Total Dissolved solid

[slicavoli]

What do they mean when they talk about total dissolved solids in a reef tank?

 

[SnowManSnow]

TDS is what we use to measure the purity of water. Its the TOTAL amount of DISOLVED stuff (impurities) that you would find in a sample of the water. The lower the TDS the cleaner the water.

b

 

[Anonymous]

TDS applies to freshwater. In saltwater, the amout of "solids" (salt) are too high to be of value. They use other measures such as DOC (dissolved organic compounds) and other metric.

TDS, as mentioned above, is used to gauge the purity of freshwater and performance of water filter. TDS of RO water is usually less than 10 ppm, while RO/DI is usually less than 2 to undetectable.

BTW, welcome to RDO, slicavoli!

 

[slicavoli]

What is the best meter to get if I want to test my water for salinity, PH, Nitrite, Nitrate, ammonia?

I was looking at the meters available from Hanna pHep Dist 6 or pH/ORP or pH / EC/ TDS.

 

[Anonymous]

A ph meter and a salinity monitor are okay. But go with regular test kits for nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia.

For salinity you could get a refractometer as well.

B

 

[Anonymous]

Salifert brand is the consensus on this forum for great test kit.

 

[Anonymous]

>..pH/ORP or pH / EC/ TDS...

If you need it, then get it. ORP is not as popular nowadays as before, so if the price is same for both unity, maybe get the one with pH/TDS? :?