Mixing R/O and Tap TDS Reading

[PiLer]

Hello all,

The question we have today is about mixing R/O water and Tap water. We would like to know what everyones TDS reading is after mixing 2/3 R/O and 1/3 Tap water. So...show us those numbers!!!


PiLer

[aquagal]

I mix 50% RO and 50% tap and get a TDS reading of 90-100. Out of the tap is about 180-190.

[PiLer]

Thanks for the quick reply. Anyone else dare to share?

[NanDiscus]

I mix RO and tap 4:1, giving me a TDS of about 80. Straight tap is about 400.

[Don Trinko]

My tap is 700+ 50/50 ends up abought 350 to 400. Tank water is slightly higher. Don T.

[PiLer]

Reason we are asking is because our tap water at PiLer's Discus is reading 56 on the TDS meter. We were wondering if this was acceptable based on what others are getting by mixing tap and r.o.
Any thoughts on this?

[jahwork]

OMG... TDS 700+!!! wow. did it come in chunks and You had to cut it up?
Hey Don if you tap comes out 150 GH, 160KH 7.4PH, would You mix RO?

[Don Trinko]

I would mix ro/tap. My tap gh is abought 20 and KH abought 22.
The village softens the water so some of the TDS is from that.
One reason I mix ro/tap is that it minimizes the deposits on the hood around the filter.
When you say 150 are you talking ppm? When I say 20 it is the hardness in degrees. After I mix my gh is abought 7 and kh abought 10 to 12. Don T.

[tedsdiscus]

my tap is well above 300, i have to go 2:1 RO:TAP to get near 100 tds.

[jahwork]

I would mix ro/tap. My tap gh is abought 20 and KH abought 22.
When you say 150 are you talking ppm? When I say 20 it is the hardness in degrees. After I mix my gh is abought 7 and kh abought 10 to 12. Don T.
Yes Don, my cheezy test strip shows 150 ppm GH, so I think thats 8.4 dGH and 9 dKH. Wow, I feel so dumb!!, for the last year I've been complaining about my tap water being too hard, because My lfs told me discus needs all RO water. So weekly, I would drag my buckets to water store. Thanks to You guys on this forum, I can carry less buckets now.

[Don Trinko]

As you probably already know: All RO is not a good idea, Whithout enough KH ph can crash and you need some minerals in the water. Don T.

[jahwork]

It took me about a year, but yeah now I know and now adding 25% tap water and a pinch of baking soda. I want to gradualy adding more tap water for convenience. At 8.4 dGH, Do You think thats okay for my discus?

[Don Trinko]

8.4 gh should be no problem except possibly for breeding. I don't think gh changes have much effect on fish unless it is a rapid change. Don T.

[jahwork]

Thanks Don, now I can add more tap water with confidence.