[meng-chieh]

My question is only semi-related to aquariums. In my tap water, I get a TDS reading of 13-20, and in my non-RO countertop filter, the reading is 18. Are these values normal? Are the water safe for drinking? What is considered a tolerable TDS value range?

[patsfan1130]

Originally Posted by meng-chieh

My question is only semi-related to aquariums. In my tap water, I get a TDS reading of 13-20, and in my non-RO countertop filter, the reading is 18. Are these values normal? Are the water safe for drinking? What is considered a tolerable TDS value range?

Well..a chemist I am not. But the TDS reading of my tap water is 280 and I drink it. sure it makes my skin clammy and my hair fall out but I'm not dead.

[meng-chieh]

Originally Posted by patsfan1130

Well..a chemist I am not. But the TDS reading of my tap water is 280 and I drink it. sure it makes my skin clammy and my hair fall out but I'm not dead.

omg, I do hope that you're kidding abou the hair-falling-out part

[Samper]

Wow I thought I was the only one with that problem.....you get what I like to call the "urge kill your girlfriends cat when it wakes you up at 4 am meowing about nothing syndrome" also from that water?

ps. my tap water is 370 as per a sears test and I love it.

[meng-chieh]

Originally Posted by Samper

Wow I thought I was the only one with that problem.....you get what I like to call the "urge kill your girlfriends cat when it wakes you up at 4 am meowing about nothing syndrome" also from that water?

ps. my tap water is 370 as per a sears test and I love it.

So my 13-20 TDS reading is actually quite excellent?

[Samper]

From the way it was explained to me it sounds like your ro di unit is running pretty good.

[Reefland]

Originally Posted by meng-chieh

So my 13-20 TDS reading is actually quite excellent?

Yeah that's not bad at all, for aquarium use I would still shoot for 0.

[golfish]

That's some good tap water alright. Our tap is around 220-230 but I get zero off my RO. I almost sounds like your RO isn't working. I agree with Scott, I would still try to get it down to zero. With that tap water you'll probably never have to replace your RP memebrane.

[Unresistible Blue]

Originally Posted by meng-chieh

My question is only semi-related to aquariums. In my tap water, I get a TDS reading of 13-20, and in my non-RO countertop filter, the reading is 18. Are these values normal? Are the water safe for drinking? What is considered a tolerable TDS value range?

Yes - your tap water is VERY good - but it doesn't look like your filter is doing anything to reduce the tds that you do have in your tap water.

If you have a reef tank, you might consider using DI only.

[Ninong]

Originally Posted by meng-chieh

My question is only semi-related to aquariums. In my tap water, I get a TDS reading of 13-20, and in my non-RO countertop filter, the reading is 18. Are these values normal? Are the water safe for drinking? What is considered a tolerable TDS value range?

Drinking water standards don't help much in deciding if water is safe for use in an aquarium. What is safe for human consumption might not be safe for use in a reef aquarium.

A TDS reading of 13-20 would be incredibly low for tapwater. When you say you live in Surrey, are you talking about the U.K.?