Oakton Waterproof Dissolved Oxygen Meter is a portable meter that simultaneously measures two quantities: dissolved oxygen and temperature. Temperature will affect the dissolved oxygen concentrations and therefore you would like to measure it at the same time with the DO values.
Why is measuring dissolved oxygen important?
Simply because it is a measure of the amount of oxygen molecules dissolved in water. It is very important to have adequate concentrations of oxygen if you want to maintain good water quality of your pond or aquarium. Oxygen diffuses into water in several ways, but primarily from the surrounding air, or as a waste product of photosynthesis. Oxygen dis loves at rather low concentrations in water, at values which are typically on the order of 10 ppm (parts per million).
In case you want an accurate meter for your tank, you should know that only are fish and corals using O2, but also the nitrifying bacteria in the biological filters too. Therefore, constant monitoring of the O2 levels in the bio system is needed.
Adequate quantities of dissolved oxygen are very important for good water quality in ponds and aquariums. If the levels of oxygen in water drop below 5 mg/l (5 ppm), aquatic life already can experience certain levels of stress. If this value further drops to 1-2 mg/l (1-2 ppm) and is maintained as such for a few hours, the result can be disastrous. Oakton D0 300 measures DO values in the range from 0 to 20 mg/l. Its working temperature should be in the range between 0 to 50 °C (32 to 122 °F), with about half degree accuracy and 0.1 degree resolution.
When measuring this quantity, one usually performs in-situ experiments, that is immediately, in place. That’s why Oakton DO 300 is equipped with a galvanic probe, meaning that you can perform your measurements instantly and read the measured values on its LCD display. Its sizable, dual-line, backlit screen has 8 levels of brightness, enabling easy viewing in dark and dirty environments. This meter is commonly used for testing in water and salt water – it displays the DO in mg/l, ppm and percentage of saturation.
Product Description
The dimensions of this meter are 3-1/2 by 1-3/4 by 7-1/2 inches.
Oakton DO 300 is waterproof, dustproof meter. It also floats and as such it is suitable for home usage as well as for severe, terrain conditions.
Along with the meter, you will get four 1.5 V AAA batteries and a supplied instructions manual with detailed instructions on how to calibrate and operate this meter. The batteries suffice for one hundred hours of continuous use.
With its automatic temperature compensation (ATC) features, Oakton 300 can store up to 50 previous measurements in its internal log. It should be calibrated with two independent points at both ends of its range in order to achieve high accuracy. It has a real time clock to meet the GLP standards of measurement.
Where to Buy
Oakton Meter, due to its sturdiness, range of features and intended mode of operation, is not a very cheap instrument. However, we find it a good investment as it is one of the best and most affordable in this class. You can purchase it online, and one of the best deals we were able to find on the internet is Amazon.com. Click HERE to check the price.
Useful Contacts
Oakton Instruments, a Vernon Hills, IL based firm, is a reputed manufacturer of an array of scientific instruments. It owns facilities in Europe and Asia as well.
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