TDS water value for reef tank.

[hscow111]

Due to the stay home order, I was not able to get RO water from my usual LFS. I went to another LFS that was open to get fish food and pick up RO/RI water
at the same time.
However, when I got home, the measured TDS for the RO/RI was 90+ [?!], my usual water place is 1. My tap water is 25. My reef tank water is a few hundred.
My jugs are used only for fresh water, so I know the contamination is not from me.
I am giving the new LFS the benefit of the doubt that maybe some salt water got contaminated in the pipe.

My question is that if my tap water has better TDS than the water that I bought, does it mean that I can use my tap water instead during the lock-down?

Thanks

 

[Ron Reefman]

NO! Tap water has low levels of chemicals in it that will cause harm.

And not knowing the contamination of the LFS water makes it unusable... unless you call them and find out what they can tell you about it.

I'd go to the grocery store and buy distilled water. I used it for many months before I got an RO/DI set up. You could also try and find a fellow reefer that makes RO/DI. I'd share if you lived around here.

 

[hscow111]

Hi Ron, thank you for the offer, but I am on the west side of USA. Most likely I am not going to use the LFS water
and find another source of water for top-off/changes. Like you said, distill at the grocery store, or maybe the RO vending machine.
Thanks.

 

[LesPoissons]

You should maybe invest in your own rodi system? Spectrapure makes some very affordable ones that last and are very user friendly. My tds is 0 out of my unit. Id use distilled gallons of water over tap water. My lfs also sells garbage rodi banking on no one testing it and/or never changing their filters.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

Due to the stay home order, I was not able to get RO water from my usual LFS. I went to another LFS that was open to get fish food and pick up RO/RI water
at the same time.
However, when I got home, the measured TDS for the RO/RI was 90+ [?!], my usual water place is 1. My tap water is 25. My reef tank water is a few hundred.
My jugs are used only for fresh water, so I know the contamination is not from me.
I am giving the new LFS the benefit of the doubt that maybe some salt water got contaminated in the pipe.

My question is that if my tap water has better TDS than the water that I bought, does it mean that I can use my tap water instead during the lock-down?

Thanks

I've been there! I'm also on the west coast USA, maybe it's the same store... (doubt it). I had to dump it. Get some distilled!