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I bought a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) meter. Could someone explain to me, aside from minerals in the water, what influences this number? Is this the same test as electric conductivity? What number should i always keep the tank under, especially for breeding purposes? Thanks, Ryan
That is a good instrument for a Paro friend. I measures in mg/cm (milligram pro centimeter). It’s the sum of all minerals dissolved in the water, yes, another wy of measuring but the same thing than waht you control with electric conductivity. Pure water (H 2 O) ist zero mg/cm. The original Paro-waters are between 7 (!) and 30 mostly, for aquarium usages we recommend 10 to 80. I try to keep it around 20 or 30 mostly. Then you will have no problems with the eggs staying adhesive when the male tries to fix them on the ceiling of the cave. With time, the value rises, but with the water changes (using destilled or osmosis water) you can reduce it again.
Hello, but in case of conductivity meter You may be confused when for example You will give artemia larvae. Your conductivity may increase very fast due to the Sodium ions Na+. I don’t know if that will appear also in TDS meter, maybe not , then it is even better for us.
Greetings!I also feed live artemia larvae. I catch them in a small airtube syphon. Then rinse them well with some tank or supply water. So far, I’ve seen no increase in TDS, Martin is correct, but the key is to be sure to rinse them well (they will live long enough to for the fish to feed). I use a coffee filter to drain and rinse them.
Hello,
I understand the discussion in that way:
tds=all minerals
conductivity=all substances conducting electric current (including humic acids, H+, nitrate)–> conductivity is always higher than tds – is it right?
I use the conductivity to check when water must be changed. For example if the value of 40uS is reached (RO water pure: 15uS). In some auariums the conductivity declines very slow, in this case I do not change water. If tds is not effected by Nitrate, conductivity is the “better” method.
Greetings Patrick
This whole topic can get very contentious or confusing very quickly. First of all you limit your discussions here to FW. SW adds a whole different set of parameters I have always been told that working in FW a conductivity meter is the way to go. In converting TDS readings to conductivity some sources suggest multiplying the TDS reading by .63. Other sources suggest using a factor of .50. I have always used the .50 factor and have not had any issues (the calculation can also be done in your head).
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