seb tries to scape
New Member
Hi all, my tap water has GH 22 and KH 15 (API liquid test kit) and my TDS pen (generic from Amazon) gives a reading of 347. I'm beginning to use RO water for a new nano scape I'm setting up for a Betta and I'm trying to work out how to safely and consistently re-mineralise with tap water.
I'm aiming for a soft water setup, with a KH around 3 (although I'm using Seiryu stone in the tank, so expect the KH to rise between water changes.)
Basically, I'm not too clued up on water chemistry, but I see lots of advice to remineralise water to 120 - 150 TDS. However, my RO product water has a TDS of 22 and when I add tap water to remineralise to KH 3 (GH 6), the resulting water only has a TDS of 86, which seems low, when API's dKH to PPM conversion rate indicates GH 6 = 107.4PPM.
How can my TDS result be lower than the GH reading alone (TDS results are PPM right)? Is my TDS pen faulty? Am I missing something? Am I worrying over nothing?
I'm happy to be educated. My aim is just to provide stable, soft water, consistently moving forward.
This is my first post, but looking forward to being a part of this great community.
I'm aiming for a soft water setup, with a KH around 3 (although I'm using Seiryu stone in the tank, so expect the KH to rise between water changes.)
Basically, I'm not too clued up on water chemistry, but I see lots of advice to remineralise water to 120 - 150 TDS. However, my RO product water has a TDS of 22 and when I add tap water to remineralise to KH 3 (GH 6), the resulting water only has a TDS of 86, which seems low, when API's dKH to PPM conversion rate indicates GH 6 = 107.4PPM.
How can my TDS result be lower than the GH reading alone (TDS results are PPM right)? Is my TDS pen faulty? Am I missing something? Am I worrying over nothing?
I'm happy to be educated. My aim is just to provide stable, soft water, consistently moving forward.
This is my first post, but looking forward to being a part of this great community.