TDS of storage containers

bsk997 · 10/04/2015, 08:23 PM

Hi Guys,

Finally setup my Spectrapure 90g RO/DI since I was tired of lugging 5g containers from the LFS. lol

So here's my problem.
RO/DI coming straight out of the unit is 0 tds when measured from a small bowl.
I have 1 5g jug that I'm getting 0 tds from.
I have another 5g jug that I'm getting 34 tds from.
I have a 30g white food grade container that I'm getting 4 tds from.

I've washed all these with vinegar and bleach so I don't know what's going on, especially from the 5g jug with 34 tds.
The 5g jug I can throw away eventually but what about the 4 tds from the 30g container that the RO/DI unit will run to.
Should I be concerned?
Thanks!

WhoScott · 10/04/2015, 09:01 PM

Get rid of the jug that's adding 34 tds. Are your containers food grade? If they aren't that could contribute.

bsk997 · 10/04/2015, 10:38 PM

Yeah, the 30g containers are food grade

theMatrix · 10/05/2015, 04:51 AM

Wondering the same...
It comes out 0. Test a week later and wasnlike 27 in the container.

Will recheck 3 diff containers once again and report.

outssider · 10/05/2015, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theMatrix

Wondering the same...
It comes out 0. Test a week later and wasnlike 27 in the container.

Will recheck 3 diff containers once again and report.

is the container air tight ? I store for weeks in air tight containers and tds is 0

theMatrix · 10/05/2015, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outssider

is the container air tight ? I store for weeks in air tight containers and tds is 0

Not while filling.
And i unscrew to top off. Manual top offs.

Im in the process of making more rodi ill check tomorow and report. I havent tried filling my 55gal blue food grade drums because im wondering why the change after.

Going in is mid 200 out of kit is 0. Then raised back up.

Bill Nye · 10/06/2015, 07:48 AM

What buckets are you using? I use an orange 5 gallon home depot bucket I've had for ~4-5 years as my RODI reservoir and a grey brute trashcan as my mixing station.

The orange bucket hasn't been washed in probably 3 years and it always reads 0 TDS.
Grey brutes are for sure food safe and many people use them with no problems. I mix saltwater in it so I don't regularly check TDS but when I did it was also 0.

braaap · 10/06/2015, 10:01 AM

If you are putting 0 TDS water in your water should stay 0 TDS if you are in a food grade bucket....

theMatrix · 10/06/2015, 10:04 AM

Recheck tonight when i get home. Might have had some dry salt when i filled it.

Johnseye · 10/06/2015, 10:10 AM

If you have any salt, kalk or other residue you'll get a tds reading from the containers.

braaap · 10/06/2015, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnseye

If you have any salt, kalk or other residue you'll get a tds reading from the containers.

Salt should also be 0 TDS. I just rinse my buckets and dry with paper towels. Never get a TDS reading.

bsk997 · 10/06/2015, 10:51 AM

Just using regular 5g water jugs you see at the LFS usually.
I'll clean out the 30g drums again with vinegar and bleach. The container wasn't air tight as I had the RO tube just going in under the cover.
I've order the float switch and it should be here tomorrow and I'll try again.

Bill Nye · 10/06/2015, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by braaap

Salt should also be 0 TDS. I just rinse my buckets and dry with paper towels. Never get a TDS reading.

Salt definitely has a TDS. Salts are formed by ionic bonds between atoms which leads to the release of ions as they are dissolved in water.

From good ole Wiki:
Total dissolved solids (TDS) is a measure of the combined content of all inorganic and organic substances contained in a liquid in molecular, ionized or micro-granular (colloidal sol) suspended form.

RWEngineer · 10/06/2015, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Nye

Salt definitely has a TDS. Salts are formed by ionic bonds between atoms which leads to the release of ions as they are dissolved in water.

From good ole Wiki:
Total dissolved solids (TDS) is a measure of the combined content of all inorganic and organic substances contained in a liquid in molecular, ionized or micro-granular (colloidal sol) suspended form.

TDS of saltwater is around 25,000.

Johnseye · 10/06/2015, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by braaap

Salt should also be 0 TDS. I just rinse my buckets and dry with paper towels. Never get a TDS reading.

Something's wrong then.

Icefire · 10/06/2015, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RWEngineer

TDS of saltwater is around 25,000.

