Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Not really sure where I should have posted this but I couldn't find a water quality/testing related section so here goes.

Today I had a parent walk in and give me a very mottley and falling apart box full of old testing gear. It turns out he use to work in the pond industry and this was all just knocking around in the shed. Dusting off the contents revelled a heap of Tetra Test chemicals and some very cool Milwaukee pH, EC and TDS meters, some in brand new condition. According to some calibration records on a couple of meters it looks like they have been sitting for at least 6 years. I have couple of queries in regard to all this.

Will the manual test chemicals still be usable, if so does anyone have any Tetra Test instructions and colour charts they have finished with that they are willing to pass on to me?

Can anyone recommend a lab supply/ technical mob in Perth who can supply me with standard solutions and check a few of the meters over?

One other really cool thing in the box was a temperature guage, not unlike an old non-electric car one that uses a copper line with sensor on the end of it. It works, has anyone seen one of these before and is it suitable to fit into a tank on a permanent basis so that kids can read the temp daily? If so can I just drop the whole wire and sensor into the tank and leave it or should only the sensor be in the water? I can take a pic and post it if it will help.

Thanks,
Mike

Pictures please.

I have a temp guage that has a copper tube. Drop it in to check but never leave it in the system. If you can seal it from the water you may be able to use it all the time.

Here are pics of the temp gauge and some of the other goodies. The wire on the temp gauge is definitely sealed and there is no threaded collar like on a car one that would indicate that only the end probe bit goes in the water. The head unit is made so that it would clip into a steel fascia hole so it does look like it is meant to be fixed permanently. The brad on it is Gruter Italy.

The chemicals are probably too old to use.

The temp guage can be permanently mounted in the water(I am an electrical engineer). If the problem that was a concern being putting copper in your water, that is not enough to cause a problem.

The meters will probably be OK if the test probes were cleaned before storage. They should be checked/calibrated to give you a reliable reading. A pH meter is a nice thing to have. They provide more accuracy than the test kits I have used before I got a meter.
Try going to the meter manufacture's web site and get a manual or ask them tech questions. There are 'test solutions' that are pH=4.0, 7.0, 10.0 that can help you calibrate the meters (this should be done every so often).

Test solutions pH 4,7,10 can be obtained through Aquasonic or possibly through a local hydroponic dealer. Some pH probes need to be kept in water to avoid drying-out- newer ones can be dry, but I think being too dry may affect them, as I have to calibrate mine every month (handheld meter).

Still cover the end of the temp gauge. Should be okay as long as the water can't eat the copper away. I have a similar one but have not set it up. Was going to put the end in a plastic bag heat sealed.

I am not sure I would be able to heat seal it in a bag. What about a smear of silicone all over? The sensor is actually brass not copper so is a little more durable.

silicone sounds okay.

IMHO talk with the manufactuer....come on it was donated....so what are a few phonecalls ??

Problem is I can find no details on the manufacturer, net searches for Gruter gave me nothing. 01 89 is also printed on the small sticker so I am guessing it was manufactured in 1989, chances are there is no Gruter anymore.