Total Dissolved Solids, also known as TDS, is the combination of inorganic compounds that are found in water including all salts, heavy metals as well as some organic compounds that are dissolved in the aquarium water.
Is TDS a Reliable Measure of Water Quality?
No! The TDS is a poor measure of the water quality when it comes to live fish, and the reason is so clear! Depending on what that TDS is made of, and what ions, salts, heavy metals, as well as organic and inorganic are dissolved in the tap water of your area, it may or may not be safe for your discus. In other words, 2 different waters from different sources with the same TDS level may have different levels of GH, KH, pH, and etc.
Ideal TDS for Breeding Discus
As mentioned above, TDS is not a reliable measure of water quality for breeding discus fish. General hardness or combination of the calcium and magnesium along with pH and KH are parameters to consider for breeding discus.
We here at Discus Co. keep all our discus fish for sale in Dechlorinated tap water with GH and KH under 5-6 and a pH of 7.0 and our discus are doing great.