What PH meter do you recommend?

J

jonnynobody

Well-Known Member
I'm tired of going through cheap pens like clockwork and am seeking something more reliable with a replaceable probe. I just ordered the 2 following meters off of amazon and am awaiting a Christmas Eve delivery.

Blue Lab PH Meter
Milwaukee MW602

Both meters have replaceable probes. The MW 102 has a 2 year warranty on the unit and Blue Lab has a 5 year warranty on the unit. Both companies warranty the probe for 6 months. The Blue Lab only has a PH resolution of .1 whereas the MW102 has a resolution of .01 which is more preferable in my opinion, because with a .01 resolution you can tell when the meter reading is beginning to drift. With a .1 resolution the unit will always be rounding up or down which is still plenty functional, but it is a downgrade in my opinion. Maybe I'm just nitpicking, but this is a pricey purchase and nitpick I will do.

Blue Lab meters seem to only be popular within the growing community and nowhere else and my personal feeling is that they are overpriced for the technology they actually bring to the table after looking at the specs compared to PH meters in the same price range from competitors. Also, compare Blue Lab's price on their website of $299.99 for the combo meter versus $177.00 on Amazon and ebay (or any local grow shop for that matter). That's not confidence inspiring to me. That doesn't make the meter junk, but that definitely doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy inside about Blue Lab as a company and how they market their product. Anyhow, I digress.

Every grower I've asked that I know has suggested Blue Lab which is why I reluctantly ordered it. The Milwaukee MW102 is apparently big in the home brewing community and I personally like the specs better than Blue Lab's. I tried a $100.00 Hanna meter recently with a .01 resolution and immediately after calibration I watched the reading drift +.06 as the probe was still sitting in the 4.0 cal solution. Promptly returned and unimpressed with Hannah aside from their great customer service.

What do you guys use? I've even tossed around the idea of narrow range PH strips, but it just seems like it would be tedious and cumbersome in the end.
 
Chip Green

Chip Green

Well-Known Member
I got the Bluelab Multimedia meter. With the Leap probe, readings can be taken in liquids, and mediums/ soil mixes.
Compared to the revolving door of cheapish PH devices, the Bluelab was worth the investment tenfold.
The Leap probe allowed for a huge step forward in plant health for me. I wont operate without the Leap probe ever again.
I was shocked at how low my soil PH was, nowhere near the runoff readings.....which I was told were misleading long ago.....and they most certainly are.
 
shaggydog365

shaggydog365

Well-Known Member
Ive tried all kinds of brands, i finally ended up using blue lab, but you can also get on Thegrowboss.com web site and order a really good reliable ph,ppm meter from the growboss
 
J

jonnynobody

Well-Known Member
I got the Blue Lab, Milwaukee MW102, and the HM PH80. The HM PH80 was an old meter that stopped working properly after 8 months. I sent it off to HM digital for warranty replacement fully expecting to hear no response at all, but to my surprise they actually sent out a free replacement. Now I have 3 meters total. I think I'm done shopping now :)
 
curious2garden

curious2garden

Well-Known Mod
Staff member
jonnynobody said:
I'm tired of going through cheap pens like clockwork and am seeking something more reliable with a replaceable probe. I just ordered the 2 following meters off of amazon and am awaiting a Christmas Eve delivery.

Blue Lab PH Meter
Milwaukee MW602

Both meters have replaceable probes. The MW 102 has a 2 year warranty on the unit and Blue Lab has a 5 year warranty on the unit. Both companies warranty the probe for 6 months. The Blue Lab only has a PH resolution of .1 whereas the MW102 has a resolution of .01 which is more preferable in my opinion, because with a .01 resolution you can tell when the meter reading is beginning to drift. With a .1 resolution the unit will always be rounding up or down which is still plenty functional, but it is a downgrade in my opinion. Maybe I'm just nitpicking, but this is a pricey purchase and nitpick I will do.

Blue Lab meters seem to only be popular within the growing community and nowhere else and my personal feeling is that they are overpriced for the technology they actually bring to the table after looking at the specs compared to PH meters in the same price range from competitors. Also, compare Blue Lab's price on their website of $299.99 for the combo meter versus $177.00 on Amazon and ebay (or any local grow shop for that matter). That's not confidence inspiring to me. That doesn't make the meter junk, but that definitely doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy inside about Blue Lab as a company and how they market their product. Anyhow, I digress.

Every grower I've asked that I know has suggested Blue Lab which is why I reluctantly ordered it. The Milwaukee MW102 is apparently big in the home brewing community and I personally like the specs better than Blue Lab's. I tried a $100.00 Hanna meter recently with a .01 resolution and immediately after calibration I watched the reading drift +.06 as the probe was still sitting in the 4.0 cal solution. Promptly returned and unimpressed with Hannah aside from their great customer service.

What do you guys use? I've even tossed around the idea of narrow range PH strips, but it just seems like it would be tedious and cumbersome in the end.
Click to expand...
I've used a cheap Milwaukee and a mid range Blue Lab and a friend's Oakton. My less than 20 buck Milwaukee is a hardy meter and still in use and remains accurate. My Blue Lab rarely drifts, is very accurate and I enjoy it. The Oakton took forever to read but had replaceable probes.

I'd probably stick with my mid range Blue Lab if I had to buy another meter.
 
Way2-High

Way2-High

Well-Known Member
resinhead said:
I’ve found the liquid drop testers work the best for me.
Click to expand...
I have used liquid tests for years on my aquariums so I figured why not for my Cannabis too. Everyone hates on the liquid though. I don’t use enough ferts to change the waters colour though so it’s not an issue for me to get an accurate read.
 
J

jonnynobody

Well-Known Member
After using the blue lab, mw602, and HM PH80 (pen) my feeling is that the PH80 is the most user friendly because it's in a pen form and more portable. Don't get me wrong, the blue lab and mw602 are top notch. They just require 2 hands to use. A pen requires 1 hand. If I had multiple reservoirs or something like that, I would not most likely prefer a nice mid range pen like the blue lab or hm. I checked all 3 meters against one another and they are all accurate to the same reading. All 3 are good meters, the pen is simply easier to use.
 
S

shawn80j

Well-Known Member
I run hanna groline combo meters . I use to use bluelab. The groline is nice they read down to a 100th. Not necessary but nice. They use a button batteries which i dont like but iv had it over a year and it still at 90% life. It tells u ur percentage when you first turn it on. If u damage ur glass probe they are easily replaced. Its a little cartridge that slides out. Save you from having to replace your whole meter if you happen to damage you're bulb.
 
Skoal

Skoal

Well-Known Member
Get a Hanna instruments. Not cheap at all. $150. I’ve had mine for over 10 years haha.
 
TintEastwood

TintEastwood

Well-Known Member
Nice having 2 to verify accuracy and if one fails.

Bluelab pen
and
Milwaukee mw102.

PPM...
Three different cheap TDS meters off amazon.
 
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