TDS of 190 causing high nitrates?

[sugarfox03]

Yeah, ya'll read that correctly. Someone here recommended that I buy a TDS meter. I did. I checked the TDS of my so-called "RO" water from the LFS. It came out to 190! My tap water is 180! Now that I think I have pinpointed my problem (after all the fricken time & money spent trying to correct it) what do I need to do, other than invest in a RO/DI system, which is my next purchase after I pay my truck payment next week (meaning I will get it in 3 weeks with the next paycheck.) I already plan on sticking with grocery store bought Distilled water, I checked that and it was only 2 or 3, I know its supposed to be 0, but 3 is definately better than 190 that I was putting in. Should I do another big water change? I plan on doing atleast 5 gals tomorrow as my weekly maintenence, but should I do more? They use "purified seawater" not pre-mixed salt, is this ok? Or do I need to find yet another LFS? Thanks in advance for any info/suggestions. And thanks again to the person who recommended the TDS meter!!

 

[qreef]

Hi,
IMO.......To make sure your TDS meter is in calibration you need to buy Distilled water and use your TDS meter to see if you get a good reading( under 010). But I think you could have a outta wack calibrating TDS meter

 

[chunkysoup]

anything is better than 190... mine out of the sink is 60 here. But as far as the relatinship between TDS and nitrate I'm really not sure. I think TDS is more of a reflection of water impurities/trace metals etc.... I don't see how those elements would fit into the nitrogenous waste cycle.

 

[boozzbro]

nitrates will actually cause your TDS to be high not the other way around.

 

[sugarfox03]

Hmmm....the person that mentioned that I buy the TDS meter said that he/she was having the same problem with high nitrates, found out it was the "RO"water he/she was buying, bought an RO/DI system, and the problem went away. And I did test the TDS meter against a bottle of Distilled water, which is how I got the result of 003 from the grocery store brand, as mentioned.

I will just assume this is the problem for now, as nothing else makes sense. I do all the correct husbandry practices, and the past 6 weeks or so now, I have been battling high nitrates...which, coincidentally (and I didnt even think about it before) is about when I started using another LFS for water, both salt & ro.