Tds

[Lps157]

Now that I'm starting to more heavily stock my tank with sps I'm picking apart potential issues. I finally got a TDS meter for my RO/DI. Check it today and the output was at 4 TDS.

The RO cartridges were changed about 2 months ago and still look clean. The DI resin was also changed at that time, I'm going to go ahead and change the DI resin again and see if I can get TDS to 0.

Is anyone else testing there RO? If so what level do you let your TDS get to before changing things?

 

[Ntvper]

is that a double DI system or a single? i use the double. last time i checked mine i had 0 TDS but it was brand new and switching out style of RO.

 

[sgallant04]

when mine was brand new i would get 3 ppm TDS .. i think it's irrelevant

 

[Gomer]

I would get zero with mine.

http://www.airwaterice.com/category/z.5/#q6

 

[reign]

Zero.. how many stages is it?

 

[Lps157]

Thanks for the reply's guys.

It's a 5 stage with two DI chambers. I'm sure that if I change the resin I can get it to 0. Mainly wondering if ideally I should try to always keep it at 0? At what point does everyone else change there cartridges?

 

[jayl65]

I just changed mine also about 5 months ago. Just tested today at 4ppm. I went to the local water store and got some water and it tested 0, so it's not my meter. I need to get a new RO/DI system.

 

[sgallant04]

I'm at 3 now, but I think for cost savings I'll hold off for a bit. Out of the tap, i'm at about 300 ppm, I can live w/ 3 ppm for a while.

 

[dsepp]

Seems like if you really want to know when it will matter you would need to find enough data to form a relationship between TDS and amount of algae growth in your tank.

Does anyone who has responded so far with readings between 0 an 4 ppm have any algae problems?

 

[jayl65]

Yes! Green hair algae. I think that even a tds as low as 4 can make a difference. I have been needing a new rodi and dual reactors for carbon and gfo. My skimmer works great as long as I fiddle with it everyday. I have been waiting to make all of the necessary upgrades when I got my new tank. Up to the last few months I have always stayed on my tds as well as new light bulbs,etc. I have waited for about 4 months working with the rodi and everything else on my tank, because I didn't want to spend money if I was just going to get a larger tank. I now have hair algae,and cyano. I did get a sea hare and he ate all of the hair algae, and then before I could get him to another tank with hair algae he died. Now on top of everything I have red slime. My tank has never had any of these problems before and I've been running it for almost 4 years.I feel strongly that a tds of 0 is the only way to go. Along with good lighting,flow and protein skimmer. My experience says if you let one of these things go, even only one. It will effect your tank negatively.

 

[xmenx2dad]

Reading everyone elses posts, I hate to list mine. Tap is 300-400 up here in rio rancho. My ro water has 27 ppm. And this is with new prefilters a couple of months ago. Not sure when the membrane was replaced. Now I think I need to replace the membrane and possibly add a di cartridge

 

[Ntvper]

definitely go with the DI, it makes a world of difference before my TDS was at six with no DI with a five stage RO added the two DI cartridges and its at 0.

 

[reign]

Jay, I do think that a 0 tds reading does help BUT using gfo, carbon,regular water changes and skimming heavily does make up a difference in this...If you are running a DSB or have older substrate it may in fact be leaching nutrients back into the system.. AS substrate gets older (especially NNR setups) nutrients slowly release into the water column ..IDK if your running deeper substrate but this could explain this..Since your setting up a new tank you will be able to control you newer water parameters easily so this will help..BTW I dont know what ro/di you guys use but I have been using aquafx for years and have always been impressed with their quality and cost..