EC is Electric Conductivity. The meter you use for TDS takes the conductivity, divides it by 2 (roughly, I'l spare you the decimals) and gives out the TDS. Ec has the advantage of being the parameter that is actually measured and it's irrelevant of what ions it's put together from.MacZ I thank you always for taking an interest and trying to help. I embarrassed to say what is EC also I don’t really understand what you’re saying because you’re at a level with this hobby that I am not even close to and probably never will be sorry for constantly wasting your time with me
TDS stands for total dissolved solids. But the fact it's total makes the parameter useless unless you know at least some of its parts. GH and KH are part of it and they usually are the biggest portion. So if you know those, the numbers become much more approachable.
There are people that take TDS readings to estimate when to do a waterchange, because over time the TDS rise. Mostly due to water evaporating and leaving solids behind, but also due to waste products rising. The method is tricky if you don't know the baseline. But still people promote it on social media and in general aquarium forums.
I was also a small business owner (well technically, because in my former line of work freelance was the standard and that required registering as a small business). 60 hours a week, only 40 actually paid, then the 'rona hit and I dropped out of the trade (language courses for adults/immigrants), as nobody in the field was able to work anyway. Right now I'm getting by with minimum wage and some housing benefits, while I finish my degree, which was put on hlt for four years due to lack of funding. At least we don't have tuition fees for university in my country. So I know dang well what you're going through.
If it helps you give your fish better care and ultimately making your day a bit better when your fish make you happy in turn, it's not wasted.sorry for constantly wasting your time with me
It would be wasted if you were one of the people that come here, that don't care for their pets wellbeing but only for an impressive looking colourful tank, no matter what's the cost in money or animal lives.
But you don't make the impression. So... no harm done, I guess. (All this from the mouth of an autistic person.)