Best pH Pen for the $$$$

Can someone tell me what the best pH pen is for the money?

I've been wondering the same thing. researched some old posts and this one came pretty well reviewed on Amazon and by a RUI poster:
Note, you can click on where it says "11 Customer reviews" and read what buyers had to say about it:
http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-Instruments-PH55-Waterproof-Tester/dp/B002SGKE8W/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1349394704&sr=8-7&keywords=ph+meter

I use a cheapo Milwaukee 600 and I have tested it against the finest lab quality meters with it being spot on .. The problem is most meters don't have replaceable probes .. Hence the usual meter no matter the price averaging 10-15 months use at max ... I have used many and have sold them all but no matter I always prefer for the price of a probe being able to just replace the whole damn unit for peace of mind .. If you search around and they can be found for under $2o a piece

As long as your running soil or a soil-less mix.... I say get the cheapo yellow one.... its the same one Hanna and Milwaukee have/use they are all made in the same place in China and just labeled differently depending on the company that ordered them.

For $20 or less they work pretty damn well..... I have/had a black Hanna Combo meter, which has been sidelined for the last 2 years now for a cheapo yellow one. Works great thus far, if I break it oh well its given me 2 years or so of solid use and was only $20 to boot. BTW I have checked it calibration like damn near monthly and generally its spot on.... Only time it needed fixed was when the batteries died.... otherwise the worst its been off calibration was .2

Totally the best bang for the $$$ I.M.O.

Why a pen?? How about a tri-meter? > http://www.amazon.com/Nutradip-Tri-Meter-PPM-PH-TEMP/dp/B0012BMEVY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1351136348&sr=8-3&keywords=ph+ppm+meter

Ganjapussy said:

Why a pen?? How about a tri-meter? > http://www.amazon.com/Nutradip-Tri-Meter-PPM-PH-TEMP/dp/B0012BMEVY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1351136348&sr=8-3&keywords=ph+ppm+meter

Click to expand...

That's designed for continuous use. It's good for common-reservoir hydro. cn

I like sunleaves ph pen. The cheaper one has display hold, atc & auto calibrate.

bluelab. bluelab bluelab bluelab.

ProfessorPotSnob said:

I use a cheapo Milwaukee 600 and I have tested it against the finest lab quality meters with it being spot on .. The problem is most meters don't have replaceable probes .. Hence the usual meter no matter the price averaging 10-15 months use at max ... I have used many and have sold them all but no matter I always prefer for the price of a probe being able to just replace the whole damn unit for peace of mind .. If you search around and they can be found for under $2o a piece

Click to expand...

I 2nd the Milwaukee 600...It's been good to me for over 6 months now, and cost like 19 bucks.

Blue lab or Hanna are the best.

I already tried the "checker" by Hanna and it sucks balls. That thing is all over the place and i know i calibrated it right.

Anyone know what the truncheons are like?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRO-NUTRIENT-TRUNCHEON-METER-HYDROPONICS-WAND-EC-PPM-CF-/260463946585?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item3ca4dc6b59

I use the Eutech Instruments, ECO TESTR ph1, and I have no complaints.

I have bought the cheapo yellow ones and a really expensive one.
I have always gone back to the drip test.

I used my drip tester to calibrate one of my failing ph testers. When it wouldn't stay calibrated I tossed it.

cannabineer said:

That's designed for continuous use. It's good for common-reservoir hydro. cn

Click to expand...

I relize that but... He never said he was doing soil or hydro.. Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't ph pens made for both hydro and soil?

Ganjapussy said:

I relize that but... He never said he was doing soil or hydro.. Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't ph pens made for both hydro and soil?

Click to expand...

I'm not sure of the best way to measure soil pH. But I have a tri-meter as well and consider it well-adapted for hydro. If I implied more, my bad. cn

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005DWGR20/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00

Yeah, I'll admit it. I've been using this cheapo PoS for the last few months with absolutely no problems.

Out of the box it was off by only 0.2. I check calibration every week because I'm a paranoid fuck. Surprisingly it hasn't needed to be re-calibrated yet.

For the price (I got mine for $5.89/shipped; The price and shipping/free shipping seem to change hourly, lol) I'd gladly call this disposable and get a new one once every few months, IF it broke.

cannabineer said:

I'm not sure of the best way to measure soil pH. But I have a tri-meter as well and consider it well-adapted for hydro. If I implied more, my bad. cn

Click to expand...

No it's cool man, I was serious I thought they made pens for soil too.
But I have test tubes with the little colored pills. Those work good too. That was 10$
Although... You don't get exact ph

In my experience, FWIW, buy a cheap one; that way if you drop and break it or the tip goes bad (and it will) you're not out a lot of money. I've had one that was over $100, one that was $90 that NEVER worked, and two Milwaukee's that were about $20 or so and they worked perfectly. No need to overspend.

My bluelab lasted 3 months, just ordered an $8 one of ebay