Ph Meters

High Everyone. Launching our first grow and wondering what Ph meters you guys use for a hydro system. Besides Ph and Temp, what else sould I be measuing? PPM?
Any help is awesome.

Ppm too. Milwaukee instruments has a nice 3 in one ph ppm and ec. Check their site out to see their products many of meters to choose from.

Step 1: Erase the thought of a PH Pen from your mind

Step 2: Buy the general hydroponics ph tester kit for 5-10 bucks

Step 3: Use the dropper and life will be beautiful


---- The main reason I tell you to forget the ph pens is that the calibration on every single one from 20 bucks to 300 bucks requires you to calibrate them ALL the time. If you don't calibrate them you will end up with a nutrient lockout thinking your ph is perfectly fine when it is wayyyy away from what you want ---

3 years doesn't make me a professional but my job was to tend the ladies for our collective and we threw away every single ph pen due to this reason.

I have two PH meters, a cheapo $20 from china and a $45 from my hydro shop.
PH meters need to regular adjustment, usually they will drift.
My cheap one uses a screw driver to adjust, very simple and easy.
My fancy one has no screw is done with buttons and has never seemed reliable after the first week.
you must use them every day or store so tip stays wet.
If they dry out they are done!

PPM Meter for Sure and it is not a big deal, it's electronic and it reads in parts per million.
an EC or Electrical Conductivity meter gets you to the same place with a different scale.
I use PPM, my EC meter reads both EC and PPM.
So to me its a back up PPM meter.

I like redundancy, I always have when it comes to tools.

I like a point able temp gun, got mine at lowes for $8.
I use that to verify actual temps at certain spots.
Great for finding hot spots.

temp and RH Meter.
mines wireless so I can see the temp and RH from downstairs.
I feel it's better to monitor often.

That statement that drops are better than meters is just ridiculous. Meters are much more accurate especially when a difference of .1-.2 in pH can make a huge difference in how a plant grows. Drops just can't do that. I've had my Milwaukee 3 in 1 for years with no problems and RARELY EVER HAVE TO CALIBRATE IT. Maybe 1-2 times a year and it only takes a minute. Indoor growing, especially hydro, is all about complete control, why use something so inaccurate?

I got my cheap PH meter on eBay.
I bought all my others from Amazon or my local store.

Drops don t give you the accuracy, my cheap meter is correct for the last 60 days.
I use the test liquid to verify.
Drops are for fish tanks and swimming pools.

Any pen or meter is gonna need probe replacement, there are steps you can take to prevent immediate failure. One was mentioned above about the tip staying wet. another I see a lot is people who don't wash the probe off after testing nutes, if you wash it off clean every time it'll last longer. Calibration isn't hard to keep in check its just a turn of a nob or screw in calibration solution. You will not see me using the dropper thing with strips to test my water ever. I want to know where my levels are not guess if that's the right color for that ph. To each there own though, if you have good outcomes with tester strips go for it, if it's good with a meter awsome just as long as your garden is healthy I say use whatever.

Drops!!! Sorry but what the fuck lol. Tried those things on my first run and got all screwed up. Buddy brought out his Hanna and i was running at like 4, thought the red color was in the 5.6 range!! (The white russian bless her lived lol) So went out and bought a digital one. The first was a tri meter from Oakley and it crapped out. Bought a Blue Lab and it crapped out! The new BlueLab i have is so far so good! I have to calibrate every couple of months but takes 30 sec.

Get a suitable bluelab, if you want a continuous tri-meter get a guardian. I've only had experience with the guardians but I can say bluelab stands behind their product.

waterdawg said:

Drops!!! Sorry but what the fuck lol. Tried those things on my first run and got all screwed up. Buddy brought out his Hanna and i was running at like 4, thought the red color was in the 5.6 range!! (The white russian bless her lived lol) So went out and bought a digital one. The first was a tri meter from Oakley and it crapped out. Bought a Blue Lab and it crapped out! The new BlueLab i have is so far so good! I have to calibrate every couple of months but takes 30 sec.

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crapped out?bluelab?

Thecouchlock said:

Step 1: Erase the thought of a PH Pen from your mind

Step 2: Buy the general hydroponics ph tester kit for 5-10 bucks

Step 3: Use the dropper and life will be beautiful


---- The main reason I tell you to forget the ph pens is that the calibration on every single one from 20 bucks to 300 bucks requires you to calibrate them ALL the time. If you don't calibrate them you will end up with a nutrient lockout thinking your ph is perfectly fine when it is wayyyy away from what you want ---

3 years doesn't make me a professional but my job was to tend the ladies for our collective and we threw away every single ph pen due to this reason.

Click to expand...

1st. step, do the exact opposite as this guy states! Using pens is the best way to dial in any grow. Cheaper pens require more frequent calibration but even so are more accurate then drops. Keep drops as a back up. I have had the same Blue Lab multi-meter, PH, temp, cf, ec, ppm, for going on 10 years now, replaced a few probes but all in all for $450 it was well worth it. JAS

I know the a batch of the guardians had bad led displays and a segment would go out. If you get one of those just email them and they'll request you send a photo of the led segment that is out and the serial number off the back, after that they ship you a new one straight from new zealand. They'll ask you to dispose of the defective one. I actually got two bad ones because I bought at the same place. The one looked like this. I had a new one within a few days.Look how far that sucker could be off!

I use the blue lab ph and ppm pens. Had them for about a year now, I've had to calibrate the pH pen once and that was when I got it.

if you need anymore ammo to that post about using drops here it is: I've owned all manner of pH probes, pens, continuous meters, et et....drops are for cheapskates...I currently own 2 "controllers" with probes, 2 continuous meters (with probes), 3 pens (2 yellow $10 Cheapos) and guess what: all agree...I "might" calibrate them every now and then but that beats the hell outta trying to discern some stupid color chart; you be the judge (P.S, just keep the electrodes wet)

It is good practice with any of this type of equipment to clean and calibrate on regular intervals, keeping probes in ph neutral solution is also a good idea. I use mine daily and calibrate and clean every time I need to fill my down bottle. Memory is short so I have to include it with some other task...lol JAS

bluelab guardian blinks an led every 30 days after you calibrate ph.nice little reminder but mine have never been far off and the probes take a beating.

any system that is unable to grow healthy plants using the PH test kits
which measure in increments of .2 to .4 i would consider this system very unstable

the cheaper ph meters were terrible. although i must admit i have not used a ph meter in around 15 years or so
i found ph regulation to be unessecery
i do not take ph measurements or regulate it with any additions, i allow it to fluctuate
not everyone can do this i guess, folk who have bad quility tap water, or have to use r/o

peace

dbkick said:

bluelab guardian blinks an led every 30 days after you calibrate ph.nice little reminder but mine have never been far off and the probes take a beating.

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Blue lab makes a good combo meter that is durable and long lasting. The ph probe is replaceable just in case, but they do take a beating. Simple to calibrate as mentioned. It's worth the money.

JohnnyGreenfingers said:

Blue lab makes a good combo meter that is durable and long lasting. The ph probe is replaceable just in case, but they do take a beating. Simple to calibrate as mentioned. It's worth the money.

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and I can attest, they stand behind their product. one of the many reasons they've been around and will be around for so long.