TDS meter came in today

AquaReeferMan · 07/17/2007, 12:15 PM

Well I just got home from work(on my lunch break) and seen that my TDS meter came in today. So I figured I would test out the spring water Ive been using for my tank for the last 2 years. After getting the TDS meter set up and getting the water temp right I tested it. Turns out Im at 52 ppm. Is that good or bad? Im sure everyone will say it should be at 0 but is that close to being in a good range? Im new to this TDS stuff and was wondering if I really needed an RO unit or not. Any thoughs are welcome.

TIA
Doug

skeeter-doc · 07/17/2007, 12:16 PM

what meter did you get?

AquaReeferMan · 07/17/2007, 12:22 PM

IntelliTEC Digital Water Purity Tester. My Tap water tested at 187ppm. I tested 3 different gallons of the water I use for my tank and all came out between 50-54

Travis L. Stevens · 07/17/2007, 12:24 PM

For being "spring water", that's pretty good. YOu should be looking for something like Distilled though.

AquaReeferMan · 07/17/2007, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Travis L. Stevens
YOu should be looking for something like Distilled though.

I thought of that in the beginning but I get 5 gallons of spring water for $1. I cant find that deal for distilled anywhere.

AZDesertRat · 07/17/2007, 01:14 PM

Spring water can have lots of minerals in it so it tastes good but may not be good for a tank. You want deionized or distilled water at best and straight RO, not RO purified drinking water if you cannot find DI or distilled. Some RO drinking waters again have minerals added back in to make it taste good. Around Arizona there are RO machines on just about every corner it seems and some do a pretty good job. Now that you have a TDS meter you can do some investigation. Your best bet in the long run is to buy your own RO/DI so you have control over the water quality and maintenance.

oct2274 · 07/17/2007, 01:35 PM

i agree with desertrat on this one, get your own RO/DI unit so you can make 0 TDS water and don't have to hassle with picking up water

AquaReeferMan · 07/17/2007, 01:40 PM

Yeah but I cant even drink this water. I get it from a local spring and have tried drinking it but i dont know I just dont like it. I can drink normal bottled spring water, this just taste off. I guess thats why its reading low. I dont know Ive been using it for 2 years and there is nothing wrong with anything in my tank(s). I will eventually get a RO/DI but my cash flow is tied up right now. I dont think it will hurt using it for a little longer.

skeeter-doc · 07/17/2007, 02:05 PM

thanks for the info reeferman!

lakwriter · 07/17/2007, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Travis L. Stevens
YOu should be looking for something like Distilled though.

I've been told that distilled could have trace amounts of copper in it from copper coils in the distiller, though. You have to be careful.

Peter Eichler · 07/17/2007, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AquaReeferMan
Yeah but I cant even drink this water. I get it from a local spring and have tried drinking it but i dont know I just dont like it. I can drink normal bottled spring water, this just taste off. I guess thats why its reading low. I dont know Ive been using it for 2 years and there is nothing wrong with anything in my tank(s). I will eventually get a RO/DI but my cash flow is tied up right now. I dont think it will hurt using it for a little longer.

If you've been using it for the last 2 years and all seems well I'd just stick with it. Yes, I suggest that people buy RO/DI units when they set up reef aquariums. But, there was a time when most people used tap water and many people had good results. It seems your source water is fine for your inhabitants so I wouldn't worry too much about getting an RO/DI until you have some extra cash.

somethingphishy · 07/17/2007, 03:30 PM

i use to purchase distilled from GIANT for two years plus...approx 70cents/gal....as for the copper.....called a representative of the company......confirmed by some big wig that they do not use copper pipes......but i recently bought a r/o so no more need for baggin over ten gallons a week

Peter Eichler · 07/17/2007, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by somethingphishy
i use to purchase distilled from GIANT for two years plus...approx 70cents/gal....as for the copper.....called a representative of the company......confirmed by some big wig that they do not use copper pipes......but i recently bought a r/o so no more need for baggin over ten gallons a week

I think the use of copper in distillers is far less common than it used to be, it's still something to consider but in most cases using distilled water will be fine.

mr_o98 · 07/17/2007, 04:46 PM

I use to purchase distilled water from GIANT as well. I did that for about 2.5 years until I bought an RO/DI unit. I found my RO/DI on Ebay for almost $100 cheaper than retail. I have a Kent Maxxima 35 gpd RO/DI. Ebay is a good place to check for a deal. The unit cost alot in the beginning but paid for itself in less than a year. Plus you don't need to go to the store, pay for gas, carry the water jugs, etc. I keep my RO/DI water in a Rubbermaid Brute garbage can and have a maxi-jet 900 circulating the water. The maxi-jet has tubing connected to it so I just pick up the tubing and it pumps water into buckets for a water change or into gallon jugs for top-off.

