Holy crap! I have been using 170ppm TDS water!

[11purewater]

Originally Posted by mrhasan

So got my TDS meter since I was very curious about what TDS water I have been using for the past year. Turns out to be 170ppm! Holy crap! No algae issue or anything till now with this water. My 20 gallon was literally algae free and I used to do 50% weekly water change. My new tank is having diatom on the sand but not sure whether it is contributed by the tapwater or not since my 20 gallon just had an initial bloom and that's it.

Sheer luck or TDS is just over-rated concern.....I wonder.

TING TING TING! Start the debate!

The TDS in Calgary water is mostly inorganic calcium a magnesium and will just precipitate out.This time of year Alum is present and of course high Chlorine.Metals may be an issue depending if the city is disturbing old water mains.

[canadianbudz604]

It's funny because though our tapwater is never over 10ppm it seems everytime I use it my tank grows all sorts of algaes.

[11purewater]

Unfortunately a tds meter wont register Phosphates,nitrates and organics.Any municipal water treatment facility must post a water analysis,or you can request one(full matrix)and you can see what's actually in your water.