TDS Creep

Emmanuel75 · 05/13/2011, 09:31 AM

Ok, so today I was about to do another small water change as to continue to keep my parameters in check. I test my TDS from my RODI about every other week to make sure I'm not adding Phosphates into my system. My phosphates are at a .04. Due to a faulty API test kit, I didn't know that my Nitrates were at an alarming 25ppm (THANKS LFS)! So, my plan to gradually fix my numbers is to do small 6 gallon water changes daily until they are back in line then revert back to weekly 10%.

I tested my RODI water and it has crept up to 5ppm. I have only had my RODI unit for a month, however when I purchased the RODI it tested at 1ppm. All cartridges and resin was brand new, but I figured that 1ppm should not have been detrimental. I'm starting to suspect the TDS meter now because testing my tap water it gives an error message. However testing after membrane it tests at 23ppm, but after two stages of DI it tests at 5ppm? BTW it is a 6 stage Titan Water Pro RODI unit. I've checked the connections, flushed the membrane, I'm not sure what else to try. I don't have another meter or I'd try a different one incase this one is faulty.

Any other suggestions? I'd like to get my to my water changes but don't want to poison my system more in the process.

b0bab0ey · 05/13/2011, 12:29 PM

Are you saying your RODI output is 5 and your waste water (RO) is 23? That's not too bad IMO and probably not your problem. But my RODI is 6 months old and still reading 1. Have you ever tested your tap water? What reading do you get there?

briankmarsh1980 · 05/13/2011, 12:34 PM

if everything is brand new you should be reading 0 out of the unit.....

I would post your question here to get some professional help

http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=229

EDIT: the TDS coming into my unit runs between 800-900ppm out of my membrane it reads 13-15 and 0 out of the DI's and as soon as it jumps to 001 I change my DI this happens about every 400gallons or so

shifty51008 · 05/13/2011, 01:40 PM

I would deff. get a calibration fluid for your TDS meter, if your getting an error on your tap water, you either have very horriable water or the meter is wrong.

calibrate that 1st then check the water and let us know.

BuckeyeFS · 05/14/2011, 05:47 AM

Need a little more info to help you.

First we need 3 TDS readings - you've provided 2:
Tap water TDS: ??
RO water TDS: 23 PPM
DI water TDS: 5 PPM

What is your water pressure at the membrane when the system is running?

Russ

Emmanuel75 · 05/14/2011, 09:30 PM

It is weird. I dumped my container and rinsed it out. After letting it run, I refilled my container again and it now tested at 0tds! I tested it again by testing water from the membrane then again the DI. So, I probably had something in the container that was throwing off the meter.

I'm still getting the calibration fluid just in case.

Thanks guys for your help!

Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk

BuckeyeFS · 05/15/2011, 04:42 AM

In general, its not good practice to meause the TDS of your DI water directly from a storage container.

Remember that you are reading in parts per million, so even the slightest "contamination" in your storage container will skew the reading.

Test the TDS of your tap water using a clean glass container.

Russ

05/13/2011, 09:31 AM	#1
Emmanuel75 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 219	TDS Creep Ok, so today I was about to do another small water change as to continue to keep my parameters in check. I test my TDS from my RODI about every other week to make sure I'm not adding Phosphates into my system. My phosphates are at a .04. Due to a faulty API test kit, I didn't know that my Nitrates were at an alarming 25ppm (THANKS LFS)! So, my plan to gradually fix my numbers is to do small 6 gallon water changes daily until they are back in line then revert back to weekly 10%. I tested my RODI water and it has crept up to 5ppm. I have only had my RODI unit for a month, however when I purchased the RODI it tested at 1ppm. All cartridges and resin was brand new, but I figured that 1ppm should not have been detrimental. I'm starting to suspect the TDS meter now because testing my tap water it gives an error message. However testing after membrane it tests at 23ppm, but after two stages of DI it tests at 5ppm? BTW it is a 6 stage Titan Water Pro RODI unit. I've checked the connections, flushed the membrane, I'm not sure what else to try. I don't have another meter or I'd try a different one incase this one is faulty. Any other suggestions? I'd like to get my to my water changes but don't want to poison my system more in the process. __________________ 75 Gallon DT, 40 Gallon Eshoppes ADV-300 Sump/Refugium, H&S 150-2001 Skimmer, Mag 18 Return, Lifereef Overflow Box, BRS HC-GFO, BRS ROX, 2 Apollo dimmable LEDS.

