defective hanna meter?

when i'm using my hanna meter to measure ph as instructed, i would wait until the stabilizer icon disappears to take a reading. Once it disappears it still continues to adjust and very significantly. In one reading the icon disappeared around 6.8 and continued to count down to 6.45.

Is this normal??

Are you testing in a bucket with an air stone? If so, make sure the air is off.

i'm testing in a pyrex measuring cup. What is an air stone?

Air stones are hooked to a small air pump to create bubbles for aeration and to keep the water moving. They are commonly used in fish tanks and in hydro applications and often in cloners, hence the name "bubble" cloner.

If you were to test in the bubble cloner with the air pump on, you can't get an accurate reading because the meter reads the water ph, then it resets when it hits air, water, air, water, air, see where I'm going? For folks new to using a ph pen, not shutting off the air prior to testing is a common mistake..

my plants are in soil but either way, is what i explained characteristic of hanna meters or do you think it's defective?

They will fluctuate a little. I use hanna ph meters and they are great. Have you calibrated it recently?

i did calibrate it for the both the ph and the tds functions. I was worried that something may be wrong. Sometimes the meter will turn itself off while its adjusting because it takes so friggin long. Anyway i still use my ph hit along with the meter to see if its giving me an accurate measurement. I just hate waiting so long for it to adjust.

thanks,