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LFS RO Water TDS is 80 ppm

solefald

By solefald,
in Water Chemistry

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solefald

solefald

Posted
Posted

Just received my TDS meter today, so im in MEASURE ALL THE THINGS! mode.

 

RO that i get from my LFS is 80 ppm. Should I be looking for another source of RO?

 

Tap water at my place is 320 ppm. And then this apartment has RO-like 2 stage filter for the 2nd tiny faucet on the side of the sink. That one shows 323 ppm, even though the filter was changed couple of month ago.

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C.I._Reefer

C.I._Reefer

Posted
Posted
Just received my TDS meter today, so im in MEASURE ALL THE THINGS! mode.

 

RO that i get from my LFS is 80 ppm. Should I be looking for another source of RO?

 

Tap water at my place is 320 ppm. And then this apartment has RO-like 2 stage filter for the 2nd tiny faucet on the side of the sink. That one shows 323 ppm, even though the filter was changed couple of month ago.

 

umm yeah.. get your own RO/DI, or buy distilled. Also, i would bring that to your LFS' attention I wouldnt put ANYTHING in my tank that was over 10 ppm TDS, and that would only be in a pinch. are you sure that other on is RO, and not just a typical water filter?

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Mikerowave

Mikerowave

Posted
Posted
Just received my TDS meter today, so im in MEASURE ALL THE THINGS! mode.

 

RO that i get from my LFS is 80 ppm. Should I be looking for another source of RO?

 

Tap water at my place is 320 ppm. And then this apartment has RO-like 2 stage filter for the 2nd tiny faucet on the side of the sink. That one shows 323 ppm, even though the filter was changed couple of month ago.

 

80ppm is pretty high! The RO I get from the water vending machine outside my local grocery store is 1-2 TDS. At times when its at 6-8, I already get hesitant in using it.

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C.I._Reefer

C.I._Reefer

Posted
Posted
80ppm is pretty high! The RO I get from the water vending machine outside my local grocery store is 1-2 TDS. At times when its at 6-8, I already get hesitant in using it.

 

Yup!! no way i would put some 80ppm crap in my tank. OP that is probably why you got bryopsis so bad! :)

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Mikerowave

Mikerowave

Posted
Posted

When I first got into saltwater tanks, I used to get water from my LFS. Until I noticed that the saltwater that I've been getting from them for water changes had 20ppm Nitrates and it looked like there was fish waste or some sort of debris in the jug that the water came in. Since then, I stared mixing my own water.

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AZDesertRat

AZDesertRat

Posted
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Many shops unknowingly contaminate their treated water by dipping dirty buckets in the storage tanks or containers etc.

 

The sink filter is probably just a taste and odor filter for drinking water and has no effect on TDS, it removes large sediment and chlorine is all.

 

There is nothing like having your own RO/DI system and ultimate control of your water quality, for $120 its cheap insurance and can even be used for RO drinking water and cooking too. Since water is the single largest ingredient in a reef system it pays to have quality and stability.

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Maddevil1

Maddevil1

Posted
Posted
Just received my TDS meter today, so im in MEASURE ALL THE THINGS! mode.

 

RO that i get from my LFS is 80 ppm. Should I be looking for another source of RO?

 

Tap water at my place is 320 ppm. And then this apartment has RO-like 2 stage filter for the 2nd tiny faucet on the side of the sink. That one shows 323 ppm, even though the filter was changed couple of month ago.

 

Are you testing your water in your container or at your LFS? If at your LFS, then yes, look for another LFS. If not, ask if you can test at your LFS and if its better than what is in your container, get a better container.

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solefald

solefald

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Are you testing your water in your container or at your LFS? If at your LFS, then yes, look for another LFS. If not, ask if you can test at your LFS and if its better than what is in your container, get a better container.

 

Container is brand new. 5Gal white plastic jug. It had nothing but this particular LFS RO water in it. This is my second refill,

so the possibility of cross contamination with something else is really low. I tested this water by pouring a little bit into a brand new plastic cup.

 

 

Just tested Arrowhead Mountain 100% Natural Drinking Water and it shows 222ppm. Does that sound right?

Only RO, RO/DI and Distilled water should have really low TDS ppm, correct?

 

Want to make sure my meter is not faulty before I take my results to the LFS.

