TDS/Conductivity Meters for FW
- Thread starter Rbishop
- Start date
I recently purchased a Hanna 4 in 1 Temp/pH/EC/TDS for $125 from an authorized Hanna dealer on Ebay. It's got a pocket clip, it floats, it's fast and it's a whole lot more accurate than what I need, but it's also nice to now that you've got more precision than you need.
I ordered bottles of all of the calibrating, storage and cleaning solutions and in hind sight I would have done just as well to just order the small packets. The calibration from the factory was dead on (checked it against one that the LFS had just calibrated) and it came with batteries, ready to use right out of the box.
I use it constantly, and not just because it's the newest toy. I've got 60 tanks to care for and it's easy to miss something or make a mistake. I do much more regular tests due to the speed and simplicity of the meter's use, and it allows me to identify problems before they show up in my fish.
Also discovered that my API test tube and reagent kits weren't as accurate as I might have hoped. The pH consistantly read .5 off. It's also handy for checking / calibrating heaters and tank thermometers. Most are pretty good but some of my older digital tapes were just dead wrong.
All in all a hefty investment for someone with only one tank, but I would consider this an absolute necessity for anyone suffering from MTS. In the end it saves you time so that you can be doing other stuff in your fish room, 'cuz ya never really get everything done, do ya?
I ordered bottles of all of the calibrating, storage and cleaning solutions and in hind sight I would have done just as well to just order the small packets. The calibration from the factory was dead on (checked it against one that the LFS had just calibrated) and it came with batteries, ready to use right out of the box.
I use it constantly, and not just because it's the newest toy. I've got 60 tanks to care for and it's easy to miss something or make a mistake. I do much more regular tests due to the speed and simplicity of the meter's use, and it allows me to identify problems before they show up in my fish.
Also discovered that my API test tube and reagent kits weren't as accurate as I might have hoped. The pH consistantly read .5 off. It's also handy for checking / calibrating heaters and tank thermometers. Most are pretty good but some of my older digital tapes were just dead wrong.
All in all a hefty investment for someone with only one tank, but I would consider this an absolute necessity for anyone suffering from MTS. In the end it saves you time so that you can be doing other stuff in your fish room, 'cuz ya never really get everything done, do ya?
I have a Hanna TDS3 I like. It does temp & TDS & has a handy hold button so you can move it to where you can see the reading, nice for low or dark tanks.
I use it most when buying new fish before acclimation as I have pretty soft water but the temp I use every water change.
I got it on ebay for under $20 including shipping
I use it most when buying new fish before acclimation as I have pretty soft water but the temp I use every water change.
I got it on ebay for under $20 including shipping
The following link is a source for TDM meters ranging in price from $16 to $146.
http://www.freshwatersystems.com/c-253-handheld-meters.aspx
I have the Model COM-100. It allows 3 diff. calibration options(KCL, NaCL, 442(tm))
and you can set it to display either PPM or conductivity in uS.
The Model COM-100 is also available here:
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/3957/product.web
I like it a lot. It's easy to use and easy to calibrate.
http://www.freshwatersystems.com/c-253-handheld-meters.aspx
I have the Model COM-100. It allows 3 diff. calibration options(KCL, NaCL, 442(tm))
and you can set it to display either PPM or conductivity in uS.
The Model COM-100 is also available here:
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/group/3957/product.web
I like it a lot. It's easy to use and easy to calibrate.
The only one I use is the digital one offered by AirWaterIce for use with their RO systems to measure input and output, but I've been very happy with it. No reason one of these probes couldn't be used for monitoring a tank as well.
CWO4GUNNER
USN/USCG 1974-2004 Weps
I have a serious need for TDS measuring since I have such high TDS water (800-1200 PPM) its crucial to my fish that I monitor it every water change, point being I have an experienced recommendation.
I have been using the hand-held HM TDS-3 that measures both temp and total TDS from 1 to 9,990 PPM. It has never given me any trouble, is accurate enough, but is not water proof so care must be taken not to drop it in the tank. knobs protruding from the sides keep it from slipping out of your fingers. $20 + $7 shipping.
http://www.amazon.com/HM-Digital-TD...ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1262106516&sr=8-5
I have been using the hand-held HM TDS-3 that measures both temp and total TDS from 1 to 9,990 PPM. It has never given me any trouble, is accurate enough, but is not water proof so care must be taken not to drop it in the tank. knobs protruding from the sides keep it from slipping out of your fingers. $20 + $7 shipping.
http://www.amazon.com/HM-Digital-TD...ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1262106516&sr=8-5