Tds reading on freshly made saltwater

[Tsev03]

If you start with rodi water the test 0 tds then add the salt should the tds still read 0?

 

[twilliard]

If you start with rodi water the test 0 tds then add the salt should the tds still read 0?

No it will not be 0
In fact it may be off the scale

 

[Tsev03]

Thank you
I just wanted to be sure

 

[AZDesertRat]

No, you cannot measure the TDS of saltwater with a TDS meter. Most TDS meters top out at 999 and few better ones can read up to 9990 by tens. Saltwater will have a TDS over 32,000 so way beyond the meters capability. If you stuck your TDS meter in saltwater clean it immediately if not sooner with good RO/DI or distilled water to get the residue off the probes before it sticks there.

 

[Tsev03]

I did rinse it with rodi water immediately after. Thank you.

 

[Tsev03]

It was a stupid question. Sorry

 

[Mike in CT]

Not stupid... Stupid is not asking questions [emoji4]

 

[AZDesertRat]

Exactly, that's why this forum exists.

 

[Chefbill]

TDS=Total Dissolved Solids.
Salt=a solid
Why would adding salt not change it?

 

[AZDesertRat]

Salt does change it. It changes it so much it goes way beyond what a TDS meter can read. You could use a conductivity meter in this case.

 

[Fishman144]

So if you make fresh RO/DI water and make sure it reads 0,
then add the amount of salt you need to the water
Then measure the salinity of the water
Are those the correct steps?

 

[reefwiser]

Yes that is the steps TDS meter is only used on RO/DI water.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

It was a stupid question. Sorry

Not stupid at all! You would be surprised how many people don't know the answer to that question. It was a while before I knew myself!

 

[TaylorPilot]

I think most of your salinity probes on controllers are actually higher range tds meters.

 

[AZDesertRat]

It is actually the opposite. TDS meters measure conductivity like a salinity meter then the internal processor uses a mathematical calculation to convert that to TDS.

 

[melev]

Some people don't know to remove the cap of the TDS meter.

Some drop the meter in the barrel of water, ruining it. That's why you always test a sample in a clean dry cup. It avoids those types of accidents.

 

[Cory]

Fwiw they sell a "tds meter" for testing saltwater with high tds. Its called a conductvity meter.