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Re: TDS question
The mystery is yet unsolved. From the time I discovered1,000 TDS in the 20 gallon breeding tank until yesterday. Two weeks time. I had lowered the TDS from 1,000 to 200 TDS by making 40% daily water changes of tap water with Prime. While at the same time the tank next to it received 20% water changes using the same tap and Prime. The 20 gallon achieved 200 TDS and equal to the neighbor tank two days ago. Then yesterday when tested the 20 gallon tank TDS had increased to 800 within 24 hours while the other remained unchanged. I changed 50% this morning and the TDS dropped to 550. The difference in the two tanks is the 20 gallon has a sponge filter and a clay flower pot while the other has a branch of wood. I removed both the pot and the filter following the water change. I will change water again tomorrow and test again expecting the TDS to adjust downward as it has in the past. The question is why the dramatic TDS spike in one tank and not the other.
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Re: TDS question
TDS checks total conductivity, so it’s everything: iron, calcium, sodium, chrome, etc.
Unless you have a way to test all of those it would be almost impossible to narrow it down.
In my opinion it could by some faulty/old sponge filter or plastic which degrades, so some chemicals go into the water.
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Re: TDS question
My vote is on the clay pot, where did it come from?
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Re: TDS question
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Re: TDS question
Agree. Vote for the clay pot.
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Re: TDS question
I vote for a water softener like willie said. Nothing will shoot the TDS through the roof like salt.
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Re: TDS question
Thanks, all. I thought the clay pot so I moved it from the breeding tank to the community tank. I did not consider the salt. I had treated the breeding tank with salt when I moved a male out and another it. As I daily water change the TDS continues to go down. It began at about 850 3 days ago now is 350.