TDS & EC METER 2.
Thank you for choosing the Health Metric 3-in-1 TDS & EC Meter 2.0. This professional measuring device makes testing for total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), and temperature super easy. The following guide gives you a brief overview of what is TDS, how TDS meters work, where can they be used, and how to take care of your TDS meter. For more information and helpful video instructions, visit www.health-metric.com/tds2. Should you have any questions, feel free to get in touch.
What is TDS? TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids. It is the measurement of all the dissolved substances in a water sample. These “dissolved solids” are mostly inorganic salts like sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium cations along with chloride, bicarbonate, carbonate, phosphate, sulfate, and nitrate anions. TDS also includes dissolved organic compounds. Truly accurate TDS measurements must be performed in an analytical laboratory.
Perhaps the water purification system was faulty, or something had contaminated the distilled water. TDS testing is like a watchdog. It will tell you if things are not as they should be. Let’s take a look at all the ways you can use a TDS meter to check water quality. TDS and tap water Tap water contains a variety of minerals and salts like calcium, magnesium, chloride, and potassium. The more minerals and salts in the water, the higher the TDS.
TDS and water filters Most water filtration systems have no effect on TDS. That’s because they remove organic compounds and chlorine disinfectants that cause taste and odor problems but aren’t detected by TDS meters. While heavy metals are a health concern and contribute to the TDS, their levels are so low that they hardly impact the TDS level. Water softeners use the ion-exchange process.
Reverse osmosis (RO) filtration does reduce TDS because it physically removes salts, minerals, and other current-conducting ions from the water. The TDS of RO water should be much lower than the untreated water feeding the RO system. A properly functioning RO system will remove from 70% to 99.9% of the TDS. When an RO system starts removing less than 70% of the incoming TDS, it is time to replace the reverse osmosis membrane and have the system serviced.
types of drinking water products. Testing the TDS of bottled water is similar to testing tap water. Distilled water will have a TDS of 0. Spring water, purified water, and filtered water, on the other hand, can contain a high level of minerals and salts, which affect the TDS. It is not unusual for bottled water to have a TDS of 100 ppm or higher. TDS and aquariums Freshwater tropical fish are native to a variety of aquatic biotopes.
water contains salts, algae, and other microbes that must be rinsed from the probe after each use. The TDS of saltwater is around 10,000 ppm and cannot be measured by Health Metric TDS meters. TDS in pools and spas The ideal TDS level in pools and spas is an area of debate. Most experts agree that the maximum TDS of a freshwater pool or spa should be no higher than 1,500 ppm. But, as water evaporates and as pool chemicals are added, the TDS can climb closer to 3,000 ppm.
TDS and electrical conductivity in hydroponics Electrical conductivity (EC) is a measurement of the strength of the nutrient solution. The higher the conductivity, the more dissolved solids there are in the solution. Delicate plants, cuttings, and seedlings can experience fertilizer burn if the conductivity is too high. Once the plants begin growing, they need a stronger nutrient solution, so conductivity must be increased by adding concentrated nutrient.
● When you are finished using your TDS meter, rinse the probe with water, preferably distilled water. The goal is to flush away any contaminants on the probes. When to calibrate your meter? ● After prolonged usage, recalibration may help to increase the meter’s accuracy. ● TDS meters are more accurate when calibrated at levels that are close to the sample being tested. So, if you’re measuring samples that are around 1000 ppm, for example, we recommend that you calibrate the meter for that specific value.
