Can I use different PH calibration solutions?

J

janejane820024

Well-Known Member
My Vivosun PH meter I want to calibrate says to use 4.0, 6.86, and 9.18 solutions. But I have some premixed 4.00, 7.00, 10.01 calibration solutions. Can I use the premixed ones instead or will this end up giving me inaccurate readings? The manual says it can be calibrated with just a 6.86 or all three for better accuracy.
 
Billy the Mountain

Billy the Mountain

Well-Known Member
janejane820024 said:
My Vivosun PH meter I want to calibrate says to use 4.0, 6.86, and 9.18 solutions. But I have some premixed 4.00, 7.00, 10.01 calibration solutions. Can I use the premixed ones instead or will this end up giving me inaccurate readings? The manual says it can be calibrated with just a 6.86 or all three for better accuracy.
Click to expand...
The requisite calibration fluid is baked into the firmware

There's no need to use the pH 10 calibration solution for hydoponics

If your budget is limited to a Vivosun pH meter, consider getting some pH drops as a sanity check
 
J

janejane820024

Well-Known Member
Billy the Mountain said:
The requisite calibration fluid is baked into the firmware
Click to expand...
Does that mean I can only use solutions that the manufacturer states in the manual?

Billy the Mountain said:
There's no need to use the pH 10 calibration solution for hydoponics
Click to expand...
My growing medium is coco/perlite, so it's sort of being treated as hydro. Why is PH 10 not needed for hydro?

Billy the Mountain said:
If your budget is limited to a Vivosun pH meter, consider getting some pH drops as a sanity check
Click to expand...
I purchased an Apera PH meter kit bundle through Amazon and received the correct extras (Premixed PH solutions, storage solution, etc) but they sent me a TDS meter instead of the PH meter so I'm just looking for a temporary fix until I can get the correct meter.
 
DCcan

DCcan

Well-Known Member
janejane820024 said:
My growing medium is coco/perlite, so it's sort of being treated as hydro. Why is PH 10 not needed for hydro?
Click to expand...
If you are doing readings that are expected to be between 7-10 PH or 4-10 PH, then you calibrate it for that.
You're going to be between 4-7 ph, so thats what the calibration range is. No need for the upper limit calibration.
 
Billy the Mountain

Billy the Mountain

Well-Known Member
janejane820024 said:
Does that mean I can only use solutions that the manufacturer states in the manual?


My growing medium is coco/perlite, so it's sort of being treated as hydro. Why is PH 10 not needed for hydro?


I purchased an Apera PH meter kit bundle through Amazon and received the correct extras (Premixed PH solutions, storage solution, etc) but they sent me a TDS meter instead of the PH meter so I'm just looking for a temporary fix until I can get the correct meter.
Click to expand...
1. Yes
2. It's pointless to calibrate to pH 10 since it's far outside the range used in hydroponic solutions
3. A wise choice; the Vivosun pH meters are rubbish
 
J

janejane820024

Well-Known Member
DCcan said:
If you are doing readings that are expected to be between 7-10 PH or 4-10 PH, then you calibrate it for that.
You're going to be between 4-7 ph, so thats what the calibration range is. No need for the upper limit calibration.
Click to expand...
Thank you for the info!
Billy the Mountain said:
1. Yes
2. It's pointless to calibrate to pH 10 since it's far outside the range used in hydroponic solutions
3. A wise choice; the Vivosun pH meters are rubbish
Click to expand...
Thank you for you for the help! Appreciate it!
 
BenGman

BenGman

Well-Known Member
Just calibrate it with the solution you have , if thats the only option..get it to the best range you can...and if you know the ph of your tap water that is a bonus to know if you are a point off is no big deal really till you have something more reliable.
 
Weedoguido

Weedoguido

Well-Known Member
I had that stupid yellow pen myself. Yes, you need to use the three packs of the powder for calibration. Make sure you use distilled water. Don't let it dry up, keep it in storage solution.
 
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