Ro water + remineralization and tds

[ipace]

Hi all,
I have been browsing the forums for quite a while, however this is my first post here and really hoping somone can shed some light.

I have a breeding pair and would obviously like to try and breed them, however my tap water has a tds of over 1000!!!! After being filtered by the RO, this manages to go down to 75 which in reality is the perfect start for breeding. I was just wondering if I should still add remineralization chemicals or leave as is. Obviously by remineralising the tds will go up! No sure how to go about it... What would you suggest?


Thanks.

[Bill63SG]

I belive you said it yourself,your at your number.I would leave it alone.

[DJW]

It looks like you've got about 8% of the minerals you started with, so I think leave it right where it is.

I start with TDS of 400, and after RO have about 20ppm... I usually add a little something for fry but 70 is a pretty good number.

With water like yours maybe you could bottle the RO waste and sell it as remineralizer!

[Jack L]

it looks like you've got about 8% of the minerals you started with, so i think leave it right where it is.

I start with tds of 400, and after ro have about 20ppm... I usually add a little something for fry but 70 is a pretty good number.

With water like yours maybe you could bottle the ro waste and sell it as remineralizer!

lol

[ipace]

It looks like you've got about 8% of the minerals you started with, so I think leave it right where it is.

I start with TDS of 400, and after RO have about 20ppm... I usually add a little something for fry but 70 is a pretty good number.

With water like yours maybe you could bottle the RO waste and sell it as remineralizer!

Haha now that's an idea! 😃

That great as it seems I can do away with the extra expense of the remineralizer!

Let's hope that the 75ppm I have are actually 'good' minerals. Will see how it goes.

[DJW]

Here is the removal rate for various ions given for one of my inexpensive RO filters.

If these numbers are to be trusted, your filtered water provides a fairly even cross section of your source water. The only one that stands out is boron/borate, which would be present in the filtered water at a higher percentage relative to the others, if you even have Boron to begin with.

Is that near-brackish water of yours that high in TDS because of salinity, or do you have hard water deposits?

91179

[ipace]

Wow.... Thanks for that but it is a bit too technical for me to digest! :) but after a while I kind of got the hang of it.... As you said I should remain with a half decent amount of minerals which looks to be enough for my breeding pair.

Salinity is nil, mainly my issue is hard water deposits.

[Second Hand Pat]

Are you running your water thru a water softener and then thru your RO unit?
Pat

[DJW]

I forgot all about water softeners. That's why I bypassed ours, to avoid having mostly sodium.

[ipace]

No water softener. Directly to ro

[ipace]

Just did a massive water change and got the tds to 91. Will do one again tomorrow and should settle around 70 ish

[Luke in Phoenix]

I would just be careful to watch your KH level to avoid any ph swings

[ipace]

Kh is currently at 3... Should be kind of safe. (Or so I hope)

[DJW]

Looks good to me. :thumbsup:

That's the Only good thing about hard water, when it comes out of the RO its ready to go. Except you probably still have to age it.

[ipace]

Fingers crossed! 😃

Thanks for your help!

[Jack L]

Here is the removal rate for various ions given for one of my inexpensive RO filters.

If these numbers are to be trusted, your filtered water provides a fairly even cross section of your source water. The only one that stands out is boron/borate, which would be present in the filtered water at a higher percentage relative to the others, if you even have Boron to begin with.

Is that near-brackish water of yours that high in TDS because of salinity, or do you have hard water deposits?

91179

was this your analysis or info that came on filter?

[Jack L]

I forgot all about water softeners. That's why I bypassed ours, to avoid having mostly sodium.

i run through softener, then to RO. is that bad?

[DJW]

That information came with my filter.

I bypassed the softener because I thought it would be better to have the same array of minerals that the natural water contains. I don't know if it is bad to use softened water, since the RO removes almost all of the sodium anyway. Some people put potassium salt in their softener instead of solar salt, thinking that it is better. Its expensive though.

Your RO membrane will last longer with the softener water.

What is your TDS out of the RO?

[Jack L]

That information came with my filter.

I bypassed the softener because I thought it would be better to have the same array of minerals that the natural water contains. I don't know if it is bad to use softened water, since the RO removes almost all of the sodium anyway. Some people put potassium salt in their softener instead of solar salt, thinking that it is better. Its expensive though.

Your RO membrane will last longer with the softener water.

What is your TDS out of the RO?

i'd have to buy one of the meters, the units just shows me how much TDS was removed, it ranges from 94% to 97%

i just have api kits for GH and KH.