07/17/2007, 12:15 PM	#1
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	TDS meter came in today Well I just got home from work(on my lunch break) and seen that my TDS meter came in today. So I figured I would test out the spring water Ive been using for my tank for the last 2 years. After getting the TDS meter set up and getting the water temp right I tested it. Turns out Im at 52 ppm. Is that good or bad? Im sure everyone will say it should be at 0 but is that close to being in a good range? Im new to this TDS stuff and was wondering if I really needed an RO unit or not. Any thoughs are welcome. TIA Doug __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

07/17/2007, 12:22 PM	#3
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	IntelliTEC Digital Water Purity Tester. My Tap water tested at 187ppm. I tested 3 different gallons of the water I use for my tank and all came out between 50-54 __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

07/17/2007, 12:24 PM	#4
Travis L. Stevens Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Perry, OK Posts: 13,946	For being "spring water", that's pretty good. YOu should be looking for something like Distilled though. __________________ Travis Stevens Current Tank Info: Restarting 28g Bowfront

07/17/2007, 01:40 PM	#8
AquaReeferMan Got Reef? Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Under the Sea, Pa Posts: 4,593	Yeah but I cant even drink this water. I get it from a local spring and have tried drinking it but i dont know I just dont like it. I can drink normal bottled spring water, this just taste off. I guess thats why its reading low. I dont know Ive been using it for 2 years and there is nothing wrong with anything in my tank(s). I will eventually get a RO/DI but my cash flow is tied up right now. I dont think it will hurt using it for a little longer. __________________ Couple SPS/Zoanthid tanks and a couple of FW planted tanks. Current Tank Info: 5 pieces of glass with some silicone and plastic frames holding them together

07/17/2007, 03:30 PM	#12
somethingphishy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Fleetwood, pa Posts: 852	i use to purchase distilled from GIANT for two years plus...approx 70cents/gal....as for the copper.....called a representative of the company......confirmed by some big wig that they do not use copper pipes......but i recently bought a r/o so no more need for baggin over ten gallons a week __________________ "Set the gearshift for the high gear Of your soul, you've got to run like An antelope out of control!" Current Tank Info: 50g/20l sump

07/17/2007, 12:16 PM	#2
skeeter-doc Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: TX Posts: 1,643	what meter did you get?

07/17/2007, 01:14 PM	#6
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Spring water can have lots of minerals in it so it tastes good but may not be good for a tank. You want deionized or distilled water at best and straight RO, not RO purified drinking water if you cannot find DI or distilled. Some RO drinking waters again have minerals added back in to make it taste good. Around Arizona there are RO machines on just about every corner it seems and some do a pretty good job. Now that you have a TDS meter you can do some investigation. Your best bet in the long run is to buy your own RO/DI so you have control over the water quality and maintenance.

07/17/2007, 01:35 PM	#7
oct2274 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 2,347	i agree with desertrat on this one, get your own RO/DI unit so you can make 0 TDS water and don't have to hassle with picking up water

07/17/2007, 02:05 PM	#9
skeeter-doc Moved On Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: TX Posts: 1,643	thanks for the info reeferman!

07/17/2007, 04:46 PM	#14
mr_o98 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Pen Argyl, PA Posts: 600	I use to purchase distilled water from GIANT as well. I did that for about 2.5 years until I bought an RO/DI unit. I found my RO/DI on Ebay for almost $100 cheaper than retail. I have a Kent Maxxima 35 gpd RO/DI. Ebay is a good place to check for a deal. The unit cost alot in the beginning but paid for itself in less than a year. Plus you don't need to go to the store, pay for gas, carry the water jugs, etc. I keep my RO/DI water in a Rubbermaid Brute garbage can and have a maxi-jet 900 circulating the water. The maxi-jet has tubing connected to it so I just pick up the tubing and it pumps water into buckets for a water change or into gallon jugs for top-off. __________________ Sometimes I amaze even myself. I feel like I have TWO brilliant minds. Current Tank Info: 90g fish only tank, Green Chromis, Ocellaris clown, 6 line Wrasse, Convict Tang, Foxface Lo, Decorator Goby, Lemon Drop butterfly, Flameback Angel - 30g sump, Euro Reef skimmer, 2 250w MH