Help My Ph meter is F'd up

so when i try to calibrate my ph pen, A Milwuakee PH 51, i calibrate the "7" screw (except i use my tap water and calibrate to 8.3) then i do the "4" screw(using vinegar Ph of 2.5 ish) and i cant get the number to go low enough. So i diluted the vinegar and calibrate it right to 4. and then when i check the ph of the 8.3 tap water again if is no where near right. down at 6.4 ish. I am very frustrated with it as i just paid 70 dollars for it a couple weeks ago... i store it in Hard water and vinegar at 3.5 Ph... Is this okay did i ruin my meter. i dont know what to do i need to use it today but it WONT CALIBRATE... what do i do!? I dont have any buffer solutions i know i need some but is there anything i can do?

HitTheBong816 said:

so when i try to calibrate my ph pen, A Milwuakee PH 51, i calibrate the "7" screw (except i use my tap water and calibrate to 8.3) then i do the "4" screw(using vinegar Ph of 2.5 ish) and i cant get the number to go low enough. So i diluted the vinegar and calibrate it right to 4. and then when i check the ph of the 8.3 tap water again if is no where near right. down at 6.4 ish. I am very frustrated with it as i just paid 70 dollars for it a couple weeks ago... i store it in Hard water and vinegar at 3.5 Ph... Is this okay did i ruin my meter. i dont know what to do i need to use it today but it WONT CALIBRATE... what do i do!? I dont have any buffer solutions i know i need some but is there anything i can do?

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anybody?>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

You need to go buy buffer solutions asap.... That is the only way you will truly know what the meter is reading. Tap water can change at any time. also, you said vinegar of around 2.5ish....that's not exact!! You need exact. And, some PH meters do not like to take readings as low as 2.5. so again, you need the 4.0 solution. It's cheap, especially if you consider what's at stake in the long run...your harvest.

I had PH meter problems early on in my first grow. I didn't know it, but my meter was reading 1 point high. So if it said 7.0, it was really 6.0. This caused so much headache!!! I was so glad when bought the 7.0 and 4.0 PH buffer solutions. It took a little bit of time, but I got it calibrated perfectly. I'm sure you will be able to do the same if you just go spend the $15 dollars it will cost for the buffer solutions you really do need.

That's the best advice I can offer....

-Snut

One more idea I can offer, and I hate to say it: If you can't afford the $15 dollars right now, go buy some PH paper. It's cheap, and pretty accurate. But it only reads in increments of 1. so you can't get a reading of say, 5.5. only readings like 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, etc.

But, if you're a soil grower, 6.0 is what you're shooting for, so the PH paper should work for you for now. But it will never replace a good PH meter, in my opinion.....Just a quick band aid until you can buy the buffer solutions. I hope that helps.

Get the Proper buffer solution, Or go back to the Drop's!
you can also clean it by soaking it in Contact Lens solution overnight...

I had a Decent one too at one time, still do, had the same probs....
By the time i realized it wuz the ph reader,
I Lost 2 full crops in my aero setup!

Be safe, go with the drop's, they work best!

imo..................

I bought a 20 dollar hanna meter and It is crap! I think it is like yours. I got the buffer solutions. Both. I will calibrate it for the 7 then the 4 then go back and the 7 is off. Then redo it and the 4 is off. I tried to follow it and I nearly killed all mu plants. Until I can get a fifty dollar ph I say papers for me. Also some good chem nutes like GH three part with the hardwater micro! Buffer city.

tea tree said:

I bought a 20 dollar hanna meter and It is crap! I think it is like yours. I got the buffer solutions. Both. I will calibrate it for the 7 then the 4 then go back and the 7 is off. Then redo it and the 4 is off. I tried to follow it and I nearly killed all mu plants. Until I can get a fifty dollar ph I say papers for me. Also some good chem nutes like GH three part with the hardwater micro! Buffer city.

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I agree!!! The Heneral Hydroponics 3 part is great, especially if you have hard water. The hard water micro is a great product!!!

snutter said:

I agree!!! The Heneral Hydroponics 3 part is great, especially if you have hard water. The hard water micro is a great product!!!

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Thanks everybody, My Ph meter is a decent one... it is a Milwaukee PH 51. it cost like 75 dollars. Thats too much for it to just not work... Anyhow. I know i need the buffer solutions and i guess ill probably get them today. now that i got paid... i think ill also bring the meter with me and have the guy at the hydro store calibrate it for me. thanks again everyone.