TDS

[DBUK]

im having trouble with TDS, ive sorted out my RODI unit and the RO water is 0 when it goes into my buckets, and stays at 0 but when i put my heater in and maxjet pump it rises to 14 then few hrs later to 47 which it is now, so its not worth putting in the salt.

has anyone had this problem before, bearing in mind the pump and heater have only been use to mix.
and the TDS meter is brand new also,

 

[cromag27 Verified Sponsor]

what meter do you have? have you calibrated it? is your heater and pump cleaned without any fouling residue or saltwater on them? how about your buckets?

 

[marlinmon]

Sounds like there might be some minuscule amount of salt left in the bucket before you added the RODI water. If you want to be sure just add the RODI water to something that is for sure clean like a disposable cup.

 

[ihavecrabs]

As long as it goes into the bucket at 0 I wouldn't worry about measuring it before the salt goes in.

Dust and residue in the container will cause it to creep up.

 

[DBUK]

well its 0 when goes in bucket now TDS are 1 and all buckets have been cleaned using boiling water and the RO water then dried. i'm just doing 1 litre of RO and seeing how quickly it rises! if so can i use; RO water with TDs over 0 and use that in my DT as this is driving me crazy. i can't carry on like this.. what ever i do or used TDs rise, unless its in a drinking glass.

 

[DBUK]

all buckets are food grade, honesly do you all clean you RO water buckets out everyday?? as thats what im doing and making and RO water. and then throwing it away as TDs rise for no reason

 

[stevef22]

Basically use the same buckets for mixing salt and not for anything else then you’ll know your water going in is good when it reads 0 leaving the RO/DI. Check is using a brand new solo cup or something similar. You don’t have to measure before putting in the salt if you’ve only used that bucket for salt.

 

[DBUK]

yeah mate came round today and we went through the whole thing and he also agrees with what you all saying im getting some cross contamiation from buckets and heater and maxijet pumps. so ive cleaned them all and placed in RO water were they stay till i need them and then every two days i do a water change in their bucket. and when finised with them i stick them back in RO water.. hopefully that will stop some or all contamiation. and also im looking for a 1 new food grade bucket. but are expensive in uk even the brute bins £££s

 

[Ron Reefman]

Just my humble opinion, but I think you are worrying far to much about this.

Your pump gets used mixing saltwater. So it has saltwater residue inside it. That's no big deal. So when you put it in a bucket full of RO/DI water with zero TDS all of that old saltwater residue washes out and your TDS goes up some. So what! It's not like the pump is putting bad stuff in your RO/DI water. I think you are over analyzing this.

 

[Crazeh]

Sounds like you do your water changes the same way as me. As long as you keep that bucket for filling RODI and mixing only you will be ok. Just don't let it get contaminated with waste or waste water. Contamination with 'clean' salt from a heater or pump is fine. Still worth washing all your buckets from time to time though just to keep on top of it all.

I plan on having a water station in the future where I have individual buckets for everything, but I'm limited on space for now so I take the two bucket method, one for filling and mixing, another for waste.

 

[DBUK]

thanks guys, maybe i'm am over thinking it LOL. i ve purchased a new bucket. and i'm going to organise what pump does what and make sure and use only a certain bucket for salt mix. RO water. just so i know the reading i'm getting is right. and i'm looking at adding a TDS monitor on my RO unit. instead of using the pen type.