What is the significance of TDS as it related to pool balance?

[drummerman951]

Thought I would do an additional test this morning while trying to deal with other things..... my pool is ballpark 6 months old. The pool guy (who I fired last week) has been adding liquid chlorine and acid as appropriate (I can only hope), although this is a saltwater pool with SWG. I use this basic digital iSpring TDS meter for measuring TDS present in my tap water, RO system and refrigerator dispenser. Those numbers are respectable at 329ppm, 14ppm & 20ppm.... I think anyways.

This is the first time I have tested for TDS. SO imagine my shock when I tested my pool to find TDS at 2080! How can this be? Is there a chart that states what is acceptable? Does meter need to be calibrated for use with pool water? Should I be using a different meter? Little help please. Thanks!

 

[Donldson]

You have an SWG, don't you have something like 2500 ppm of salt dissolved in your water? Sounds to me like your meter is actually reading a bit low.

Anyway, TDS is not very important for pool care. It used to be a way to tell when water was "old", but that was before we were able to more accurately measure the components that make it up. Now it's just a relic of a bygone era, nothing to worry about. Your K2006 will give you the numbers you need, along with a salt test.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

TDS= total dissolved solids= salt, calcium, chlorine, alkalinity ...all the parts of stuff *in* your water. So basically it means nothing. Nada. Zip. Don't let it worry you.

If you didn't have *anything* in your water it would have to be distilled, y'know?

We don't bat an eye at it.

Maddie

 

[mknauss]

Salt is part of your TDS. As well as calcium, CYA, and other minor constituents.

TDS is meaningless in pool water. Certain constituents are important.

 

[drummerman951]

You have an SWG, don't you have something like 2500 ppm of salt dissolved in your water? Sounds to me like your meter is actually reading a bit low.

Anyway, TDS is not very important for pool care. It used to be a way to tell when water was "old", but that was before we were able to more accurately measure the components that make it up. Now it's just a relic of a bygone era, nothing to worry about. Your K2006 will give you the numbers you need, along with a salt test.

Thanks for helping me make the connection between TDS and salt! You are correct, it seems this meter is reading quite low if salt=TDS.

 

[drummerman951]

TDS= total dissolved solids= salt, calcium, chlorine, alkalinity ...all the parts of stuff *in* your water. So basically it means nothing. Nada. Zip. Don't let it worry you.

If you didn't have *anything* in your water it would have to be distilled, y'know?

We don't bat an eye at it.

Maddie

Great! Relieved that I don't have to drain part of the pool, etc.

 

[JamesW]

What SWG do you have?

What is the salinity reading from the SWG?

You should get a K-1766 test kit to monitor the salinity independently of the SWG.

With proper chemistry management, you should almost never need acid or liquid chlorine.

Can you post a full set of chemistry readings?

 

[mknauss]

With proper chemistry management, you should almost never need acid or liquid chlorine.

With the fill water you have in Riverside, CA, you will need acid. Regularly.

I imagine you have Colorado River water for fill water. CH of 250ppm, TA of 130 ppm, and pH 8+

 

[drummerman951]

Thanks. SWG is in signature. I have the K-1766 and salt looks good right now. I was only concerned about TDS impact on pool, since I know very little about that.

 

[JamesW]

If the TA is high, then acid will be required.

However, careful chemistry management can help minimize the total amount needed.

 

[drummerman951]

With the fill water you have in Riverside, CA, you will need acid. Regularly.

I imagine you have Colorado River water for fill water. CH of 250ppm, TA of 130 ppm, and pH 8+

Sounds about right. Right now I'm using acid daily.

 

[mike_patrick]

Thanks guys for the expert information because that pool store guy was really worried about my high TDS of 3000! Lol..