PH Meter - Trusty Friend or Worst Enemy?????

A little helpful information goes a long way so I thought I would post up my experiences with my PH meter(s). Seems that you need to check your calibration OFTEN!

If you do not have calibration fluid get some! You should calibrate your PH meter weekly. Ideally every time you use it but that can be pricey.

My PH meter was once again 1.5 off (new meter) so I had to recalibrate and quickly fixed all my reservoirs but for those of us that grow in DWC a PH meter can be our best friend insuring plants are at the preferred 5.8 PH. On the other hand it can be our worst enemy as it slowly slides out of calibration and if left unchecked can wreck havoc on our plants.

Check your PH meter & calibrate weekly to make sure your always perfect, just wanted to spread around some useful advice. Happy growing!

i always use digital ph meter/strips.. ..so if my digital is off alot i can calibrate it...........your suppose to calibrate every week anyways..

wannaquickee said:

i always use digital ph meter/strips.. ..so if my digital is off alot i can calibrate it...........your suppose to calibrate every week anyways..

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Good idea about the test strips in conjunction with the meter.

Best friend.

BlueLabs.

Calibrate monthly with ph 4 and ph 7. TDS solution for the PPMs.

Ya get what ya pay for.

Live it, learn it.

bb

so right you get what you pay for been through 2 hanna ph pens in 3 months calibrate all the time eventually the 7 screw would calibrate in 7 solution then when put in 4 solution would still read 7 so im back to liquid drops till i get a ph monitor like boomer.

Had a hanna ph pen for over 5 years now and it's still rock solid, as is the matching
TDS meter. I think it's just a matter of proper storage of the pen tips, and calibrating
weekly like weedler mentioned.

I also like the nutradip trimeters.

I like the looks of those nutradip trimeters. FWIW, I just read a thread on here earlier about a guy who was getting off the charts readings on his PPMS (1000+ when it should've been 80 PPM), come to find out, the airstone in his reservoir was fucking with it. Company sent him a new meter though, so that's good to know.

Just re-calibrated my Hannah Pen. It's only been about 3 weeks, so it wasn't really off (thankfully) but gotta do it! Thanks for the reminder!

I use a shot glass and dip it into the reservoir and use my pen to measure the shot glass so no bubbles are present that can throw off the results

You can test the calibration by measuring the ph of the buffers can you not?
That should be an easy way to check weekly and recalibrate when required.

Or am I way off base?

BoomerBloomer57 said:

Best friend.

BlueLabs.

Calibrate monthly with ph 4 and ph 7. TDS solution for the PPMs.

Ya get what ya pay for.

Live it, learn it.

bb

Click to expand...

Hanna Grow Check ... Calibrate once a month

Weedler said:

I use a shot glass and dip it into the reservoir and use my pen to measure the shot glass so no bubbles are present that can throw off the results

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I do a similar move except I use a new plastic cup every time ( Bachelor life plastic cups mean no dishes)

i checked my meter this way and it never needed calibrating, i can't remember the last time i checked the calibration. it's the same meter as what boomerbloomer has pictured above. i have 3 differnt pen type meters, 2 sunleaves and 1 hanna. i would of told you these were good as gold until i bought the bluelabs meter. and it's a lot easier walking into the grow room and seeing where the ph is without having to get a sample out of the resivoir because the probe stays in the tank and you can hang the unit on the wall.

famine said:

You can test the calibration by measuring the ph of the buffers can you not?
That should be an easy way to check weekly and recalibrate when required.

Or am I way off base?

Click to expand...

kevin said:

i checked my meter this way and it never needed calibrating, i can't remember the last time i checked the calibration. it's the same meter as what boomerbloomer has pictured above. i have 3 differnt pen type meters, 2 sunleaves and 1 hanna. i would of told you these were good as gold until i bought the bluelabs meter. and it's a lot easier walking into the grow room and seeing where the ph is without having to get a sample out of the resivoir because the probe stays in the tank and you can hang the unit on the wall.

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How much is the Blue Labs??? I paid 250 for my Hanna Grow check that does PPM, EC, PH , Temperature

i found it used at an aquarium store for $30. i also bought a used 1/4 hp water chiller for $200 there. aquarium stores are a hydro growers best friend.

BeaverHuntr said:

How much is the Blue Labs??? I paid 250 for my Hanna Grow check that does PPM, EC, PH , Temperature

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kevin said:

i found it used at an aquarium store for $30. i also bought a used 1/4 hp water chiller for $200 there. aquarium stores are a hydro growers best friend.

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They only have one good aquarium store in my neck of the woods and the chillers were like 500 bones brand new.

BeaverHuntr said:

They only have one good aquarium store in my neck of the woods and the chillers were like 500 bones brand new.

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You saw my post on the DIY water chiller... Let me know if you need a PM

kevin said:

i found it used at an aquarium store for $30. i also bought a used 1/4 hp water chiller for $200 there. aquarium stores are a hydro growers best friend.

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$30 bucks American? For a Bluelabs?

it was a used unit.

BoomerBloomer57 said:

$30 bucks American? For a Bluelabs?

Click to expand...

famine said:

You can test the calibration by measuring the ph of the buffers can you not?
That should be an easy way to check weekly and recalibrate when required. Or am I way off base?

Click to expand...

No, this works. I leave my pH meter in a solution of 7.01 cal solution. I turn it on and let it sit for 2-3 mins. If it is 6.9-7.1 I don't worry about it. I believe most solutions help with electrode life.