What meter should I get???

[wilddiscuss]

Hi everyone! I have a quick question. I am looking at a couple of meters for TDS and PH. I was wondering if I could get some of your opinions on them. Plus a few questions I have about them to. I have never owned a meter before that is why I need some help.

First I will link you to the meters I am looking at:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=9848&Nty=1&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=All&N=2004&Ntt=tds%20meter&Np=1

For the link above I am looking at the pH/EC/TDS I would think it would be worth the money for the meter because it reads both TDS and PH.

http://www.buckeyefieldsupply.com/showproducts.asp?Sub=149&showspecials=149

I was thinking about buying the first 2 meters listed on the page.

What do you think?

Now for my question. What is the calibration fluid all about? Do I need to buy it and stick it in the fluid and read it with the meter to get it accurate? Do I do it once? I have no idea what it is??? So some education on that would be appreciated! Thanks for your time!

Todd

[2sybs]

Todd, I have no experience with those but I picked one up on ebay that I can just leave in the tank and it was cheap, also I like to be able to see what the PH is at a glance at any time. It probably won't last long but for the price I have no problem replacing it though it has been in my tank for about 2 months now.
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Portable-PH-Meter-PH-Meter-Tester-Aquarium-Monitor_W0QQitemZ120207687983QQihZ002QQcategoryZ11 7435QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/Professional-PH-Meter-PH-Meter-Tester-Aquarium-Monitor_W0QQitemZ120207469499QQihZ002QQcategoryZ11 7435QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
I don't see the one I got but the display is like the first link while the probe is like the second link. :P

I also have a milwaukee ph51 that refuses to read below about 6.8. that I paid about twice as much for.:(

As for the calibration fluid, You use it to calibrate the meter and needs to be done every month or so.
You dip the probe in the fluid and adjust the display to match the PH of the fluid. (usually 7.0) and the packets are a one time use.

[RandalB]

Get the Hanna meter, you won't go wrong. They have an unconditional 1 year warranty, anything goes wrong they fix or replace it free. Those H+M meters ain't the best IME....

With the Hanna's they'll tell you with an indicator when the meter needs to be calibrated. They come from the factory already calibrated and figure every couple of months they'll need it again, depending on how often you are testing..

I'm not even going to comment on the ebay ones...

HTH,
RandalB

[2sybs]

I'm not even going to comment on the ebay ones...
I stopped worrying about keeping my ph at a set level and just keeping it consistent now. The ebay one tells me this much. I could care less if the reading is true as long as it is consistent.
No more adding chemicals trying to keep it low and my fish are just as happy if not happier without the chems in the water.
Ray

[RandalB]

I stopped worrying about keeping my ph at a set level and just keeping it consistent now. The ebay one tells me this much. I could care less if the reading is true as long as it is consistent.
No more adding chemicals trying to keep it low and my fish are just as happy if not happier without the chems in the water.
Ray

Sounds like you are aware of their limitations and you've certainly got the right idea about pH adjustment....:thumbsup:

RandalB