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AZDesertRat

AZDesertRat

Posted
Posted

Yes 222 is probably right since most bottled drinking water is remineralized so it tastes good. You need to test good RO/DI or distilled to make sure the meter is reading 0 TDS. Also make sure you triple rinse the TDS meter and cap or measuring container in RO/DI or distilled before putting it away capped and clean for next use. A dirty meter or measuring container will not be accurate. I use a clear glass, squeaky clean drinking water glass, washed by hand in very hot water so it has no water spots, dishwasher soap residue. spotting agents etc to skew the readings then I triple rinse and put it away upside down to keep dust and salt spray out.

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Formula462

Formula462

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Posted

Bring a clean, unused plastic sandwich bag to the LFS. Have them squirt the water in their from their tap. ( hopefully they have one and aren't dipping buckets into the vat) Then measure TDS. I thought I had a TDS problem too but I realized it was because the jug I was using had been used for SW before as well. Once that happens, it will almost always show some kind of TDS. It went from 56ppm measuring out of the jug to 0-1 ppm in the baggy.

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AZDesertRat

AZDesertRat

Posted
Posted

A good handheld meter like the HM Digital COM-100, TDS-3 or TDS-4TM has a cap that can be used to hold a sample also. But as Formula said, don't dip it in the water, fill it from the tap or dispenser and make sure you rinse it well when done.

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Daveg99

Daveg99

Posted
Posted

I measured some LFS water samples around here a few years ago and most of them had high TDS. BUY A RODI SYSTEM!

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ecogirl22

ecogirl22

Posted
Posted

hahaha I know the feeling. I just got a tds meter a couple week ago (couldn't believe i didn't have one, it was only $9!:)

 

IF the water is 80 TDS you need to tell the LFS they need to change their filters. To charge people for that is INSANE, criminal! hahaha. The fact that they aren't monitoring when they need to change the filters on their own is really concerning!

 

Of course, could be the container. 100+ppm went to 7ppm when i washed out a new clean glass and measured straight from the filter:) Apparently my DW SUCKS! hahahaha

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solefald

solefald

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A good handheld meter like the HM Digital COM-100, TDS-3 or TDS-4TM has a cap that can be used to hold a sample also. But as Formula said, don't dip it in the water, fill it from the tap or dispenser and make sure you rinse it well when done.

 

That's what I got. HM Digital TDS-4TM-A

 

HM-Digital-Pocket-Sized-TDS-Meter-w-Thermometer-1.jpg

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Spirofucci

Spirofucci

Posted
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LOL, when I first got my TDS meter I tested everthing. My tap is 700-800!

 

The problem with TDS is it doesn't tell you what the dissolved solid is. Some kinds of TDS are good.

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fish_chips

fish_chips

Posted
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Find a water store.. I go to a local water store where they only sell water by the gallon. They have this huge filtration system. I always get 0ppm around the time they need to change filters I only get 2 or 3ppm max.

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solefald

solefald

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Find a water store.. I go to a local water store where they only sell water by the gallon. They have this huge filtration system. I always get 0ppm around the time they need to change filters I only get 2 or 3ppm max.

 

I actually found one, but did not go there yet. My "ganjapreneur" friend goes there to get water for his grow operation and he swears by it.

Apparently growing quality weed requires quality RO water, just like our tanks! :)

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AZDesertRat

AZDesertRat

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Most water & ice type stores are RO only and not RO/DI so you will rarely find 0 TDS if ever. RO by itself is only a 90 to 98% efficient process.

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Formula462

Formula462

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LOL, when I first got my TDS meter I tested everthing. My tap is 700-800!

 

The problem with TDS is it doesn't tell you what the dissolved solid is. Some kinds of TDS are good.

 

hey someone actually gets that, wow!

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j86miu

j86miu

Posted
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just had to chime in, I usually get 30-40ppm tap water, but I'd still be worried to use that as water for my tank... NYC tap water FTW! haha B)

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solefald

solefald

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Sooo, i just received a $300 reward at work, and chose to receive it in Amazon gift cards. No cash option available and Amazon has EVERYTHING! Plus Prime is nice ;)

 

I am thinking of a Neptune WXM Module to control my MP10 + a RO/DI system, because why not? :)

 

Obviously going to purchase on Amazon.

 

I see that everyone recommends SpectaPure. Amazon does not have refurb ones, so its $190

for 90GPD system

http://www.amazon.com/SpectraPure-Maxpure-...mp;sr=8-2-spell

 

 

Any other ones i should look at? Aqueon CoraLife? Typhoon 5 stage? Smart Reef?

 

Looking to spend under $200 for RO/DI.

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