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03-11-2011, 09:01 PM
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Member
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Join Date: May 2010
Zone: 10a
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 94
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pH/TDS meter
Does anyone have a recommended (modestly priced) pH meter and TDS meter and a good supplier?
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03-13-2011, 08:36 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Zone: 8a
Location: West Midlands, UK
Age: 49
Posts: 25,462
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Sorry I can't help. Just giving you a bump, and I've moved the question to 'Parts and Equipment' in the hope you get more help there.
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03-14-2011, 07:30 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Zone: 7b
Location: up state SC
Age: 43
Posts: 443
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I hope someone can answer your question soon. I have been thinking about buying some meters too.
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03-14-2011, 07:57 PM
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Member
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Join Date: May 2010
Zone: 10a
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 94
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My question is borne out of a recent experience with my orchids...
Although my plants grow fairly well, I have an occasional plant that exhibits a vibrant green growing tip suddenly collapse and turn black. I checked with a knowledgeable contact who confirmed excessive salts. When I checked with the local water utility they said, pH 8.3 and TDS of 375...Wow! I concluded it had less to do with me trying to add too much fertilizer than the "base" water supply.
I have a cheap pH meter (bought for a few $'s, thinking even if it was inaccurate I might at least get a relative reading)... The bottom line is it's useless...
I've now gone to rain-water, but fear that might not be feasible all year round...
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03-15-2011, 04:02 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Grahamstown, Eastern Cape
Age: 46
Posts: 1,191
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If you run out of rain water, you should be able to find an emergency stash of distilled or RO water at a shop near you. You could also think about installing a RO filter at home; firstrays sells them very economically in the USA (mine cost a small fortune here in South Africa, but I was quite pedantic about the specs - waiting for a plumber to install a T so I can get it working...!).
Most laboratory supply companies will sell pH and TDS meters; Hanna make some nice fairly accurate and fairly affordable units. It's a good idea to get some calibration solutions too if you want to maintain accuracy. I have a combined TDS/pH unit.
You consider if you belong to an orchid society, the society could purchase one and keep it calibrated and test member water samples at meetings as a service. Having your own is handy though.
Last edited by Discus; 03-15-2011 at 04:05 AM..
Reason: wrong link
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03-16-2011, 10:48 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 2010
Zone: 9b
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 613
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You can made your own RO water system for pretty cheap.... Most run a 3 stage system.
WaterAnywhere |
03-16-2011, 11:36 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Zone: 9b
Location: houston
Age: 65
Posts: 3,826
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+1 for hanna meters,
spend the money for the combo TDS, EC, and PH meter 
__________________
O.C.D. "Orchid Collecting Dysfunction"
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03-17-2011, 01:29 PM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Southern California, Los Angeles
Posts: 965
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I like my Hanna handheld TDS meter that I bought through Amazon. It is only a TDS meter, pH meters are more expensive than TDS meters.
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03-17-2011, 02:44 PM
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Member
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Join Date: May 2010
Zone: 10a
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 94
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Sounds like Hanna meters are a good place to start...Thanks
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03-18-2011, 04:23 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Grahamstown, Eastern Cape
Age: 46
Posts: 1,191
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Get one that does combo pH, TDS and temperature, that way it stays fairly accurate no matter what the temperature. The model I link to in my earlier post does this.
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