TDS Meter
This meter measures the electrical conductivity of water and translates it to a reading of "Total Dissolved Solids" (TDS) which is fancy way of saying the amount of ionic compounds present in a given water sample - essentially how "salty" it is. Pure water (distilled) should have a TDS reading of 0.
As a rule of thumb, hard water typically has a high TDS level while soft water usually reads low in TDS though that is not 100% the case in every circumstance.
Use this to test your aquarium and tap water regularly to make sure that the water in your aquarium is more or less similar to the water you are putting into it. Higher TDS in your tank can indicate that certain ornaments and hardscape (such as things made from limestone or coral) are dissolving and should be removed. It can also mean that salts are accumulating from too frequent top ups and too infrequent water changes.
This device is essential for anyone that is using Reverse Osmosis (RO) or Deionizing Resins (DI) to soften hard water. Pure RO/DI water is unsuitable for aquatic life and must be properly remineralized. Taking a TDS reading is important to make sure you are remineralizing your purified water properly. For those using products to increase GH or KH (alkalinity), knowing the TDS is important to make sure you are not overdoing it and potentially causing harm to your animals and plants.
This TDS meter is operated by coin batteries and does not require the use of consumable reagents or disposable test strips and can be used many thousands of times if you take care of it.
