Who Uses A Tds (total Dissolved Solids) Meter?

[Janice]

Who uses a TDS meter?

 

[AdInfinitum]

Yes..it's the only way to monitor the state of your RO filters/membrane. Before I had an Rodi with built in meters I only checked very occasionally when I suspected filters or membrane were getting old.

 

[Janice]

So here is the scoop: I only learned about these today, when I finally gave up on trying to get rid of my algae and decided to take the tank apart and get new rock. I went to Big Als and tested their salt water-where I had been buying saltwater most of the time, and the level was 9!!!! I left Big Als and went to a water store, bought 7 x 5 G bottles and went home and made my own!! Thank God I figured this out. I could not understand why my parameters were perfect but I could not kill off the algae no matter how much Rowaphos I used.

 

[Marz]

^^^ one of the first things I got. Test at least once a month.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AdInfinitum]

So here is the scoop: I only learned about these today, when I finally gave up on trying to get rid of my algae and decided to take the tank apart and get new rock. I went to Big Als and tested their salt water-where I had been buying saltwater most of the time, and the level was 9!!!! I left Big Als and went to a water store, bought 7 x 5 G bottles and went home and made my own!! Thank God I figured this out. I could not understand why my parameters were perfect but I could not kill off the algae no matter how much Rowaphos I used.

I assume you mean you tested their RO water...not SW...lol

 

[Bill]

A nice product to use is the TDS meter that attached to the input and output of the RO/DI filter, at a glance you can see if your filters need changing. These units are cheap and very easy to install

 

[averhoog]

TDs is a must have how else do you know how you water level is. Very important

 

[Canadianeh]

So here is the scoop: I only learned about these today, when I finally gave up on trying to get rid of my algae and decided to take the tank apart and get new rock. I went to Big Als and tested their salt water-where I had been buying saltwater most of the time, and the level was 9!!!! I left Big Als and went to a water store, bought 7 x 5 G bottles and went home and made my own!! Thank God I figured this out. I could not understand why my parameters were perfect but I could not kill off the algae no matter how much Rowaphos I used.

I don't and never trust buying saltwater from store. Only you that can be sure to use the best water for your tank.

So you bought RODI unit and TDS meter from Big Als? All of their stuffs there are overpriced. I would recommend Reefsupplies and Ray is very helpful. Plus they have loyalty point as well.

How bad is your algae problem that made you decide to tear down your tank and start with new rock? That means you start from scratch again and will have to wait until it cycle again. I think you can keep using the same rocks.

I had diatoms bloom and hair algae bloom, and they all went away by limiting feeding, larger water change, and/or adding CUC.

 

[Janice]

Yes, I meant their RO water. Level9. From now on I will be mixing all of my own water. I bough the TGS Meter that Big Als wanted $55,00 for last night on line, brand new for $7. The very same one!!
I had been working f hard for 5 months to get rid of eh algae by ever method. Nothing would work, when someone asked me about the TDA in my RO water, and I said I hd never tested. I bough new rock and have the old rock in tank water in a closed dark container. It will be for sale once all of the algae on it is completely dead. Tried all of the methods you suggested wit the algae, and even more, and nothing would work. I now have a reading of 0 on the water that I used to mix my own saltwater.

 

[AdInfinitum]

Just be aware that while using 0 tds ROdi water will make sure that your source water isn't fuelling any algae, that is just a small item in the bigger picture. There are plenty of members running successful systems on tap water...including SPS dominant systems. Just saying that while good ROdi is helpful to eliminate one unknown for water quality, it is in no way a cure-all.

 

[Janice]

I understand, but since all of my test parameters were always perfect, and I never needed to dose, and my coraline algae on the back of my wall was not turning pinkish-but just stayed white- and given that no matter what I could not get the algae under control, I spoke to a friend who has been in the business for 20 years and he suggested the water was the missing link. He said the fact that I never need to dose shows that there was something going on.

 

[Canadianeh]

I understand, but since all of my test parameters were always perfect, and I never needed to dose, and my coraline algae on the back of my wall was not turning pinkish-but just stayed white- and given that no matter what I could not get the algae under control, I spoke to a friend who has been in the business for 20 years and he suggested the water was the missing link. He said the fact that I never need to dose shows that there was something going on.

