Noob Ph issue

curious2garden

Well-Known Mod
Staff member
Yea I meant to buy one, paid more attention to the sale price than the object and ended up with a tds meter(53$ on sale for $19) lol. Late night amazon shopping isn't advised . but I got the strips at a good deal and am having a hard time deciphering them. but that's an item on the shopping list
Get the pH pen before you get anything else.
 

curious2garden

Well-Known Mod
Staff member
Anyone that you would recommend that doesn't cost an arm & a leg lol.
I've got mixed feelings with the 12-15$ ones cause the reviews are so bad .
I had great luck with this one (not from that seller but that meter)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Milwaukee-pH600-MI10007B-Digital-Water-Meter-Tester-Pocket-Pen-w-7-01-Sol/273601367764?hash=item3fb3e98ed4:g:fi4AAOSw5qdb5KAO:rk:2:pf:0

I got it in 2011, still have it as a back up. Replaced it a couple years ago with a Blue Lab.

When you can cobble your pennies together I highly recommend this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Bluelab-PENPH-Pen-Plant-Germination/dp/B005POOJHG/ref=asc_df_B005POOJHG/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167118301188&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1976634394767807802&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031366&hvtargid=pla-311195096389&psc=1
 

Natethenewb

Active Member
I've been seeing nothing but good about blue labs but that's probably why it has a decent price tag.
That Milwaukee one will probably be the one I grab , price looks nice & better name brand than those 12$ ones.
Thanks :)
 

HydroRed

Well-Known Member
I used a milwaukee pH meter for a long time. Quite accurate & can be calibrated which is great for an inexpensive meter. Just didnt get much longevity out of them (8 mo or so). I bought a HM digital pH meter and havent strayed from the brand since. The price on the pH pen I posted below is a bit high. I bought mine off feebay for like $26 shipped.
https://www.chewy.com/hm-digital-ph-80-hydrotester-series/dp/168389?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=HM Digital&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4fPZ-6fa3wIVBolpCh0p1AG5EAQYAiABEgIttPD_BwE

This is the ppm meter I use. I think I paid about $35 at the hydro store? Had it about 4 yrs now needing nothing but a fresh set of batteries.
https://www.servapure.com/HM-Digital-AP-1-AquaPro-Water-Quality-Tester-TDS_p_2440.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=1o7&scid=scplpAP-1&sc_intid=AP-1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIioSb-Kja3wIVj7jACh0PPgnmEAQYByABEgKKUfD_BwE
 

curious2garden

Well-Known Mod
Staff member
I used a milwaukee pH meter for a long time. Quite accurate & can be calibrated which is great for an inexpensive meter. Just didnt get much longevity out of them (8 mo or so). I bought a HM digital pH meter and havent strayed from the brand since. The price on the pH pen I posted below is a bit high. I bought mine off feebay for like $26 shipped.
https://www.chewy.com/hm-digital-ph-80-hydrotester-series/dp/168389?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=hg&utm_content=HM Digital&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI4fPZ-6fa3wIVBolpCh0p1AG5EAQYAiABEgIttPD_BwE

This is the ppm meter I use. I think I paid about $35 at the hydro store? Had it about 4 yrs now needing nothing but a fresh set of batteries.
https://www.servapure.com/HM-Digital-AP-1-AquaPro-Water-Quality-Tester-TDS_p_2440.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=1o7&scid=scplpAP-1&sc_intid=AP-1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIioSb-Kja3wIVj7jACh0PPgnmEAQYByABEgKKUfD_BwE
Hanna makes a good meter
 

Natethenewb

Active Member
Took a sample of water in to culligan to get tested.
21 hardness. Only info she gave me. Waste of a trip as far as i can tell.
She mentioned health unit can do it a full analysis but that was after she used the entire 1l sample I brought.
But managed to pick up a bottle of ph down so thatll help with that high ass ph.
Hydro store guy mentioned cloramine won't dissipate like chlorine so I would need a filter to get rid of it rather than just a pump/air stone? That's disheartening I'm seeing more and more dollar signs lol.
 

Mr Blamo

Well-Known Member
Been a fan of blue lab for many years.
They seem to last the longest.
In the 90's I used Milwaukee pH meter. It was good to but like the blue lab better.

My city water works...comes in at 8.0 I use ph down and have for years. Buy my ph down by 4 liter jug.
I have a big rez to use...fill it and leave it for a few days. Take what I need per room. Works excellent for me.
 

Natethenewb

Active Member
Been a fan of blue lab for many years.
They seem to last the longest.
In the 90's I used Milwaukee pH meter. It was good to but like the blue lab better.

My city water works...comes in at 8.0 I use ph down and have for years. Buy my ph down by 4 liter jug.
I have a big rez to use...fill it and leave it for a few days. Take what I need per room. Works excellent for me.
What's the ppm out of tap though? Mine averages around 319 (lowest reading I got ) to 387 being the highest lol.
 

Fatmat19

Active Member
I bought a bottle of purified spring water and tested it with my aquarium drops and it is reading a ph around 6. I was expecting it to be closer to 7 but whatever less work for me I guess just thought it was weird.
I will need to get some strips to check runoff soon as I can afford it though I’ve never had ph problems yet.
I’ve always used lemon to lower it when I used to have well water seems more natural than chemicals.
 

Natethenewb

Active Member
Ended up buying a 18.9l bottle of ro from Wal-Mart lol. 9ppm 7ph. Worth 3$ That's for sure. Was really hard to judge my nutes with the old water. I used 1/2 strength 2nd week feed for GH 3 part series and it shot up to over 1000-1100ish (reads 100 x10) . which seems ridiculously high cause if I used full strength it probably would have went over 2000 lol .
 
Top