been buying R/O water from my local pet store........the TDS is________.

[JayM]

Sitting RO water will pick up some co2 and get a TDS reading from that. Not sure if it would be that much, but it is a potential factor.

mine gets up to about 8-9 if it sits, coming out at 0-1

 

[MPevine11]

that unit looks great! not a bad price either!i deffently plan to get one in a week or 2!

the shower idea is great!


any way i can hook it up in the basement tho just in case someone wants to use the shower?

 

[delta]

There are a lot of ways to run it, here is the page that has a bunch of connectors. http://www.airwaterice.com/category/2/

You can run it off a faucet, Tee it off your washing machine or use a saddle valve on any cold water pipe.
You just need a place to run the waste line. but a washing machine drain or outside to the garden works well.

 

[Behrmon]

Are you testing the water coming right out of their RO? If not your test is most likely false. If you want to get a closer read have them put some water from their holding tank into a sterile plastic baggie.

 

[Technorch]

Sitting RO water will pick up some co2 and get a TDS reading from that. Not sure if it would be that much, but it is a potential factor.

How about water sitting in a container for top-off? Should we a small power head to stir it?

 

[RiverReefer]

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store...systems/reverses-osmosis-deionization-systems

i have the 75gpd 5 stage plus and it works great, these Bulk reef supply system come with the entire package of add ons/addapters so you dont have to buy them seperate and also have good discounts...

 

[stingythingy45]

How about water sitting in a container for top-off? Should we a small power head to stir it?

Personally,I wouldn't bother putting a PH in a top-off container.If the water was being used for a water changes, then yes.This would help mix the salt and if a venturi was added to the say a MJ1200 power head then the bubbles would help drive the PH up.But for just doing top-off to a tank in small amounts,no need to aerate.
I think John was just stating that CO2 could give you a TDS reading making it seem that there's still small traces of stuff in the ro water.

 

[RiverReefer]

also...when I first started in the hobby and didn't own an RO yet, I was doing the same as you and going to the LFS near my house for RO. Not knowing any better and trusting that they are charging me for something they are claiming is RO water I would take them at their word. Well diatom bloom later, realizing they were selling me tap water and charging me for it... and after asking not only 1 but 2 stores that I bought the water at when was the last time they changed their cartridges and if they have a TDS meter attached...and being answered with laughter and the "I have no idea" I decided it was time to stop buying RO from there.

Water quality is one of the most important parts of this hobby, there are people on this board that have spent upwards of 5k on their water filtration systems and their tanks definitely are a reflection of that. My suggestion to you is to buy the RO/DI like you are looking at and make sure it is one that is reliable. If you can't buy the system yet then at the very least make sure you can find a LFS that you can trust and can answer your questions (see brs sponsors). My biggest mistake was thinking that everyone operated the proper way...they dont.

 

[JohnK]

How about water sitting in a container for top-off? Should we a small power head to stir it?

No point in putting a PH in the top off container. Co2 in the water will be trying to reach equalibrium with the atmospheric level around it, so circulating that water would actually reach whatever Co2 level more quickly. What that level would be would depend on how well ventilated your house is.

Whatever the case, that little bit of Co2 won't harm the tank, but it would give 0 TDS water a TDS reading.

 

[Takara]

Is there anything to calibrate the tester?