whats a good PPM meter

NrthrnMichigan

Well-Known Member
After years of winging it without a meter aftwr the last one took a shit

I figured. I would try a constant read because its normally drying of the tip thay screws it up
This way its always wet

Got a bluelab gardian

So far so good for the first week anyway
Very easy to use! Came complete ready to roll with calibration fluid.

The settings where within a point from factory:)

It reads ec tds and ppm. Temp and ph

So far i love looking over at it and sense i have multiple reservoirs i can just drop it in to whichever for instant read

Very happy as long as it doesnt shit the bed lol

Although i am still leary of having any light in the room even green light freaks me out lol
I have been using the Blue Lab combo meter for about 3 years, It reads ec tds and ppm. Temp and ph. The meter itself has a 5 year warranty but the ph probe has a 1 year warranty and it takes a dump once a year...like clock work, been replacing the ph probe.
 

since1991

Well-Known Member
After years of winging it without a meter aftwr the last one took a shit

I figured. I would try a constant read because its normally drying of the tip thay screws it up
This way its always wet

Got a bluelab gardian

So far so good for the first week anyway
Very easy to use! Came complete ready to roll with calibration fluid.

The settings where within a point from factory:)

It reads ec tds and ppm. Temp and ph

So far i love looking over at it and sense i have multiple reservoirs i can just drop it in to whichever for instant read

Very happy as long as it doesnt shit the bed lol

Although i am still leary of having any light in the room even green light freaks me out lol
I have been using the Blue Lab combo meter for about 3 years, It reads ec tds and ppm. Temp and ph. The meter itself has a 5 year warranty but the ph probe has a 1 year warranty and it takes a dump once a year...like clock work, been replacing the ph probe.
Same here. Exact same meter. Ive had about 3 or 4 years now. And the replaceable pH probes...if you take care of them..clean amd calibrate often..last about a year. I try and keep kcl pH storage solution in the little vial always filled as well. If you dont clean and calibrate..just get lazy with them (ive done it)...6 months tops. The EC/TDS probe right next to the pH probe...built like a tank. Solid and reliable. But pH meters are by nature a finicky little instrument. Ive used em all too. Hannah..Oakton..Millwaukee..all of em. PH meters and pens can act wierd and wonky every now and again. I have pH drops/color chart and a cheap yellow Chinese pH pen I keep around for backup. When I know my Bluelab starts acting funny I bust these out to confirm the read of the test sample.
 

NrthrnMichigan

Well-Known Member
Same here. Exact same meter. Ive had about 3 or 4 years now. And the replaceable pH probes...if you take care of them..clean amd calibrate often..last about a year. I try and keep kcl pH storage solution in the little vial always filled as well. If you dont clean and calibrate..just get lazy with them (ive done it)...6 months tops.
Before the last ph probe replacement I notice that the point where the lead (wire) connects to the probe is fragile (the weakest link) When it was failing I noticed when I turned or twisted the probe it would work. I used a piece of gorilla tape to reinforce and secure it (the wire to the probe) I got another 6 months out of it. I also have the Blue Lab ph pen for backup. The pen I've had for about 6 years and is very reliable if taken care of.
 
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Grandpapy

Well-Known Member
Environmentally speaking, Blue lab is manufactured where the workers are some of the most contented and eco friendly in the world and their profits don't fund China's thirst for oil.
I use the combo, my first probe lasted 3yrs before I let it dry out one morning.:cuss:
I only clean it when it gets slow, and it always sits in nutes bucket.
It tells me when I should Calibrate.

In my opinion BlueLab is the "SnapOn" of probes.
 

Cold$moke

Well-Known Member
Thats why i figured if i always had it in a res it would never dry lol

For the convenience of it ill gladly replace a probe because with multiple res's its easy to drop in one and do something while it reads

But it it shits the bed ill be going cheap after this one lol
 

since1991

Well-Known Member
If you use additives like humics/fulvics and kelps and aminos..yucca or whatever...that little glass bulb is gonna get filmy quick...throwing off your reads.
 

Grandpapy

Well-Known Member
If you use additives like humics/fulvics and kelps and aminos..yucca or whatever...that little glass bulb is gonna get filmy quick...throwing off your reads.
True that, I use to use a Ice Scraper/Brush to clean tanks when I was contaminating with that live stuff! lol
But the BlueLab would just slowdown for me when it was dirty 10sec vs 5 sec. for example.
Truth is my back couldn't take the punishment of scrubbing the tanks, now all micros get mixed in a pitcher and hand dispensed. (insert old man smiley)
 

Cold$moke

Well-Known Member
If you use additives like humics/fulvics and kelps and aminos..yucca or whatever...that little glass bulb is gonna get filmy quick...throwing off your reads.
I do ill give them a look only been a few days

But even though i use kelp and the rest

The res will turn clear after about a day
 
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since1991

Well-Known Member
I dont clean anything in my set up til chop day

Unless something funky happens
You know what? I dont frikin either. I certainly should. But I only flush out my drip lines and scrub tanks right before reloading the room or sections I should say. Humic acid addys can leave some straight up black dust on every frikin thing in the tank. Its one reason why I switched to pure fulvic. BioAg Fulpower gor the win. Still a little gunky but nowhere near as dirty as some leonardite based stuff.
 

Cold$moke

Well-Known Member
I clean in between runs
but after my system gets settled.in i dont do any major cleaning or flushes
Unless i sense a problem
 

SCJedi

Well-Known Member
I have used the Oakton Ecotestr TDS for a long, long time. Its affordable and waterproof but I just noticed a split where the power button is at.

I have a good friend who is a water instrument tech that just landed a job with Hach. I'm gonna hit him up for the Hach Pocket Pro+ Multi 2 and some calibration fluid and tips.
 

since1991

Well-Known Member
I think Myron makes a FET pH pen. Been wanting to check that out. The way it works is completely different than the normal glass bulb reference junction the rest employ. Dont have to keep it wet. Much more robust is what I've heard as well. A little expensive but with the growing game I damn near try anything if it's within reason price wise..once...including strains.
 

jonsnow399

Well-Known Member
I think Myron makes a FET pH pen. Been wanting to check that out. The way it works is completely different than the normal glass bulb reference junction the rest employ. Dont have to keep it wet. Much more robust is what I've heard as well. A little expensive but with the growing game I damn near try anything if it's within reason price wise..once...including strains.
I like Myron because it makes meters for water management not pot growing so they aren't hyped as much.
 
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