Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations What is the best way to test DO in my pond?

I see kits on line but was wondering if there is an inexpensive meter with a long probe I could buy to check DO at the bottom of my pond.
Also, is there a way to filter/search topics on this site so I can search instead of asking questions that may have already been discussed?
Thanks

You can buy a DO meter that has a probe on a 12, 25, etc foot long cable. The decent ones start around $750 and go up. You have to be a bit serious about it. If you want to look at such.. google YSI 550A

In my way of thinking, you can put in an aeration system for about that. If you do that, there are less reasons to need to worry about DO in that pond. If you manage several ponds, then there's more reason to measure.

Ditto. There are some D.O. meters in the 200 to 300 dollar range but yes most of the high quality ones go for much more like DN says.

IMHO for a recreational pond you are wasting money by buying one. Why? First of all if you have diffuser system set up to destratify the water, there should be no reason to check D.O.

Let's say you still want to measure D.O. and you don't have a diffuser system going. You find an anoxic layer near the bottom -- so other than knowing it's there -- what are you going to do about it?

Thanks for the confirmation Cecil. I've been through this thought process recently. I love data and analyzing trends and all that. I have a pond that I know is currently stratified. My analytical mind wants to measure it. But it will accomplish MUCH more for the fish to just put in an aerator and turn it over twice a day. So my curiosity won't be satisfied, but the problem will be gone... what is really important? Growing healthy happy fish or having a science project? Well, for folks like me, the science project is almost enough value, but being realistic, just fix it so there is no anoxic layer and move on to something more productive.

I understand the guys making money at it need one to walk into a client's place and tell them "your DO is 1.3, you gotta fix that."

DO can be checked fairly cheaply using the old fashioned chemical 'winkler' titration method. I made many of those winkler tests in college. Time consuming, but cheap compared to $500-$800 meters. But for some, time is money especially if you have to do numerous tests.

Good advice, thanks guys. I am a data kinda guy too so it would be nice just to know. Bill I will research your cheap but affective method. Thanks

YSI 550A could take up to 10-15 minutes to stabilize before you can take a reading, The YSI optical O2 reades are ready almost immediately, but they cost more than the 550A.

Dissolved Oxygen testing using the Winkler method.
http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/research_methods/environ_sampling/oxygen.html

video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FKdzbgHaQQM