Question about ph

[MickFoster]

I've been using the pH drops for decades and they're never wrong........even when stored for years.

 

[jondamon]

I've been using the pH drops for decades and they're never wrong........even when stored for years.

Agreed on this one.

I’ve been using the same GROWTH TECHNOLOGY dropper pH kit for about 5 years doesn’t let me down unlike pH pens lol.

 

[Mr.Head]

I'm in the woods pretty much. Someone came in and drilled a well for my place. My whole place is hooked up to it. I really hope my Ph isn't actually 5. I tested Publix bottled water. Same 5ph.... so maybe it's my GH solution. I went down a rabbit hole and I can't find a good PH pen. Bluelab is expensive and if it breaks you have to pay for shipping to get them to analyze it. I'm not trying to cut corners. But I also don't want to spend like 130$ on a pen.

If you do get a pH pen get one with a replaceable probe and make sure you get KCi Storage Solution. Your probe will last a lot longer if you keep it clean and wet in storage solution. Change your storage solution out every couple months.

Replaceable probes nice incase of accidents or for some reason it does go out of wack it's a 1/3 of the price of a new pen.

Apera and Hanna also make good meters if you don't want to shell out for Bluelab. I have an Apera pH60 and it's worked great for 2 years, still accurate as the day I got it.

Drops > Cheap pen

 

[Jjgrow420]

I agree. I will return my GH solution. I just can't find a reliable PH pen. I looked into bluelab and a few others. I was worried because they are like 130$ and I heard if they break you have to pay for shipping to fix it.

I dunno had my pens for years and no problems ....

 

[twentyeight.threefive]

I'm glad you are having so much success! I am a newbie and don't have a hydroponic store (to get foxfarm or Roots Organic) and coco is the most affordable option (amazon Hydro Crunch Coco). Lowes has no options. I thought my nutrients might be enough for my plants but I got Calimag just in case because I read so much on online websites that calimag helps.

Gotcha. Being in the middle of nowhere has it's pros and cons. Wow prices have gone up though. I got my Bluelab pH pen in 2019 for $75. I see it on Amazon now for $103.

 

[lusidghost]

Agreed on this one.

I’ve been using the same GROWTH TECHNOLOGY dropper pH kit for about 5 years doesn’t let me down unlike pH pens lol.

My Bluelab pen just died after 6 years of heavy use. It's good to have some ph strips as backup though.

 

[Budzbuddha]

Here is another “ test “ option - local pet store / petco . They will test it for free.


Ph pens can be had on Amazon from $17 on up.
These HM Digital pens -
$30 on the left
$60 on the right.

 

[mudballs]

I use the one on the left, can confirm it's decent enough

 

[Budzbuddha]

Keep the PH drops as backup and to check your source water from time to time. Remember only to check “ clear “ water or nute mix.

 

[Rookieoftheyr]

I'm in the woods pretty much. Someone came in and drilled a well for my place. My whole place is hooked up to it. I really hope my Ph isn't actually 5. I tested Publix bottled water. Same 5ph.... so maybe it's my GH solution. I went down a rabbit hole and I can't find a good PH pen. Bluelab is expensive and if it breaks you have to pay for shipping to get them to analyze it. I'm not trying to cut corners. But I also don't want to spend like 130$ on a pen.

Aphera ph pens are reasonable. I think a 75 dollar pen comes with storage and calibration fluid. I use this setup and took a few practice runs learning how to calibrate it. These days I got it down to a science and it only takes a second to do.

 

[jondamon]

My Bluelab pen just died after 6 years of heavy use. It's good to have some ph strips as backup though.

I had a bluelab pH pen. Worst investment of my life at £65.

however the EC truncheon best investment at 10 years old and still going strong. £65.

 

[lusidghost]

I had a bluelab pH pen. Worst investment of my life at £65.

however the EC truncheon best investment at 10 years old and still going strong. £65.

Why, may I ask?

 

[jondamon]

Why, may I ask?

Stored in KCi as per recommendations.

calibrated monthly.

Crapped out after a year and wouldn’t calibrate.

Got sent a replacement same thing happened.

this is back in 2010-2012 roughly.

 

[lusidghost]

Stored in KCi as per recommendations.

calibrated monthly.

Crapped out after a year and wouldn’t calibrate.

Got sent a replacement same thing happened.

this is back in 2010-2012 roughly.

Damn, that's some bad luck. I bought mine in 2016, so maybe the improved between those time periods. I barely ever even calibrated mine.

 

[jondamon]

Damn, that's some bad luck. I bought mine in 2016, so maybe the improved between those time periods. I barely ever even calibrated mine.

Could be they’ve changed something, it just really put me off tbh especially with me loving the truncheon so much.

 

[Lordhooha]

Unfortunately everything is ordered from Amazon. The closest hydroponic store is 2 and a half hours. And I don't know if Lowes can test my water. Was trying to avoid buying a 100$ PH pen since I already have a PPM, EC pen

If you're in coco a ph pen is kinda critical....

 

[Lordhooha]

Ask a neighbor kid to take it to science class. Make up a story about a friend who has dying guppies.

You can take it to almost any college or ag department and tell them you're a home brewer and want to test your water.

 

[Scripts]

I was hoping these gh drops would work but they don't. So I agree I need to a PH pen

If you're in coco a ph pen is kinda critical....

 

[Jjgrow420]

Could be they’ve changed something, it just really put me off tbh especially with me loving the truncheon so much.

Are you using old solution to calibrate? That's usually the reason they won't go into CAL mode
Happened with my b-lab ppm pen I emailed them and they told me to get new solution. I did and it calibrated fine after.

 

[jondamon]

Are you using old solution to calibrate? That's usually the reason they won't go into CAL mode
Happened with my b-lab ppm pen I emailed them and they told me to get new solution. I did and it calibrated fine after.

My solution was brand new with the pen at the time.
But dude we’re talking a decade ago lol.

i just use pH drops now.

as long as I’m between 5.5-6 on my colour chart I’m happy.