pH/TDS meter
 

Does anyone have a recommended (modestly priced) pH meter and TDS meter and a good supplier?

Sorry I can't help. Just giving you a bump, and I've moved the question to 'Parts and Equipment' in the hope you get more help there.

I hope someone can answer your question soon. I have been thinking about buying some meters too.

My question is borne out of a recent experience with my orchids...
Although my plants grow fairly well, I have an occasional plant that exhibits a vibrant green growing tip suddenly collapse and turn black. I checked with a knowledgeable contact who confirmed excessive salts. When I checked with the local water utility they said, pH 8.3 and TDS of 375...Wow! I concluded it had less to do with me trying to add too much fertilizer than the "base" water supply.
I have a cheap pH meter (bought for a few $'s, thinking even if it was inaccurate I might at least get a relative reading)... The bottom line is it's useless...
I've now gone to rain-water, but fear that might not be feasible all year round...

If you run out of rain water, you should be able to find an emergency stash of distilled or RO water at a shop near you. You could also think about installing a RO filter at home; firstrays sells them very economically in the USA (mine cost a small fortune here in South Africa, but I was quite pedantic about the specs - waiting for a plumber to install a T so I can get it working...!).

Most laboratory supply companies will sell pH and TDS meters; Hanna make some nice fairly accurate and fairly affordable units. It's a good idea to get some calibration solutions too if you want to maintain accuracy. I have a combined TDS/pH unit.

You consider if you belong to an orchid society, the society could purchase one and keep it calibrated and test member water samples at meetings as a service. Having your own is handy though.

You can made your own RO water system for pretty cheap.... Most run a 3 stage system.

WaterAnywhere

+1 for hanna meters,
spend the money for the combo TDS, EC, and PH meter :)

I like my Hanna handheld TDS meter that I bought through Amazon. It is only a TDS meter, pH meters are more expensive than TDS meters.

Sounds like Hanna meters are a good place to start...Thanks

Get one that does combo pH, TDS and temperature, that way it stays fairly accurate no matter what the temperature. The model I link to in my earlier post does this.