Calibrating pH and PPM meter?

So I just got my new Nutradip Tri-Meter and in the instructions, it mentions calibrating with a calibration solution.

Would you be able to use distilled or deionized water in place of a manufactured neutral calibration solution?

It seems like all the solution does is give a specified reading on the meter to calibrate to. If you know that a solution has a pH of exactly 7 or virtually no PPM content, wouldn't you be able to use that instead?

Yes it would be fine, but how would you know the PH of the solution without measuring it with a calibrated PH meter?

You really need the solution.

Quit trying to out think the manufacturers.

Wet

Its a $15 bottle. Buy it. =P

iamaaror said:

Yes it would be fine, but how would you know the PH of the solution without measuring it with a calibrated PH meter?

Click to expand...

Because PURE water has a pH of exactly 7. So if you used distilled or deionized water (water with impurities removed) it would have a pH of 7 and also a PPM of almost 0 since the impurities (solids, ionized salts, etc) have been removed.

However, I think you guys are right... I think my chem class memories are coming back to me. If I remember correctly, even deionized and distilled water can regain an off balance pH almost imediately after coming into contact with the Carbon Dioxide in air.


Oh well, I might as well just buy the calibration solution for later. Out of curiosity, I think I'll test the pH of my gallon of distilled water just to see what it reads with the unit right out of the box.