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FAQ's
Frequently Asked Questions
Find clear answers to common questions about water and environmental measurement, calibration, and instrument use. These FAQs are designed to help you understand your data and measure with confidence.
General Water Measurement:
Water quality directly affects system performance, biological health, equipment life, and operating costs. Inaccurate measurements can lead to over-treatment, under-treatment, stress on plants or aquatic life, and poor long-term outcomes. Reliable measurement allows informed, confident decisions.
The most common causes are:
-Poor or infrequent calibration
-Incorrect probe storage
-Using the wrong instrument for the application
-Temperature effects not being considered
-Sensor ageing or contamination
Most measurement problems are process-related, not sensor failures.
This depends on use and environment, but as a guide:
-Professional or frequent use: weekly to fortnightly
-Routine or light use: monthly
-Critical applications: before each important measurement session
Regular calibration is essential for confidence in results.
Many water sensors rely on hydrated membranes or junctions. If a probe dries out or becomes contaminated, accuracy and response time degrade significantly. Proper storage solutions and cleaning routines protect accuracy and extend probe life.
Pools and Spas:
Key pool water parameters include:
-pH
-ORP (sanitiser effectiveness)
-Temperature
-Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
-Electrical Conductivity (EC)
Together, these indicate water balance, comfort, and sanitisation efficiency.
ORP measures sanitising effectiveness, not just chlorine concentration. Two pools with the same chlorine level can have very different sanitising performance depending on pH, contaminants, and water chemistry.
Digital meters provide:
-Greater precision and repeatability
-Reduced user interpretation error
-Better trend tracking over time
Test strips can be useful for quick checks, but digital instruments offer greater confidence, especially for professional servicing.
Agriculture and Irrigation:
Irrigation water quality affects:
-Soil salinity
-Nutrient uptake
-Crop yield and health
High EC or salinity levels can reduce plant growth and damage soil over time.
Common agricultural water measurements include:
-Electrical Conductivity (EC)
-pH
-Temperature
-Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
These help assess suitability for crops and long-term soil health.
Water sources should be tested:
-When a new source is introduced
-Seasonally
-After significant rainfall or environmental change
Regular monitoring helps prevent gradual degradation.
Hydroponics:
EC indicates nutrient concentration. Too low and plants are under-fed; too high and roots can be damaged. Accurate EC measurement is essential for stable nutrient delivery and consistent plant growth.
pH controls nutrient availability. Even with correct nutrients present, incorrect pH can prevent uptake. Most hydroponic systems require tight pH control for optimal results.
Yes. Temperature affects:
-Dissolved oxygen levels
-Root health
-Nutrient uptake rates
Even small temperature changes can impact plant performance.
Aquaculture and Hatcheries:
Dissolved oxygen (DO) directly affects:
-Fish health and stress levels
-Growth rates
-Feed conversion efficiency
Low DO levels can quickly become life-threatening in aquaculture systems.
Key aquaculture measurements include:
-Dissolved oxygen (DO)
-Temperature
-pH
-EC
-Nitrites and nitrogen compounds
Monitoring these parameters helps maintain stable and productive systems.
Nitrites are toxic to aquatic life even at low concentrations. Monitoring allows early intervention before levels become harmful.
Temperature influences:
-Metabolism
-Oxygen demand
-Disease susceptibility
Accurate temperature measurement is essential for managing stock health.
Aquariums and Life Support Systems:
Aquatic life is sensitive to small changes in water chemistry. Precise measurement helps prevent stress, disease, and sudden losses.
Typical aquarium measurements include:
-pH
-Temperature
-Dissolved oxygen
-Nitrites and related compounds
Stability is often more important than hitting a single “perfect” number.
-New systems: daily to weekly
-Established systems: weekly to monthly
-After changes (water, stock, filtration): immediately and follow-up testing
Environmental and Advanced Water Monitoring:
These measurements help assess:
-Biological activity
-Nutrient loading
-Algal bloom risk
They are commonly used in environmental monitoring, aquaculture, and waterway management.
Yes — when properly calibrated and maintained. Field-grade instruments are designed for repeatability and practicality outside laboratory conditions.
Calibration and Accuracy:
Sensor drift occurs naturally due to:
-Ageing of sensing elements
-Fouling or contamination
-Temperature effects
Regular calibration corrects for this drift.
Yes. Buffer solutions have a shelf life and should be stored correctly. Expired or contaminated solutions reduce calibration accuracy.
Ideally, yes. Temperature affects most electrochemical measurements. Allow instruments and solutions to stabilise before calibrating.
Choosing the Right Instrument:
The right instrument depends on:
-Parameters being measured
-Required accuracy and repeatability
-Environment (field, facility, laboratory)
-Frequency of use
Meascom provides guidance to help match instruments to applications.
If decisions, biological health, or system performance depend on the result, professional-grade instruments provide greater confidence and consistency over time.
Support and Reliability:
Yes. Meascom provides Australian-based support to assist with:
-Instrument selection
-Calibration guidance
-Ongoing use and maintenance
It means:
-Choosing the right instrument
-Calibrating it correctly
-Caring for the probe
-Understanding the result
Meascom supports every part of that process.