Conductivity Probes

[lorenk]

I have a controller that has a conductivity probe. I really can't find any literature on how people use it in their everyday reef keeping tasks. I did find a brief definition by Dana Riddle and he mentions using it to monitor RODI performance...is it just a fancy TDS meter?

Conductivity is the ability of water to carry an electrical current. 'Pure' water conducts very little electrical current. On the other hand, seawater – which is full of dissolved minerals and metals – conducts electricity very well. Generally, conductivity is used to monitor the performance of reverse osmosis membranes or deionization units. It is also useful for determination of dissolved solids in freshwater (a quick and 'dirty' determination of water hardness in lieu of testing for calcium and magnesium) and salinity of saltwater if appropriate correction factors are applied. Generally, organic compounds found in water contribute relatively little to conductivity – it is, again, generally inorganic compounds that are responsible.

 

[victor626nj]

what controller you get loren

 

[lorenk]

It's an octopus.

Anyone use this feature? I think it's also on the Neptune controllers.

 

[james s_]

From an excerpt I found on Google "This probe is great for environmental testing for salinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), or conductivity in water". I dont have one on my Neptune AC3 but it may be available on the Pro.

 

[lorenk]

I just found a calculator (not sure how accurate) for converting conductivity to salinity. http://www.fivecreeks.org/monitor/sal.html">http://www.fivecreeks.org/monitor/sal.html</a>

Actually, found a bunch of interesting calculators on the Chesapeake club site.

[IMG]http://cmas-md.org/forums/showthread.php?t=56372">http://cmas-md.org/forums/showthread.php?t=56372</a>

 

[mojo]

I have one on my new Profilux controller, and I keep it directly in the tank, and it seems pretty stable. Granted, I haven't calibrated it yet (still need to order 50mS calibration solution), but it gives a stable reading.

I'll be using it for monitoring of tank params when there's an ATO hooked up. I don't want to keep adding freshwater into the tank if it's at, say, 1.020 and falling...

 

[roland jacques]

LorenK;116184 wrote: Iis it just a fancy TDS meter?

I believe TDS meters are condutivity meters. they measure on the extreme low end of the scale in ppm. And thier is other conductivity meters for higher consentration of salt for tank water. i beleive thats what you have on your controller.