TDS Readings

[sam_everist]

This is my tanks water, should I be testing the water coming out of my tap?

 

[Tor-Eriik]

Offcourse you should check the tap aswell When you know the tap, and know the tank, then you know how dirty your tankwater is, compared to tap.

 

[sam_everist]

Makes sense... apologies for the noob questions, I learnt the basics of water chemistry but never delved any further until now.

Will see what my tap water is tonight.

 

[Zoodiver]

Yeah, the 'clean' water is more important. TDS of the tank itself will be higher just due to having fish and particulates in the water column. I wouldn't worry about that too much.

 

[DavidW]

TDS should be about the same in the tank or from the tap unless using r/o or adding buffers etc. It is indirectly a conductivity reading that measures dissolved minerals. the fish will supply some organics that are not really measurable on a TDS meter.
If anything usually TDS would be lower in the tank due to minerals being consumed by the nitrifying bacteria in the filter as they metabolize .
Perhaps you can tell us your GH and your KH to give a more specific idea

 

[Zoodiver]

Interesting. I've always had higher readings in the display.

 

[DavidW]

perhaps minerals leaching out of something?

 

[T1KARMANN]

I think you only need to test the new incoming water as that's what you are adding to make the tank water better

That's the whole point in a water change isn't it toads new higher grade water than that in the tank


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[Zoodiver]

perhaps minerals leaching out of something?

Probably. Most of the displays I run have concrete as the base for the decor/rock work.

 

[Tor-Eriik]

My tanks have a little higher then tap becouse i add coral sand to keep ph stable. I have soft water.