Salt at 35ppt = 35 000 ppm TDS

FishNFun · 10/06/2015, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Icefire

Salt at 35ppt = 35 000 ppm TDS

Uh, no it's not. 35ppt = 0.000035ppm

Johnseye · 10/06/2015, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FishNFun

Uh, no it's not. 35ppt = 0.000035ppm

There seems to be some confusion.

http://www.salinitymanagement.org/Sa.../ls/ls_3d.html

theMatrix · 10/06/2015, 07:46 PM

After couple open close situations. Reading at 2ppm

srope · 10/07/2015, 05:53 PM

If your reading 0 tds of you salt mix you need a new tds meter. If your containers are not air tight they will absorb anything in the air like co2. You will no longer have 0tds from that container.

Icefire · 10/11/2015, 08:46 AM

There is 35 000 part per million in 35 parts per thousand

bsk997 · 10/11/2015, 10:06 PM

Thanks guys.
Cleaned the big 30g containers again with vinegar and ro/di water.
Installed the float switch and container is air tight now. 0 tds.

10/04/2015, 08:23 PM	#1
bsk997 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: OC Posts: 635	TDS of storage containers Hi Guys, Finally setup my Spectrapure 90g RO/DI since I was tired of lugging 5g containers from the LFS. lol So here's my problem. RO/DI coming straight out of the unit is 0 tds when measured from a small bowl. I have 1 5g jug that I'm getting 0 tds from. I have another 5g jug that I'm getting 34 tds from. I have a 30g white food grade container that I'm getting 4 tds from. I've washed all these with vinegar and bleach so I don't know what's going on, especially from the 5g jug with 34 tds. The 5g jug I can throw away eventually but what about the 4 tds from the 30g container that the RO/DI unit will run to. Should I be concerned? Thanks!

10/06/2015, 10:10 AM	#10
Johnseye Reef Addict Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Naperville, IL. Posts: 1,196	If you have any salt, kalk or other residue you'll get a tds reading from the containers. __________________ - John New 260g build thread: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2557715 Current Tank Info: 260g reef, Giesemann Spectra MH/T5/Kessil A160, Dastaco CaRx, Vortechs, Lifereef skimmer, Red Dragon 3, Apex, Genesis, Angles, Tang, Trigger, Clowns, Anthias, Wrasses, Cardinals, SPS, LPS

10/11/2015, 08:46 AM	#21
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	There is 35 000 part per million in 35 parts per thousand __________________ Temp 80F, PH 8.5-8.0, Alk 6.8-7.2, Ca 430, Mg 1700, NO3 0-0.25, PO4 0.04, 34.4 PPT Lights @ 100% all others, 35% White Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 120lbs live rocks, Hydra52 2x120W, 2 MP40+ 1 MP10 @ 70%, Phosban 550 GFO+Carbon, 200W Heater, SWC Skimmer, Kalk ATO, 150 gpd RODI

10/04/2015, 09:01 PM	#2
WhoScott Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 64	Get rid of the jug that's adding 34 tds. Are your containers food grade? If they aren't that could contribute.

10/04/2015, 10:38 PM	#3
bsk997 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: OC Posts: 635	Yeah, the 30g containers are food grade

10/05/2015, 04:51 AM	#4
theMatrix Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 302	Wondering the same... It comes out 0. Test a week later and wasnlike 27 in the container. Will recheck 3 diff containers once again and report.

10/06/2015, 07:48 AM	#7
Bill Nye Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: RI Posts: 627	What buckets are you using? I use an orange 5 gallon home depot bucket I've had for ~4-5 years as my RODI reservoir and a grey brute trashcan as my mixing station. The orange bucket hasn't been washed in probably 3 years and it always reads 0 TDS. Grey brutes are for sure food safe and many people use them with no problems. I mix saltwater in it so I don't regularly check TDS but when I did it was also 0.

10/06/2015, 10:01 AM	#8
braaap Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 55	If you are putting 0 TDS water in your water should stay 0 TDS if you are in a food grade bucket....

10/06/2015, 10:04 AM	#9
theMatrix Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 302	Recheck tonight when i get home. Might have had some dry salt when i filled it.

10/06/2015, 10:51 AM	#12
bsk997 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: OC Posts: 635	Just using regular 5g water jugs you see at the LFS usually. I'll clean out the 30g drums again with vinegar and bleach. The container wasn't air tight as I had the RO tube just going in under the cover. I've order the float switch and it should be here tomorrow and I'll try again.

10/06/2015, 07:46 PM	#19
theMatrix Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 302	After couple open close situations. Reading at 2ppm

10/07/2015, 05:53 PM	#20
srope Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Cape Coral,Fl Posts: 64	If your reading 0 tds of you salt mix you need a new tds meter. If your containers are not air tight they will absorb anything in the air like co2. You will no longer have 0tds from that container.

10/11/2015, 10:06 PM	#22
bsk997 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: OC Posts: 635	Thanks guys. Cleaned the big 30g containers again with vinegar and ro/di water. Installed the float switch and container is air tight now. 0 tds.