre SPS in ways like Polyp extension a colour. HTH.

Oh and ive just noticed youve had a totm so you know this anyway.Sorry:eek2:

 

[dixiedog]

Yeah I thought 1 or 2 was bad.

70?? :eek1:

 

[palyam]

Well, take a look at my SPS. I don't have the Best colors you can imagine, but it's quite satisfying for me (with 70 TDS).
The question is- will I get better colors with 0 TDS?....

 

[dixiedog]

Well, take a look at my SPS. I don't have the Best colors you can imagine, but it's quite satisfying for me (with 70 TDS).
The question is- will I get better colors with 0 TDS?....

If I had colors that nice and no algae issues I wouldn't change a thing!

 

[Tony B (UK)]

I dont use D.I. resin, my tds is about 3 post membrane here's some photos:

 

[saltygeek]

It really depends on what is in the 3 or 70 TDS. Some water sources may be fine with 3 while others will get algae.

 

[palyam]

Actually I need to clean the glass every 3 days or so... maybe lower TDS will make it less frequent

 

[chefzif]

Nice looking tank and healthy! I would change out r/o membranes every time they hit 1, make sure your tds meter is calibrated otherwise you will not get a true reading and clean the probe periodically with vinager. Great looking system get us FTS.

 

[sahin]

TDS means anything: minerals, salts, metals, cations or anions and any others suspended solids.

So...a TDS reading of 70 can mean that the 70 is a reading of calcium...or nitrates or even phosphates. TDS simply put is a measure of "stuff other than" H2O which is present in the sample of water. The other stuff can be anything.

A person can have a TDS reading of 5 and this could be phophates and cause algae problems for that person...meanwhile someone else can have a TDS reading of 50 and that 50 reading is there because the water still has some calcium present say; which wouldnt cause any algae problems.

So to you OP; depending on what is causing the TDS 70 reading, improving your water quality to 0 may or may not have any effect (it may help slightly in that you may not need to clean the glass as much). But it is anyone guess as to what the effect will be. Try it?

And is the reason why TonyB (UK) does not have any problems with algae in his tank.

Hope that helps.

 

[timmytank]

Hello Tony and Sahin . Your tank is great Tony and that Hoek is my fav and the reason i have mine. I lost the first one but the one i have now is doing very well and is growing faster than everythig else.

To the O P you have some great colours even with a tds of 70 im not sure they could get any better but it may prevent any build up of contaminents.

 

[wfournier]

I know a guy who uses tap water in his tank and doesn't have any issues, can't say that is advisable but zero TDS is not necessary. As people have said TDS is a rather arbitrary measurement as it simply tells us there is SOMETHING there, not what it is. Zero TDS is considered ideal as everything being added is a known quantity and should be safe.

 

[Acrotrdco]

Well TDS by itself doesn't really tell you what's in the water.

It could be just minerals like carbonates, calcium, magnesium and others, which basically have no effects in your reef tank, or it could be dissolved heavy metals like copper, lead and others.

The reason why people want to have 0 TDS to begin with, is that there'll be no guess work. The water you're working with will have zero dissolved solids and which you start with scratch.

Pretty much the same reason why some folks want to start a reef tank with dead rocks instead of live rocks because they know there's no unknown/unwanted critters in their rocks.

 

[D_J_Man]

I ran my sps tank with a TDS of 145 and everything was fine, I just recientally switched to rodi and now have 0 TDS and havent noticed a huge difference.

 

[MammothReefer]

I never was able to get 0 TDS even with my unit brand new. I think 10-17 is what I've always gotten. I haven't checked lately though.. probably should.

 

[RenoR1]

It depends on what the "70" in your water consists of. 40ppm in my tank didn't harm a thing. Still ordered new filters though.