The Question

On Thu, Feb 18, 2010 at 4:05 PM, Kerri Bentkowski <kbentkowski@bnriverkeeper.org> wrote:

Dear Water Quality Monitors:

The Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper is looking to upgrade from Green Lamotte DO tests to DO meters. Does anyone have an affordable, volunteer-friendly DO meter that you recommend?

Thanks,
Kerri

Kerri Bentkowski Li Citizen Action Coordinator
Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper
1250 Niagara St.
Buffalo, NY 14221 (716) 852-7483 ext. 11
kbentkowski@bnriverkeeper.org
www.bnriverkeeper.org

Responses

On Thu, Feb 18, 2010 at 11:48 PM, <nolnacsj@aol.com> wrote:

Not cheap but we use YSI 550's.

Judy
Orleans Water Quality Task Force (Cape Cod, MA)

On Fri, Feb 19, 2010 at 8:25 AM, ginger north <ginger@delawarenaturesociety.org> wrote:

We use Fisherbrand Do meters –they are fairly rugged and fairly stable across a broad temperature range. They cost about $500 each. They are easy to calibrate and the volunteers have found them easy to use.

Ginger North
Citizen Science Coordinator
Delaware Nature Society
302-239-2334 ext. 100
ginger@delawarenaturesociety.org
www.delawarenaturesociety.org

On Fri, Feb 19, 2010 at 9:54 AM, Stepenuck, Kris <kfstepenuck@wisc.edu> wrote:

Hi

Some of our volunteers use model YSI 550a since the membranes are so easy to replace. But, as someone else noted, they're not cheap ($925).

Kris Stepenuck
WI Volunteer Stream Monitoring Coordinator / Extension Volunteer Monitoring Network Staff
445 Henry Mall, Rm 202
Madison, WI 53706
608-265-3887 or 608-264-8948
http://watermonitoring.uwex.edu/wav
http://www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer

On Fri, Feb 19, 2010 at 11:01 AM, <nolnacsj@aol.com> wrote:

To add to that, the probes for these (YSI-550's, etc.) cannot handle extended exposures to extremely anoxic conditions. We collect a Winkler sample if DO falls below 5.0 mg/L. Otherwise they work great for DO/temp profiles in both marine and freshwater. When we have had to send them out for repair, it is usually because someone used them in bottom waters that had DO readings of less than 1.0 mg/L, or sunk the probe in the mud.

Judy
Orleans Water Quality Task Force

From: Linda Green <lgreen@uri.edu>
Sent: Fri, Feb 19, 2010 11:13 am
Subject: RE: [volmonitor] DO Meter Recommendation Wanted

Tho we mostly use LaMotte kits, we have several YSI 55’s (fresh water) and 85’s (salt water). Users need to be sure to calibrate them for altitude and check the membrane for bubbles. We had to add fishing weights to get them to hang straight for lake DO/temperature profiles. We find that we have to have them repaired every 2-3 years at a cost of ~$200 and usually a long time at their repair facility.
Linda Green

Program Director, URI Watershed Watch
Natural Resources Science Department
105 Coastal Institute
1 Greenhouse Road
Kingston, RI 02881-0804
401-874-2905 (v)
401-874-4561 (f)
email: lgreen@uri.edu
www.uri.edu/ce/wq/ww
Project Director, Extension Volunteer Monitoring Network
www.usawaterquality.org/volunteer

On Mon, Feb 22, 2010 at 6:43 AM, Sullivan, Christopher <Christopher.Sullivan@ct.gov> wrote:

I've used YSI DO200 with a volunteer group I coordinate in Branford. The membranes are screw-on, so easy to change if needed. Calibration is easy and the meter is able to be set for variable salinities. The meter and probe are sold separately and I have had to replace two probes over the past 6 years of use. The probe/cable costs around $250 and the meter has a similar cost.

Good luck, switching to meters from the Lamotte kits we used to use has saved a lot of time on each of our sampling trips. The key is to keep the meters in good condition and calibrated.

Peace
Chris

Chris Sullivan
Planning & Standards Division
Bureau of Water Protection and Land Reuse
CT Department of Environmental Protection
79 Elm Street
Hartford, CT 06106

Ph: 860-424-3514
Fax: 860-424-4055

On Thu, Feb 18, 2010 at 4:43 PM, Jeremy Williamson <JeremyW@co.polk.wi.us> wrote:

How affordable? YSI makes a couple of models. I am using the YSI 85,
which does multiple parameters, but I think that some of our volunteer
groups are using the YSI 55 which just does DO and Temp.

-------------------------------------------------------
Jeremy Williamson
Water Quality Specialist
Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator

Land & Water Resources Department
Polk County Wisconsin
100 Polk County Plaza, Suite 120
Balsam Lake, WI 54810
phone 715.485.8639
fax 715.486.8601
jeremyw@co.polk.wi.us
http://www.co.polk.wi.us/landwater/

On Thu, Feb 18, 2010 at 4:57 PM, Cheryl Nenn <cheryl_nenn@milwaukeeriverkeeper.org> wrote:

We use YSI 550A models--mostly b/c that's the same unit our Dept. of Natural
Resources staff uses and we find that if we use their equipment and
protocols, that they have more confidence in our data. The units are
expensive, and test for DO and temp, but have worked great!

Cheryl Nenn
Riverkeeper
Milwaukee Riverkeeper
1845 N. Farwell Ave. Suite 100
Milwaukee, WI 53202
(414) 287-0207 ext. 229 (note new extension)
(414) 273-7293 (fax)
www.milwaukeeriverkeeper.org

Formerly Friends of Milwaukee's Rivers

================================================================================