How many?
I "lost" a box of expensive aquarium gadgets and a box of expensive tools in the move to my new place. (I tipped those movers really well, too.
) Just realized my hand held TDS meter is also missing.
Thinking out loud...
I have a four stage: micron, carbon, RO, DI.
There are several points worth measuring, since the different system components are replaced at different times:
Tap
after micron cartridge
after carbon
after RO
after DI
Although the tap quality is interesting to know, it's not likely to vary much in the short term. Even if it does, that's a bigger problem than the scope we are talking about. So, not a critical test point.
The micron cartridge can be tested visually. (If it looks nasty, change it.) So, not a critical test point. On my system, you could not easily add a monitor connection after this point anyway.
Wouldn't after the carbon stage be a really useful, if not critical, test point? I was told that I should replace carbon roughly once for every two micron cartridge changes. If I had a test point here, I could see how much improvement a new micron cartridge made and decide whether or not to swap out carbon at that time. So, a useful test point.
After your RO stage is the key measure for drinking water purity. So, a critical test point.
DI swap outs will vary widely depending on source water and use rate, and this is the key measure for aquarium health. So, a critical test point.
Question: have I just talked myself into buying two test units?
Joe