05/13/2011, 12:34 PM	#3
briankmarsh1980 I'm a member of **!!!!!! Join Date: May 2010 Location: Maricopa, Arizona Posts: 1,991	if everything is brand new you should be reading 0 out of the unit..... I would post your question here to get some professional help http://reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=229 EDIT: the TDS coming into my unit runs between 800-900ppm out of my membrane it reads 13-15 and 0 out of the DI's and as soon as it jumps to 001 I change my DI this happens about every 400gallons or so __________________ My skim don't stink _______________________________________________________________ 210 gallons with stuff!!!!!!!

05/13/2011, 01:40 PM	#4
shifty51008 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 4,047	I would deff. get a calibration fluid for your TDS meter, if your getting an error on your tap water, you either have very horriable water or the meter is wrong. calibrate that 1st then check the water and let us know. __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, dual 250 watt MH's icecap ballasts, XM 20k's, 2 - 110 watt super atanics, 2-tunze 6000's with a 7095 controller, ranco dual temp controller, MR2 skimmer ran with Mak 4 pump, pinpoint pH monitor, marine magic dual dosing pump, pcx 40 return pump, dual MR5 media reactors for carbon and GFO, purelyH20 optima pro RODI unit w/dual BRS Di unit, aquahub ATO fish/inverts: 2-occ. clowns, 1-banggaii cardinal, 1 tiger tail cuke, 2 RBTA, mix of nass, cerths, and Banded Trochus snails, pair of skunk cleaner shrimp corals: 1 elegance coral, 1-bubble corals, 1 green toadstool leather, 1 green with pruple tip frogspawn, 1 acans, 1 green cap, 2 Chalice

05/14/2011, 05:47 AM	#5
BuckeyeFS RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 4,284	Need a little more info to help you. First we need 3 TDS readings - you've provided 2: Tap water TDS: ?? RO water TDS: 23 PPM DI water TDS: 5 PPM What is your water pressure at the membrane when the system is running? Russ __________________ Have you visited Buckeye recently? GFO (pellet, granular, and HC), VorTech pumps, refractometers, 2-part additives, ROX 0.8 GAC, and more! Reef Central S P O N S O R RO/DI Systems and Supplies at www.BuckeyeFieldSupply.com [email protected] HM Digital Master Distributor Hanna Instruments Master Distributor Salifert Master Distributor AQUA UV Master Distributor Current Tank Info: 300 g mixed reef system

05/14/2011, 09:30 PM	#6
Emmanuel75 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 219	It is weird. I dumped my container and rinsed it out. After letting it run, I refilled my container again and it now tested at 0tds! I tested it again by testing water from the membrane then again the DI. So, I probably had something in the container that was throwing off the meter. I'm still getting the calibration fluid just in case. Thanks guys for your help! Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk __________________ 75 Gallon DT, 40 Gallon Eshoppes ADV-300 Sump/Refugium, H&S 150-2001 Skimmer, Mag 18 Return, Lifereef Overflow Box, BRS HC-GFO, BRS ROX, 2 Apollo dimmable LEDS.

05/13/2011, 12:29 PM	#2
b0bab0ey Moved on Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,578	Are you saying your RODI output is 5 and your waste water (RO) is 23? That's not too bad IMO and probably not your problem. But my RODI is 6 months old and still reading 1. Have you ever tested your tap water? What reading do you get there?

05/15/2011, 04:42 AM	#7
BuckeyeFS RC Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 4,284	In general, its not good practice to meause the TDS of your DI water directly from a storage container. Remember that you are reading in parts per million, so even the slightest "contamination" in your storage container will skew the reading. Test the TDS of your tap water using a clean glass container. Russ __________________ Have you visited Buckeye recently? GFO (pellet, granular, and HC), VorTech pumps, refractometers, 2-part additives, ROX 0.8 GAC, and more! Reef Central S P O N S O R RO/DI Systems and Supplies at www.BuckeyeFieldSupply.com [email protected] HM Digital Master Distributor Hanna Instruments Master Distributor Salifert Master Distributor AQUA UV Master Distributor Current Tank Info: 300 g mixed reef system

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