I need a TDS meter, any recommendations?

[grossgumshoe]

whats up everybody, i need a tds meter and i was wondering what everybody else uses cause i don't want to get a shitty one. anyhow i would appreciate any recommendations (and model numbers) that you may have

 

[TeHsExCgReEn]

www.sunlightsheds.com

Go to meters and order whatever you need from them. They have been very reliable for me and a few of my buddies. They have NEVER let me down.

 

[Al B. Fuct]

whats up everybody, i need a tds meter and i was wondering what everybody else uses

The Bluelab Truncheon is as good as they get.

No moving parts, not even a power switch. Auto power on & off by dipping in the tank. No LCD to go bad- display is by a bar of LEDs on a calibrated scale, which you can read at arm's length in any lighting condition. I have one which is now more than 7 years old.

Bluelab also make a pH Truncheon. Much as I love the TDS Truncheon, I can't recommend the pH version. I bought one last year and had to return it- twice. I had 3 of them fail in rapid succession before I gave up on them.

The TDS version, on the other hand, is utterly bulletproof. Shop around, prices vary.

 

[grossgumshoe]

i picked up one of those truncheons today at the local hydro store.. seems to work exactly like its supposed to. Thanks for the help guys!

 

[Al B. Fuct]

cool. You can be pretty sure that's the last meter you'll need for a while.

 

[born2killspam]

A while back I got one new for 25$ on ebay from a drinking water accessory seller called Filter Direct.. The buy-now price was $50, but it was obvious that waiting a few hours would save 50%.. Dunno if its still out there, but the pen never led me astray, and 8 years later it still works..
This one has a hold button that can easily be pressed in bad lighting etc, it goes beep to confirm that its display is held to examine later..

 

[Kludge]

The Bluelab Truncheon is as good as they get.

No moving parts, not even a power switch. Auto power on & off by dipping in the tank. No LCD to go bad- display is by a bar of LEDs on a calibrated scale, which you can read at arm's length in any lighting condition. I have one which is now more than 7 years old.

Bluelab also make a pH Truncheon. Much as I love the TDS Truncheon, I can't recommend the pH version. I bought one last year and had to return it- twice. I had 3 of them fail in rapid succession before I gave up on them.

The TDS version, on the other hand, is utterly bulletproof. Shop around, prices vary.

It's good to hear you suggest that one, it's the one I was looking at, but I was wondering about the calibration. The other meters I looked at have to be calibrated; is that because they are pH meters too?

 

[MrHowardMarks]

I had a blulab tri meter, it stopped working after three years

The truncheon has been on my wish list.

I need to get a new one, I have a seperate pH meter, how does the truncheon compare to the tri meter?

I'd imagine it's just as good, what did you pay for it at the hydro store?

 

[Kludge]

I've been searching on line and the best price I found so far was $110 total, including shipping.

BLUELAB ORIGINAL TRUNCHEON METER EC, CF, PPM FREE SHIP - eBay (item 150283101278 end time Oct-12-08 20:41:09 PDT)

 

[MrHowardMarks]

Dang, I'm on it. Thanks Kludge.

 

[WWgrower]

This is the place Iam at now. I am going to take the plunge and get a meter or as Potroast calls them monitor for my grow. I plan on getting a constant In-tank monitor. I figure on e-bay to spend around 150. Has anyone else on here had any luck with these. After a few years am tired of crouching next to my grow breaking my back and messing with taking measurements. Seems a lot easier to just look at the led display and instantly know where I stand. Anything to make my life easier is better for me and my girls! $0.02

 

[Johnnyblaze326]

ok that takes care of the single use tds meter -- now what about a single ph meter .. I know Al b Fuct said not to buy blue labs ph meter ...what do other people recomend getting ..(ONLY PH METER NOT COMBO)

 

[mane2008]

hanna pH meter

for TDS you can get a sunleaves meter for like 35

 

[Al B. Fuct]

now what about a single ph meter ..

I have used Eutech's pHScan1 meters now for about 7 years. I have a couple of them.

 

[MrHowardMarks]

That's the one I have

 

[Al B. Fuct]

The pHScan1 has to be the most reliable pH meter I've ever used. They require electrode replacement every 2 years (like any other pH meter), but that's no big shakes as it is user-replaceable. Unscrew the old one, fit the new one, soak it in plain water for 24 hrs and it's off to the races.

 

[Johnnyblaze326]

Thanks AL B .. ill have to try it out ..looks like a decent product..Ill let ya know how it goes with the meters for me when i start my journal ... just Bought the Bluelab TDS meter that will be at the door soon

 

[Al B. Fuct]

Cool beans, jb. You'll be happy with the Truncheon. They have a well-deserved rep for reliability and long service life.

 

[MrHowardMarks]

They require electrode replacement every 2 years (like any other pH meter), but that's no big shakes as it is user-replaceable.

-I got mine because, at the time, I worked at an aquarium store. They thought it was broken.

I've replaced the electrode twice since then, three times total, had it since 2000.

I bought a blulab tri meter, because I thought that my meter was getting a bit too old to be reliable, but it still works great, I check the accuracy every month.

The tri meter, on the other hand, didn't last that long.

The TDS was acting erradic, and the pH pen was completely fucked. I asked about replacement sensors and I was told you had to buy the whole pen. You know anything about that? I currently have a tri meter with both pens not working.

 

[Al B. Fuct]

I'm sorry to hear that about the tri-meter, but this is the typical story for all integrated meters, at least about the tip replacement. If it's not user-replaceable, you either have to buy a new meter or send the old one for probe replacement.

Bluelab got the TDS Truncheon right, from day 1. They ballsed up the pH Truncheon- I had 3 of them die before I gave up and bought new probe tips for my Eutech meters.