What kind of corals do you have in your tank if I may ask?

 

[Janice]

I have a fairly large pin leather coral, a 3 inch Favia, a baby Frosty Inferno Acan Lord (less than an inch), a denby, 2 branching hammerheads, a Thistle Do Hammer, a had a nice coral torch that died last week when my son was vigorously trying to clean the algae around him, a couple of tiny pieces of monticap from one that broke, a tiny mystique monticapa, a tiny gonippora, a small blue wow disco mushroom, a 5 headed candy cane, a 3 headed rasta, a 3 headed dragon's eye, 3 BTA anemones (1 very small, one medium and one about 4 inches). I also had a piece of zoo that was about 5 inches x 2 inches, that I threw out yesterday because it was so invested with algae it was not worth keeping.

 

[Canadianeh]

I have a fairly large pin leather coral, a 3 inch Favia, a baby Frosty Inferno Acan Lord (less than an inch), a denby, 2 branching hammerheads, a Thistle Do Hammer, a had a nice coral torch that died last week when my son was vigorously trying to clean the algae around him, a couple of tiny pieces of monticap from one that broke, a tiny mystique monticapa, a tiny gonippora, a small blue wow disco mushroom, a 5 headed candy cane, a 3 headed rasta, a 3 headed dragon's eye, 3 BTA anemones (1 very small, one medium and one about 4 inches). I also had a piece of zoo that was about 5 inches x 2 inches, that I threw out yesterday because it was so invested with algae it was not worth keeping.

wow lots of corals and when you talked about the guy who have 20 years of experience, what kind of dosing that was talked about that you never done?

 

[Janice]

Calcium and Magnesium
The corals are all very tiny-except the leather. We have only had the tank going since Sept. I need so green star polyp or another nice colour of star polyp that will grow fast to cover some of my completely bare rock quickly.

 

[Canadianeh]

Calcium and Magnesium
The corals are all very tiny-except the leather. We have only had the tank going since Sept. I need so green star polyp or another nice colour of star polyp that will grow fast to cover some of my completely bare rock quickly.

what type of foods you are feeding those corals with?

 

[Skim]

Well I hate to say it but I doubt that the RO water is your problem. More than likely related to food and how much you feed and how much additives you use and your rock may be releasing phosphates. What is your Nitrate levels? A reading of 9 is not that large depending on how large the RO unit is and I sure they do not use a small unit, more than likely a commercial unit, and most likely just straight RO no DI as they would go broke. TDS is not going to cause your Algae problem especially a number like 9. Have you tested what your Phosphate levels are? There are many factors to having Algae problems but I do not believe the TDS level of 9 is one of them. More info on your setup would be helpful. I am amazed how everyone just jumps and starts bashing BA for a TDS reading of 9, do they advertise it as 0 TDS or RO/DI. There are many Reefers that do NOT USE any type of water filtering, just something like Prime and have no Algae problems. Just another note on the 9 TDS reading you got, it could also very well be CO2 giving you that reading.

I understand, but since all of my test parameters were always perfect, and I never needed to dose, and my coraline algae on the back of my wall was not turning pinkish-but just stayed white- and given that no matter what I could not get the algae under control, I spoke to a friend who has been in the business for 20 years and he suggested the water was the missing link. He said the fact that I never need to dose shows that there was something going on.

1. Water parameters perfect. Not so if they were then you would not have an Algae problem. The three you should test for most often ALk., Nitrate, Phosphate.
2. Never needed to dose. There are many who do not need to dose as the water changes are enough to support the Cal,Mag,and Alk. levels.
3. Coralline Algae not having color. This is more likely lighting related as Coralline does not like intense lighting.

Now this is what I think is happening in your tank. It is more than likely a newer setup, and any rock that you have is releasing Phosphates, you add this to feeding and boom, Algae. Then add the fact as it is released your substrate will absorb some and then slowly release it back. There are many who have 0 Phosphate and 0 Nitrate and have massive Algae problems and that is because the Algae absorbs it as it is released and when you test it shows 0.

Anyhow like I said if you could give more info on your setup as Lighting, size, skimmer, food you feed fish and corals if you do. Everything you can think of would be of great help so we can hopefully help you and your situation.