Ph buffer solution problems

Duhh

Active Member
Hello I have brand new just opened ph 7 and ph 4 Growth Technology brand buffer solutions showing 9.18 for the ph 7 solution and 6.86 ph for the ph 4 solution. Wtf? It's my first time calibration a ph meter but I have noticed that these 2 numbers are the exact numbers of other ph buffering solutions, so have these solutions been mislabelled at the factory or something? Thats too much of a coincidence isn't it or am I missing something here? Thanks for any help.
 

Roguedawg

Well-Known Member
usually 4 will be red or orange colored and 7 will be blue or green, I dont know if that brand color codes or not.
 

Duhh

Active Member
You're 100% certain that the meter is in calibration mode when it's giving those readings? The directions aren't always the most user-friendly.
Yes for sure. It's a simple put in solution and press the calibration button for 5 seconds then it gives the reading says done. Seems fool-proof :D
 
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Duhh

Active Member
sounds like the meter is out of cal by a significant margin. Force it back onto its curve
How do I do this? It's a blue two button pancellent meter.

but why are the numbed the exact numbers of other calibrating solutions ?that seems like not a coincidence or a misreading doesn't it? 9.18 and 6.86.
 

ProPheT 216

Well-Known Member
Hello I have brand new just opened ph 7 and ph 4 Growth Technology brand buffer solutions showing 9.18 for the ph 7 solution and 6.86 ph for the ph 4 solution. Wtf? It's my first time calibration a ph meter but I have noticed that these 2 numbers are the exact numbers of other ph buffering solutions, so have these solutions been mislabelled at the factory or something? Thats too much of a coincidence isn't it or am I missing something here? Thanks for any help.
You are testing the solution on a uncalibrated meter. Try using the calibration solutions to calibrate the meter. Stop testing the solution...
 

Duhh

Active Member
You are testing the solution on a uncalibrated meter. Try using the calibration solutions to calibrate the meter. Stop testing the solution...
I'm using the calibration solution to calibrate the meter. I put it in the solution press and hold calibration button it's then gives the reading and says done.
 

Fangthane

Well-Known Member
pancellent meter.
I've had enough shit luck with them that I'm basically anti-pH meter nowadays. But I'm thinking Pancellent is one of the types available for $15-ish on Amazon. Some people have managed to have good luck with them, but for the most part I think they're generally considered garbage.

EDIT. Here's what I've been using for the past few years. Never needs calibration.

 

Duhh

Active Member
I've had enough shit luck with them that I'm basically anti-pH meter nowadays. But I'm thinking Pancellent is one of the types available for $15-ish on Amazon. Some people have managed to have good luck with them, but for the most part I think they're generally considered garbage.

EDIT. Here's what I've been using for the past few years. Never needs calibration.

Yeah it's not expensive but what about the readings they're not random, 9.18 for the 7 and 6.86 for the 4, those are definitely other ph calibrating solutions numbers. But in the mean time can I just subtract the difference to get an accurate reading in my feed? But what number would I subtract they both different? 2.18 difference and 2.86.

Yes you're not the first person I've read saying use ph paper test strips maybe I will.
 

Fangthane

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't recommend guessing. If you're growing in soil, you'd probably be far better off just not adjusting pH at all, than trying to get creative about adjusting for a suspect device's readings.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
Or get a quality ph meter.

OP, you're ph meter sounds pretty far out of range. You could try soaking the probe in storage solution for a couple days, and re calibrating, but I doubt that's gonna help. Cheap meters don't last long.
 

Fangthane

Well-Known Member
It sounds like you're using a pen that is designed to calibrate to 6.86 and 9.14 solutions and not a pen that is designed to calibrate to 7 and 4 solutions. What pen are you using?
It's a blue two button pancellent meter.
I'm assuming this one:
 

Delps8

Well-Known Member
I believe you're correct - the bottles have been mislabeled or you're calibrating against the wrong set of values.

The readings are ≈ 10 and 7. pH meters can be calibrated against "high" or "low" values (my appellations). The values for the high range are 10 and 7, and are 7 and 4 for the low range.

In cannabis, we use the low range but your readings are very accurate (0.12 and 0.14 variance) if you were doing a high range calibration.

Check your meter settings and check the labeling for your pH solutions/packets.

When the values are that close (0.1) to something that's just a different set of values, I doubt that something's broken. In essence, you may have "zigged" when you should have "zagged".
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
I didn't even think of that. That could be mislabeled solutions. Id still soak the probe in storage solution fior a couple days, get some new calibration solution, and try recalibration.

Or you could use strips. It's up to you.
 

Burndoggin

Well-Known Member
Don't chance your grow on a cheapo 20$ meter.
My inkbird calibrates to thoes numbers exactly when out into calibration mode. It was like $60. Well worth the peace of mind.
 
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