Water Sources

[Myka]

What do you use to pack the water home? Do you always keep a certain percentage of your deisplay tank's volume in RO water available to use at all times?

 

[supertech3]

i purchase enough for a one week evaporation and water change in 5g jugs

 

[Myka]

Oooo, that's a pain in the butt eh? Time to buy more 5 g jugs I suppose. How do you store it? Do you salt it in the 5g jugs? I know a PH wouldn't fit in the top of my jugs...what about a heater?

 

[AZDesertRat]

I will bet money the water machine is RO only possibly with UV but not DI. I have never seen one yet with DI. Have them test the TDS in front of you to see what it is. Around here its actually not bad at between 5 and 15 but thats still higher than I put in my tank and its inconsistent. Having my own RO/DI is the best investment I ever made, I know what my water quality is every time I make it, no guesswork.

 

[Myka]

I didn't know they would test the TDS in front of you...I will ask next time. What is acceptable TDS reading anyway?

 

[AZDesertRat]

You should strive for 0 TDS. I don't like anything higher than maybe 3 to 5 but since buying my RO/DI I change DI cartridges at 2. Purchased water kind of depends on what the tap water TDS is in your area, our exceeds 800 so 5 to 15 is about the best they can possibly get without DI.

 

[Myka]

So at what TDS reading should I go try to buy somewhere else? Maybe 15 then?

 

[Mackelshak]

Myka! Your tap water quality is good I think. Nitrates of 0,5 and phosphates about 0,1 are very good. Make sure that silicate is not too high (cyanos!!!). When silicate is in small quantities in the water you can use your tap water.

 

[Myka]

Yes, I am concerned about Silicates and Copper. I don't have test kits for either, and the cost of buying test kits is 30% the cost of buying an RO/DI!!! *lol* It would be nice to use tap water...saves lots of time and enough money to count!

 

[Mackelshak]

You can ask your waterworks for information about these things.