pH meter vs. pH drops

[bump1987]

They are .8-1 away from each other and I don't know who to trust! It's like one of your best friends telling you the girl at the bar is a 10 and your other best friend telling you shes only a 6. These type of things need to be clear! LOL

On a serious note, it was calibrated in GH 7.0 solution once the reading stabilized, had water run over it to clean solution off and then dunked into my pitcher (gallon) of water. It seems to read 7.0 as a general number and counts away from there in either direction.

My drops read ~5 or so pH and my meter reads from 5.9-6.1. Anyone have an answer? I'm using a Milwaukee 600AH or AQ, I don't remember the acronym letters.

 

[bump1987]

Not a soul? Hm. I'm thinking the meter is correct, but who am I to judge with no basis at all on why it would be above the drops.

 

[RobbieP]

the PH of your water is what it stablizes , if it jumps about let it sit in the water 5 - 10 minutes to get a true reading

 

[sen.c]

Meter over drops.

 

[bigjesse1922]

It depends upon how good you are at reading the drops.

I have never seen a properly calibrated meter give a different reading than a properly read ph drop test, personally.

Can you double calibrate your pH meter with something like a 4.01 pH solution?

 

[bump1987]

I believe I can do the 4.01 test as well but i'm lacking a local hydro shop of any sort (aquarium shop may have this) and shipping is atleast a week...sometimes 2 out. I went with the meter, if anyone wonders. I will see what happens. This round of lettuce and peppers (seperate tubs) are all but lost so I will see any sort of improvement very easily. And yes, they are in separate tubs for those wondering.

 

[bigjesse1922]

I believe I can do the 4.01 test as well but i'm lacking a local hydro shop of any sort (aquarium shop may have this) and shipping is atleast a week...sometimes 2 out. I went with the meter, if anyone wonders. I will see what happens. This round of lettuce and peppers (seperate tubs) are all but lost so I will see any sort of improvement very easily. And yes, they are in separate tubs for those wondering.

Good luck.

 

[Total Head]

i've only used 2 meters and honestly they were in the 25 dollar range so that's probably the problem, but i didn't trust them. they always read my soil at 7 exactly when the drops would indicate a runoff of 5 after running through 7.0 water. one of them i stuck right into a bottle of tiger bloom and it said it was 6.2. that's when i tossed it and just stuck to the drops. drops may not get you the exact ph but they will let you know when your solution is where you want it and they are pretty damn reliable.

 

[sen.c]

Yeah you get what you pay for, the only reason I have one is because I am a dealer so I get them at cost. I would never try and compare a good meter to drops, the drops will get you close but no where as close as a meter.
I would not trust the eye to tell the difference in the subtle changes in color enough to make the decision.