TDS Test Results, good or bad

[sigmachris]

OK I know these will probably be bad, but just how bad. MY LFS owner tested my RO sample that I purchase from Wal-Mart. He knew I was coming, saw me with my toddler, was busy, tested my sample, said it was high, but I couldn't go into discussion with him. Nap time for the toddler and him being busy.
Well they are closed until Wednesday but I am curious just how bad this RO water is, the test results were in the low 90's. Needless to say I have to find an alternative water source.
As always thanks in advance for your help,
Chris

 

[michaeltx]

thats the bad thing about bought water you really dont know what the readings are until you test. my suggest will cost you around $200 but in the long run is the best bet and thats to invest in your own RO/DI unit then you can control the quality of the water that you are useing.
Mike

 

[sigmachris]

But how bad is low 90's, this is the first time I have of a TDS reading. Is it C+ or F? What would a reading be on someone's RO/DI unit?

 

[michaeltx]

zero is the normal reading out of the RO/DI unit when all filters are working properly.
so 90;s is still high even for RO IMO I have heard worse but you want zero or as close to it as possible.
Mike

 

[sigmachris]

Thanks again Mike, have a good weekend.

 

[yosemite sam]

Very interesting. I always wondered what the readings from bottled water were. SigmaChris, can you give us a bit more detail about the type of water you purchased (ie, what the label said)? A 90 tds reading (which is in ppm, if you wondered what the number meant), is high. Many of the people I know here in the city have tap water with a tds reading of around 100. Granted, you don't know what the dissolved solids are, but 90 is a lot. Another good reason to get a good RO/DI filter!

 

[big]

If My old brain can remember it without looking it up. My RO/DI manufacturer recommends replacing the filters when the reading reaches 10 -15. A lot do it sooner. So as you see, the 90 is bad. Some or should I say a lot of tap water is better than that.
By the way Mike
did not tell you "how much did you pay for that rock??? quote is great.

 

[sigmachris]

The water is from their RO station, you bring the container and fill it for $0.37 / gallon. Sounds like they aren't servicing their filters too often.

 

[big]

Originally Posted by SigmaChris
http:///forum/post/2464496
The water is from their RO station, you bring the container and fill it for $0.37 / gallon. Sounds like they aren't servicing their filters too often.

Sounds to me like they are stealing peoples good money

 

[t316]

First, I have to know, does your lfs sell water himself? If so, it would be no surprise that he is just telling you a high # (especially since he was "busy") so that you will discredit your other source and buy only from him.
90 is high. After getting my own ro/di unit, my water measures 0 tds. Just for kicks, I tested my well water going into the unit before filtering...157. WOW. Think the ro/di unit makes a difference?

 

[big]

Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/2464581
First, I have to know, does your lfs sell water himself? If so, it would be no surprise that he is just telling you a high # (especially since he was "busy") so that you will discredit your other source and buy only from him.
90 is high. After getting my own ro/di unit, my water measures 0 tds. Just for kicks, I tested my well water going into the unit before filtering...157. WOW. Think the ro/di unit makes a difference?
My old house my well was around 125, I moved to a new one 8 miles away and this well is so hard it breaks if you drop it!!

 

[t316]

Originally Posted by big
http:///forum/post/2464591
My old house my well was around 125, I moved to a new one 8 miles away and this well is so hard it breaks if you drop it!!

Mine is a new well also, so I guess age has nothing to do with it.

 

[swalchemist]

The RO station at Walmart is usually high in TDS but there is nothing wrong with it as it is for human consumption. Most city taps test above 200 ppm so a 90 ppm reading is great for normal usage but terrible for a reef tank, which it is not recomended for. You need a TDS below 4 ppm IMO and to get that either make your own or buy from a LFS that sells and monitors there water regularly.

 

[t316]

Originally Posted by SWAlchemist
http:///forum/post/2464654
The RO station at Walmart is usually high in TDS but there is nothing wrong with it as it is for human consumption. Most city taps test above 200 ppm so a 90 ppm reading is great for normal usage but terrible for a reef tank, which it is not recomended for. You need a TDS below 4 ppm IMO and to get that either make your own or buy from a LFS that sells and monitors there water regularly.
+1

 

[sigmachris]

Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/2464581
First, I have to know, does your lfs sell water himself? If so, it would be no surprise that he is just telling you a high # (especially since he was "busy") so that you will discredit your other source and buy only from him.
90 is high. After getting my own ro/di unit, my water measures 0 tds. Just for kicks, I tested my well water going into the unit before filtering...157. WOW. Think the ro/di unit makes a difference?
This is one of the good guys, his store is in his green house on his home property. I believe he is an accountant by trade. He has diverted me to other quality LFSs when he felt I could do better elsewhere. Instead of selling me a 4" clown for my newly established BioCube, he sent me to his competitor who breeds them right there in the store. You can see Mom and Dad in their DT. Two small baby clowns in the Bio he felt would have been better for me as a new hobbyist.
Plus he did the test right in front of me and I saw the reading.

 

[carnifex]

Heh... I just tested my tap water here in Iowa and it is reading 435 ppm... this might take a lot of work to get my water down to a usable level

 

[scrapman]

Originally Posted by MichaelTX
http:///forum/post/2464275
zero is the normal reading out of the RO/DI unit when all filters are working properly.
so 90;s is still high even for RO IMO I have heard worse but you want zero or as close to it as possible.
Mike
Pls xcuse my ignorance: How do you test your RO/DI water for TDS??
Thanks

 

[spiderwoman]

Originally Posted by T316
http:///forum/post/2464581
90 is high. After getting my own ro/di unit, my water measures 0 tds. Just for kicks, I tested my well water going into the unit before filtering...157. WOW. Think the ro/di unit makes a difference?
I beat you by 1! Our well is 158 and the water from the fridge with it's own filter was even higher.

 

[spiderwoman]

Originally Posted by scrapman
http:///forum/post/2507489
Pls xcuse my ignorance: How do you test your RO/DI water for TDS??
Thanks
You can purchase a TDS meter or some of the medium to higher end RO/DI comes with a TDS meter. Ours came with a portable *pocket* size meter and another one is attachable to the RO/DI.

 

[t316]

Originally Posted by SpiderWoman
http:///forum/post/2507514
I beat you by 1! Our well is 158 and the water from the fridge with it's own filter was even higher.
We must be drawing from the same river basin

It doesn't surprise me about the fridge. Unless you change those filters once a week (which I have never changed mine) then you can imagine what is coming out of them. I prefer tap over the fridge water.