TDS

[thai3]

Hi all. I am new to this hobby and have been keeping cherries and crs for a few months now. Each species have their own tank, from 20L to 35L. They are breeding well so far and I am going to move them into 55L tanks.

The new tanks were added with RO and old aquarium water, which read TDS of 120-150ppm, minimally planted, 240-litre rated sponge filter, black earth premium substrate, temperature maintain about 24-26 degree Celcius. Tank cycle was surprisingly quick with another matured external filter, almost no ammonia till date, I am guessing BEP doesn't leach ammonia like other subtrates. 

On day 3 after setting up, I put one feeder goldfish in each tank to ensure the water is right. After another 3 days, TDS now reads 230ppm, other parameters stay the same. The goldfish were fed only once with 2-3 pellets. I do add liquid CO2 every other day. I am trying to keep the TDS down to 150ppm for cars, they never breed for me anywhere above 180ppm. 

My questions are,

Why TDS rose by almost 100ppm within 3 days?

In terms of breeding, would cherries do fine in 200-250ppm?

Managing the parameters is easy in smaller tanks but I am not ready to move them until I can manage the new tanks parameters. 

[jayc]

3 hours ago, thai3 said:

Why TDS rose by almost 100ppm within 3 days?

 

3 hours ago, thai3 said:

I put one feeder goldfish in each tank to ensure the water is right.

Your answer would be this ^^^

Goldfish fouls the water fast.

 

 

3 hours ago, thai3 said:

In terms of breeding, would cherries do fine in 200-250ppm?

That's getting on the high side of TDS for cherries. I would keep it below 200.

[revolutionhope]

Jayc is definitely right the goldfish will contribute significantly to TDS but I can also add that I have used BEP in two tanks and can say that BEP does leach some ammonia, it's not very significant but it does leach some so depending on how well the filters are seeded it is possible to get a spike. The other thing I can say is that it does raise TDS somewhat when first added. The amount it raises TDS will of course depend on the substrate:water ratio and maybe some other factors.

love n peace

will

[Shrimpelina]

I have found personally that my cherries do best with TDS under 200.  I keep sunkist and red cherries and have also kept blue gene red rili and have had not issues with breeding. Lots of berried girls and shrimplets :-).  I also keep a mixed specie tank so tend to keep my TDS quite low...

Edited March 20, 2016 by Shrimpelina