Good water quality testers?

[seedjar]

I'm curious to know if anyone has suggestions for a brand of water testing meters, or a recommendation of where to purchase them. My city water report says the water here is around 60ppm TDS, but it tastes awful and I really don't believe it. I'd like to see if it has something to do with my local water main. I've looked around and it seems like, at the higher-quality end, dual pH/TDS meters aren't much more experience than testers that just do TDS, so I was thinking about spending the extra $10 or $20. Or would I be getting an inferior product? I don't suppose there are reasonably priced units that do soil as well as water, are there? So long as I'm spending the money, I'd like to get something that I can get a lot of use out of.
Any tips would be great. Thanks everyone.
~Joe

 

[Lil Stinkpot]

Well, I don't know any particular brand to point you to, but I can add my few cents on your water.

There is more to it than just what the meter reads. There are other things that a TDS meter may not be as sensitive to. Our water is carp; it looks like carp and tastes like it, too. But we also have a TDS reading in the 60's, and the plants like it just fine.

YMMV: good luck finding your favorite meter.

 

[BigBella]

I would suggest investing in a good quality TDS meter; most of those available at pet shops are crap and are unlikely to last -- and may be incapable of re-calibration.

In terms of meters, I prefer HM Digital's COM-100. It is highly accurate, allows the user to calibrate using three different methods, compensates for Tb differences, runs about 50.00; that, and it even floats . . .

http://www.tdsmeter.com/products/com100.html

 

[Lil Stinkpot]

Floating gizmos are ALWAYS a boon to me.

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Heck, 'Bella, you might have talked ME into buying one.