What is a TDS meter and what can I use it for?

[weblance]

A friend gave me a TDS meter, what is it and what can I use it for?

/Carl

 

[TekCat]

TDS = total dissolved solids. This meter tests water how much stuff dissolved in water. The less TDS reading you have, the better water. RO/DI water typically read 0. That is beside H2O there is nothing in it.

 

[weblance]

Is testing water quality on the RO/DI the only thing I can use it for?

 

[kau_cinta_ku]

you can use it for testing any water not just rodi water. but that is mainley the only use for them

 

[weblance]

OK, thanks guy's!

 

[doody]

Should you test salt water with this?

 

[raddogz]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6504861#post6504861 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by doody
Should you test salt water with this?

It will read off the charts due to the salt mix adding back "stuff" - the minerals that the fish and corals will need.

 

[weblance]

It measures microsiemens so it will read off charts. But I read somewhere that if a meter that measures millisiemens is used, than it can be to measure SG.

 

[sundance1]

When I raised Discus I used mine to test the tank water,now the only use I have for it is for my RO/DI filter.When the reading gets to 4 or 5 I replace the cartridges in my filter.

 

[weblance]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6506009#post6506009 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sundance1
When I raised Discus I used mine to test the tank water,now the only use I have for it is for my RO/DI filter.When the reading gets to 4 or 5 I replace the cartridges in my filter.

Are You talking about 4-5 ppm? Isn't that very a low parameter or should it be max?

 

[JimR]

I see some TDS testers also say EC? ( EC/TDS ) What is EC?
Also, some of the cheaper models only record to 999. Since we want to read "0", a meter that only goes to 999 should be fine, correct?