Ph Reader

[Racky]

What is a good PH reader? I got one off amazon in a 3in 1 pack. It worked ok for few weeks but now when i turn it on it flashes a bunch of random numbers over and over instead of 0000

 

[GangaDownUnder]

Have you tried a new battery?

Otherwise I prefer the vial with the drops for ph over an electronic one.

 

[LeastExpectedGrower]

Have you calibrated or recalibrated the one you have?

 

[Racky]

Have you calibrated or recalibrated the one you have?

No not yet, i was thinking i need to recalibrate

 

[LeastExpectedGrower]

No not yet, i was thinking i need to recalibrate

That's step one to figuring out if it is functional or not. If it won't hold calibration, then you're in the market for a new pH meter. Also, if you dodge this bullet and it still works, you should be using storage solution for the probes so they don't 'go bad'.

 

[Racky]

Yeah that is where i messed up. After every use all i did was wipe and blow it dry.

 

[LeastExpectedGrower]

Yeah that is where i messed up. After every use all i did was wipe and blow it dry.

They don't last long like that. At the very least they want some fluid keeping that bulb covered. Though really storage solution is key. If you're going to take a step to invest in a nicer one (rather than the 10$ cheap ones), get the storage and calibration fluids.

 

[Racky]

Oh yeah im gonna.

 

[calvin.m16]

Fun Fact: This works 100% of the time and I don't have to replace batteries, calibrate it or worry about breaking it.

 

[Rurumo]

Those inexpensive PH readers will crap out on you if they get even slightly wet. I lost two in one month due to moisture, until I spent a little bit more $$ and got my Apera which has remained accurate for 1.5 years. When it dies, I'll get a bluelab or maybe a nice Hanna. I agree with Calvin, drops are better than a cheap reader, but a quality reader makes your life easier than using drops.

 

[MickFoster]

Cheap, never needs calibration, and never wrong.

 

[ClaytonNewbilFontaine]

I got lucky with a cheap Amazon one for about 6 months. Then it started giving me crazy readings. I would use the vial with drops to verify the readings were correct, but I had a hard time differentiating the colors. Also once you start adding nutrients the color of the water changes and I'm not sure how to get an accurate reading in the vial if the color of the water with nutrients is already brown. So I got a bluelab and I fucking love it.