TDS Readings?

[joeyhatch11]

Curious to know what you guys/girls get for TDS coming out? I was making 5G's of water the other day, using just a DI system with inline TDS meter, and my TDS going in was 90 and coming out was 0. I thought Jersey had high TDS?

Reason for just DI filtering is simply because I only have a 10G nano. Thought it would be a waste of money getting a RODI for such a small tank.

 

[Fish Brain]

It depends on two things. Time of the year and where you live. In the winter my water is in the 130's but during the summer it jumps up to 180-190.

 

[Lostinthedark]

Mine varies. I have a meter plumbed on the intake. I'm making water right now and its 70. Last week it was as high as 180. I know Freehold Twsp has five different sources for water. I guess some are cleaner than others

 

[joeyhatch11]

So I shouldn't be too concerned with it reading 90 right now? I know a few weeks ago when I first got the meter and tried it out it was around 120-130. I guess as long as it's reading 0 coming out that's all that matters right? LOL

Cool thanks guys.

 

[downbeach]

I have never tried just running DI, but I would think that you will be burning through the resin fairly fast. I know I have about 1ppm after the membrane/going into the DI canister, and have to change the resin about every 6 months. I can't imagine how long it would last with an input of 90 or higher.

 

[joeyhatch11]

So far I've made about 20 gallons of water and the resin has yet to change color and the TDS still shows 0. Ive read reviews from others that have the same unit and live in Jersey and they claim to get 50-75 gallons per cartridge. Which I feel isn't bad considering it's only used once a week for 5g's of water. Each replacement cartridge is $20 and it'll be replaced every other month or so. As to where I was spending $40 a month at the LFS on RO water that was reading 4ppm with a TDS stick meter. LFS manager was telling me, after I told him about his water, that RO water with less that 10ppm is fine for any saltwater tank. At that point that's when I felt it was best I spend a little less month each month and make my own water. LOL

 

[redfishbluefish]

Incoming 90 TDS will burn through that DI resin pretty quick. But it is like having a mini Kati-Ani system and, if you’re only using a little bit of water and, you’re willing to RECHARGE the DI RESIN, it might work out. If you have to buy new resin, that could get expensive real quick.

 

[joeyhatch11]

If I can get say, 50-60 gallons of water out of it before I need to buy a new cartridge then I'd say I made out. Simply because by the time I get to 50 gallons I've already saved $10 in tolls from running to the fish store and $32 in there RO water each month. For me to make one trip every other month and spend only $20 for a new cartridge and $2 in tolls, Id say it's money well spent. I'm also looking to see if I can get the cartridges else where so I wont have to jump a bridge.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Recharge the resin......it's pretty simple......and save even more!

 

[Tazmaniancowboy]

A typical deionization canister take out 6800 ppm ....you should be good for 75 gallons.

http://www.airwaterice.com/category/z.2/

Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk

 

[downbeach]

If I can get say, 50-60 gallons of water out of it before I need to buy a new cartridge then I'd say I made out. Simply because by the time I get to 50 gallons I've already saved $10 in tolls from running to the fish store and $32 in there RO water each month. For me to make one trip every other month and spend only $20 for a new cartridge and $2 in tolls, Id say it's money well spent. I'm also looking to see if I can get the cartridges else where so I wont have to jump a bridge.

I agree that almost anything is cheaper than buying your water. But if you're going to be spending $22.00 per month on DI cartridges, in six months you would have spent enough to buy a good 4 stage RO/DI unit, that would probably last you for many years.

i.e. http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/75-gpd-ro-di-4-stage-economy-system.html

 

[AcidRayn]

I'm in Jackson, dual inline Tds meter. 40-45 incoming constantly. 0 out of the DI. 3 coming out of RO. IT'S SET up for fish and people. We don't drink the DI WATER but the RO side saves some cash per year on bottled water. Just changed all filters and cartridges after 18 months. Was still reading 0 but DI resin changed color so I changed them all

 

[joeyhatch11]

Well the thing is, the wife thinks it's stupid to make my own water for my fish tanks. She thinks that tap water will be just fine but we all know she is out of her mind. I told her about a $130 RODI unit that we could even use to make drinking water, because we do spend alot on cases of bottled water, but she still said no. So instead I bought a simple DI system that I can hook up and make water on my days off when she working. Easy enough right? So for right now an RODI system is out of the question, where would I hide it? LOL If I can recharge the resin and it's simple enough to do and I can make double the water with one cartridge then so be it, if not I'll buy a new one.

 

[Fish Brain]

I justified my RO/DI system to my wife by doing a side by side Nitrate test on the tap water and the RO. I asked her if she wants to drink the Chlorine, Metals and Nitrates in the water. She never questioned it again.

 

[AcidRayn]

The day I have to justify or hide something from my wife will be the same day she is informed she is single.

She asked what it was. I explained it. She said it would be cool if it put water at the sink. I ran a line to the sink and put a RO tap there. No plastic bottles laying around.

If u need to convince the little woman, put your Tds meter in a bottle of Poland spring!

 

[Lostinthedark]

My wife was against a RO/DI system in the beginning. After I hooked up an AWI RO to the fridge and ice maker she she can't believe how much better the water tastes.

 

[AcidRayn]

Yep.

I actually have 2 systems. One for the sink, a 50 god with 2 gal pressure tank and a 150gpd with 10 gal pressure tank for water changes. The one on the sink is also hooked to the ato on the sump

 

[downbeach]

Hey, maybe you won one. At a meeting? In a raffle?

 

[joeyhatch11]

Good call on the raffle!! LOL The only reason she said no was because she feels there are "other" things we could spend $120 on. Which she is right but at the same time when I'm spending countless dollars on LFS RO vs. having my own system, I feel it's a "must have" now!!! At the moment with the little tanks that I do have I'm fine with my simple DI system. If the tanks get upgraded and a RODI system is "needed" then I'll make the purchase. Thanks for the ideas guys. LOL