PH Meter - Trusty Friend or Worst Enemy?????

Weedler

Weedler

Well-Known Member
A little helpful information goes a long way so I thought I would post up my experiences with my PH meter(s). Seems that you need to check your calibration OFTEN!

If you do not have calibration fluid get some! You should calibrate your PH meter weekly. Ideally every time you use it but that can be pricey.

My PH meter was once again 1.5 off (new meter) so I had to recalibrate and quickly fixed all my reservoirs but for those of us that grow in DWC a PH meter can be our best friend insuring plants are at the preferred 5.8 PH. On the other hand it can be our worst enemy as it slowly slides out of calibration and if left unchecked can wreck havoc on our plants.

Check your PH meter & calibrate weekly to make sure your always perfect, just wanted to spread around some useful advice. Happy growing!
 
W

wannaquickee

Well-Known Member
i always use digital ph meter/strips.. ..so if my digital is off alot i can calibrate it...........your suppose to calibrate every week anyways..
 
drgreentm

drgreentm

Well-Known Member
so right you get what you pay for been through 2 hanna ph pens in 3 months calibrate all the time eventually the 7 screw would calibrate in 7 solution then when put in 4 solution would still read 7 so im back to liquid drops till i get a ph monitor like boomer.
 
D

disposition84

Well-Known Member
Had a hanna ph pen for over 5 years now and it's still rock solid, as is the matching
TDS meter. I think it's just a matter of proper storage of the pen tips, and calibrating
weekly like weedler mentioned.

I also like the nutradip trimeters.
 
Auzzie07

Auzzie07

Well-Known Member
I like the looks of those nutradip trimeters. FWIW, I just read a thread on here earlier about a guy who was getting off the charts readings on his PPMS (1000+ when it should've been 80 PPM), come to find out, the airstone in his reservoir was fucking with it. Company sent him a new meter though, so that's good to know.
 
TheJointProject

TheJointProject

Well-Known Member
Just re-calibrated my Hannah Pen. It's only been about 3 weeks, so it wasn't really off (thankfully) but gotta do it! Thanks for the reminder!
 
Weedler

Weedler

Well-Known Member
I use a shot glass and dip it into the reservoir and use my pen to measure the shot glass so no bubbles are present that can throw off the results
 
famine

famine

Well-Known Member
You can test the calibration by measuring the ph of the buffers can you not?
That should be an easy way to check weekly and recalibrate when required.

Or am I way off base?
 
BeaverHuntr

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
Weedler said:
I use a shot glass and dip it into the reservoir and use my pen to measure the shot glass so no bubbles are present that can throw off the results
Click to expand...
I do a similar move except I use a new plastic cup every time ( Bachelor life plastic cups mean no dishes)
 
kevin

kevin

Well-Known Member
i checked my meter this way and it never needed calibrating, i can't remember the last time i checked the calibration. it's the same meter as what boomerbloomer has pictured above. i have 3 differnt pen type meters, 2 sunleaves and 1 hanna. i would of told you these were good as gold until i bought the bluelabs meter. and it's a lot easier walking into the grow room and seeing where the ph is without having to get a sample out of the resivoir because the probe stays in the tank and you can hang the unit on the wall.

famine said:
You can test the calibration by measuring the ph of the buffers can you not?
That should be an easy way to check weekly and recalibrate when required.

Or am I way off base?
Click to expand...
 
BeaverHuntr

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
kevin said:
i checked my meter this way and it never needed calibrating, i can't remember the last time i checked the calibration. it's the same meter as what boomerbloomer has pictured above. i have 3 differnt pen type meters, 2 sunleaves and 1 hanna. i would of told you these were good as gold until i bought the bluelabs meter. and it's a lot easier walking into the grow room and seeing where the ph is without having to get a sample out of the resivoir because the probe stays in the tank and you can hang the unit on the wall.
Click to expand...
How much is the Blue Labs??? I paid 250 for my Hanna Grow check that does PPM, EC, PH , Temperature
 
kevin

kevin

Well-Known Member
i found it used at an aquarium store for $30. i also bought a used 1/4 hp water chiller for $200 there. aquarium stores are a hydro growers best friend.

BeaverHuntr said:
How much is the Blue Labs??? I paid 250 for my Hanna Grow check that does PPM, EC, PH , Temperature
Click to expand...
 
BeaverHuntr

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
kevin said:
i found it used at an aquarium store for $30. i also bought a used 1/4 hp water chiller for $200 there. aquarium stores are a hydro growers best friend.
Click to expand...
They only have one good aquarium store in my neck of the woods and the chillers were like 500 bones brand new.
 
sccerfrk26

sccerfrk26

Member
famine said:
You can test the calibration by measuring the ph of the buffers can you not?
That should be an easy way to check weekly and recalibrate when required. Or am I way off base?
Click to expand...
No, this works. I leave my pH meter in a solution of 7.01 cal solution. I turn it on and let it sit for 2-3 mins. If it is 6.9-7.1 I don't worry about it. I believe most solutions help with electrode life.
 
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