tds readings going up

[daniel_a_blake]

I've recently got a tds meter from phishy and have been playing with it. When I first run the water from the rodi filter I initially get a reading of 0 to 1 ppm. However after letting it sit in a plastic trash can for a few days with a heater running the readings steadily increase. It has finally stopped but is now reading 25 ppm. Any thoughts on whats causing this?

 

[Pescado Amigo]

how old is the can? has it been holding water for a long time? If so, it may need a good scrubbing.

 

[Che]

I don't know about your particular set-up, but I don't have a perfectly sealed container. After a couple of days I can see some floaties in my water even with the lid to my rubbermaid trash can on. My guess is that over time you accumulate more stuff from the air in your water and then some stuff growing in your water. I have a small menagerie of pets so I accept the fact that I am going to have some funky water from time to time. I try to make it as I need it and to keep it covered as mush as possible.

Hope that this is at least a little helpful.

Che

 

[daniel_a_blake]

thanks for the input. the tub is an old "trash can" from a beer distributor. I claimed it after the bar i was working at closed many years ago. initially it was used for water changes when i was running a cichlid freshwater tank. so it sounds like it would best that I invest in a new container with a lid it. do you think that just cleaning this one out real well and then buying a lid for it would help?

 

[aerius007]

Spend a little cash and get something new, no need to risk it.

 

[Tswifty]

Certain plastics can leech things back into the water. Rubbermaid BRUTE's are safe... or look for HDPE or LDPE grade materials. Also, I've been told that aerating the RO/DI water before you mix (like if you have a pump in your RO/DI reservoir) it is supposed to help add impurities and drive your TDS up or something.

 

[Pescado Amigo]

it certainly sound like your trash can is leaching. A quick way to tell if it is leaching is to put a 55 gallon can liner and make water into it. If you are still having issues you can try to clean it with DAWN dish detergent. Dawn is complete bio-degradeable and can be used to clean things and remain reef safe. Of course you should rinse obsessively. If it is still leaching it is time to invest in a new vessel.