Ideal for reverse osmosis, water softeners, and aquariums

What is a TDS meter?

• TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids.
• It measures the concentration of metals, salts, cations, anions, and organic matter dissolved in water. Essentially, it measures everything in the water except for the water itself (H2O) and suspended particles that have not dissolved in the water.
• It is essentially a conductivity meter that measures how easily electricity "passes" through the water. It estimates the total dissolved solids in ppm - parts per million.
• How it works: It does not directly measure dissolved solids but the positively or negatively charged particles and thus estimates their amount.
• The acceptable limits for drinking water in the USA are 500ppm. In some areas of Greece, this number is significantly higher. Above 1000ppm is unsuitable for drinking.
• In the water cycle, it is logical for organic and inorganic substances to dissolve. Organics may come from decomposing tree leaves, waste from living organisms in the water, and human waste. Inorganics come from the rocks through which the water flows, the air it contacts, lead or copper from water pipes, hexavalent chromium, and pesticides used mainly in agricultural areas.
• What is considered soft or hard water: Soft water: 0-75 ppm, Moderately hard: 75-150 ppm, Hard water: 150-300 ppm, Very hard: 300+ ppm

How to use it:

• It is important for aquarium owners to know the water quality for obvious reasons. Some fish species cannot live in water with high conductivity.
• For reverse osmosis system owners, it is important to know when to replace water filter cartridges or the reverse osmosis membrane. If the ppm at the water outlet starts to be higher than previous measurements, or if the ppm at the water outlet is higher than the water inlet, then the filters or the osmosis membrane need to be replaced.
• Ideal if you are considering installing a water softener in the main water supply of your home or business (cafes - bars - hotels, etc.)

Device features:

• Large and easy-to-read LCD screen.
• Includes carrying case.
• Range: 0 to 999 ppm.
• Resolution: 1 ppm
• Accuracy: +/- 2%
• Power: 2 x 1.5V batteries (included)
• Battery life: over 1000 hours of continuous use.
• Dimensions: 15.5 x 3.1 x 2.3cm (6.1 x 1.25 x 1 inches)
• Weight (with case): 76.5g
• Weight without case: 56.7g

Important Information:

Water hardness is measured in mg/l or parts per million (ppm) as well as in French, German, or English degrees.
1 ppm = 0.1ºf (French degrees) = 0.0556 ºd (German degrees) = 0.07 ºe (English degrees).
Therefore, 1ºf (French degree) = 10 ppm
If we divide the water ppm by 10, we get the water hardness number with a very small deviation of 2-3 ºf French.