Handhand Water Testing Meters

One of the easiest ways to test your koi ponds is to use a handheld digital water testing meter.  These individual/multi meters can test pH, TDS, EC, ORP, Salt and pond temperature.  Handheld pond testing meters don't require reagents which makes them ideal for carrying out a testing quickly and accurately.

TDS (Total Disolved Solids) Meters

Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) relates to the purity and quality of the water and affects all things that consumes, resides and uses water.  TDS is the total amount of mobile charged ions, including minerals, salts or metals dissolved in a given volume of water.  It is measured in parts per million (ppm) or expressed in mg per unit volume of water (mg/L).

A level of 400ppm or less is recommended for koi although many softwater fish demand a significantly lower level.  Changes in the amounts of dissolved solids can be harmful because the density of total dissolved solids determines the flow of water in and out of an organism’s cells. Concentrations that are too high or too low may limit the growth of koi and will lead to death.  The greater the amount of solids in the water versus the solids in the tissue of the fish will also result in a fluid loss via the gills.

The best way to test TDS is to use one of the following digital meters, Hanna Waterproof TDS/Conductivity & Temp Tester (HI 98311) and the Hanna Waterproof pH/Conductivity/TDS/Temp Tester (HI 98130).