ppm level 696 good or bad?

[takaco]

Hi ppl i just bought a TDS test pen i use it to test my fish tank the result show that tank ppm reading is 696 issit good or bad?

[BFG]

What does the measurement stand for?

[takaco]

What does the measurement stand for?

Parts per Million (ppm)

[happydanio123]

Hi there Takaco, BFG is asking what water parameter caused your ppm to be 700plus. Anyways, even if it's the least harmful water parameter, nitrate, it is Still extremely hazardous. Do a water change immediately!

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[Urban Aquaria]

TDS is basically a general measurement of all the "stuff" in your water, it doesn't differentiate between the good stuff and bad stuff though. Higher TDS just indicates there is higher concentrations of stuff in the water. Likewise, lower TDS represents less concentration stuff in the water. TDS even varies according to temperature too, as different stuff react differently in warm or cool temperatures.

It is usually utilized as an initial test check for most aquarists, since a TDS pen is very easy and quick to use. But its not the only measurement to determine actual water quality. If the pen readings look wildly different from normal (compared to what other aquarists experience), then its time to investigate further.

In order to know if the higher TDS levels are harmful or not, you will need to check other parameters like ammonia, nitrite, nitrates, GH, KH, chlorine etc. If all those basic factors are okay, then you could further narrow it down to higher concentrations of certain chemicals that can't be tested with our hobby-level test kits.

Generally, most people prefer to maintain moderate TDS levels in their freshwater community tanks (around 150-200ppm). Our local tap water TDS is usually around 60-80ppm (based on my own tests from buildings with new water pipes, some places with older pipe infrastructure may show higher TDS due to accumulated stuff over the years leaching into the water supply).

Some livestock do better in lower TDS softwater conditions, while some livestock do better in higher TDS hardwater conditions. Planted tanks with alot of fertilizer dosing will naturally show higher TDS too (in such cases, you will know that the high TDS is due to fertilizers). It will all depend on your setup.

If you see your TDS rising, its usually due to either high bio-loads producing alot of waste, lack of water changes and lack of regular filter/tank maintenance which allow waste to accumulate, minerals from rocks or other items leaching into the water, or overdosing of chemicals or medications etc (even the constant "kiasu" overdosing of dechlorinator chemicals can increase TDS by alot)... quite often its a combination of some/all of those causes that contribute to rising TDS levels.

To reduce your tank TDS to more moderate levels, simply do water changes with lower TDS water to gradually lower it. If you are using tap water, make sure to test the TDS of your tap water to ensure that its relatively low too (preferably 60-80ppm), if it happens to be the higher type (ie. 150-200ppm), then it'll be more difficult to use it to reduce TDS in the tank, you may need to further dilute it with distilled water or purify the tap water with a RO/DI unit (if your tap water has higher TDS, probably better to purify it before drinking the water, better for your health too).

Do note that any existing fishes and shrimps in the tank that are currently still alive have probably already adapted to the higher TDS levels, so when reducing the TDS levels, do it slowly and gradually, like with smaller 20% water changes over the course of a few days and weeks. That will help to reduce the osmotic shock that the livestock may go through, and give them sufficient time to adapt back to the lower TDS levels. Do not suddenly do a 50% or larger water changes and drop the TDS down too quickly, those sudden changes can kill the more sensitive livestock.

For more information on how to handle TDS adjustments in a tank with livestock, have a look at this information thread: http://www.tropicalfishkeeping.com/m...uarium-122027/

[happydanio123]

Thanks UA! I guess TDS isn't very useful if you want to know what's wrong with your aquarium then.

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[Urban Aquaria]

Thanks UA! I guess TDS isn't very useful if you want to know what's wrong with your aquarium then.

Well, its just part of the many parameters to test, there is no one single parameter that will tell you everything... so you do have to check as many of them as possible to get a more complete picture of the tank's water condition. The more parameters you can measure the further you can narrow down and isolate the possible causes of any issues in a tank.

TDS is useful as a quick initial "first level" test to find out if there are any anomalies in the water. For example, i always use a TDS pen to check my source tap water before using it for water changes, if it shows say 60-80pmm (the normal average range for my tap water), then i continue using the water... but once in a while if i do a measurement and see the TDS shoot up to 140-160, that acts as an "alarm" that something is amiss in the water, then i proceed to do further tests to find out what is actually causing that change.

A while back that actually happened and when i did a series of follow-up tests, end up discovering that my tap water chlorine level content spiked up like crazy (probably due to water works pipe cleaning or maintenance). If i wasn't prompted to check then i wouldn't have known, and would have been puzzled why my tanks and livestocks were encountering problems.

I also do weekly quick checks with a TDS pen on my tanks to see if their levels are within my acceptable known range. In addition, i also test the TDS of bag water from LFS which the livestock are living and packed in, that helps me to determine how long i need to acclimate them to my own tank's TDS levels. So its a very useful tool.

Without the TDS pen, i would have to keep running entire series of parameter tests all the time, and that is super time consuming and tedious. Hence nowadays the TDS pen is my most frequently used device as an "early warning" indicator.

[takaco]

ok my ph level is 8




i guess my tank is fine

[takaco]

Hey guys will products like Azoo Plant fertilizer increase the ppm reading?

Description
Azoo Plant fertilizer is a premium of 100% natural base suitable for all species of plants' s fresh water. It provides all the elements necessary for lush plants and colorful Features: Plant premium is the result of extensive research on aquatic plant growth, conducted in order to make easier the complicated procedures of fertilization and find the most natural way to encourage the growth of plants in the aquarium. Plant AZOO Premium contains a complete range of oligoelement, important minerals, iron chelate advanced formula and natural organic substances. Promotes an effective process of photosynthesis in aquatic plants. All the nutrients are available for an immediate absorption by plants. It 'a complete product for all the needs of fertilization of plants in the aquarium. The easiest way to recreate a corner of nature in the aquarium. Dosage: 10ml per 100 liters of 'water every 4-7 days, depending on the density of plants.

because my fishes seem fine but my ppm reading is high

[Urban Aquaria]

Yes, anything you add into the tank water will increase TDS, including things like fertilizers, food, de-chlorinator etc.

[takaco]

Yes, anything you add into the tank water will increase TDS, including things like fertilizers, food, de-chlorinator etc.

thanks for your info