Ph question
- Thread starter Gquebed
- Start date
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Circulated water for sure. It's probably because when it's not, the nutes settle and possibly accumulate in the volume of water theyre in.
Circulate the water then use a cup to take a sample and measure the PH. Because of the way a PH pen works moving water can cause the PH reading to be lower so you want to measure still water that is mixed well for the most accurate reading. You can see this by putting your PH meter into your res in a low flow area then start swishing it around and the PH will drop and fluctuate
Yep
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Your pens fucked. Get some 4.0/7.0 solution and calibrate it. There's usually a small turning dial for a flat head screwdriver you can adjust until it reads what the solution is rated for.
I think he was referring to the drop in PH when you are swishing it around as opposed to still water. If not I am mistaken.
Gquebed
Well-Known Member
I dunno... it better not be. I paid the large for one of these a few months ago..
https://www.amazon.ca/Bluelab-BLU2300E-Combo-Conductivity-Temperature/dp/B003PD2N8Q
And i calibrate it almost weekly... because i have trust issues...lol
But i will say i didnt have this happen last round.
5BY5LEC
Well-Known Member
I have two of those combo meters. I never noticed that moving the PH pen around messes with the readings. (The TDS meter is a different story, try putting it next to an airstone) Leads me to think you got something wonky going on.
Do you have strips you can use to double check? I got some narrow-range ph strips from amazon just to double check in case I felt something was off.
Strips dont lie.
Do you have strips you can use to double check? I got some narrow-range ph strips from amazon just to double check in case I felt something was off.
Strips dont lie.
Gquebed
Well-Known Member
Logan Burke
Well-Known Member
Bluelab combo meter is the best hydro investment I've ever made...sits right up there above my CMH investments 
Getting cheap PH pens does work, but good grief it's just so much trouble and so much calibration and so much second guessing in situations where uncertainty can really cause problems.
Getting cheap PH pens does work, but good grief it's just so much trouble and so much calibration and so much second guessing in situations where uncertainty can really cause problems.
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
That's the right tool.
No need to calibrate it so much. Monthly is fine.
Do not store the pH tip in distilled or tap water.
I just kept mine in the res and it was fine and accurate for months at a time.
Gquebed
Well-Known Member
I would just keep it in the res, but my mixing res is in another room. So... it moves around a lot.
I just keep the cap on it filled with storage solution. Pop it off and rinse before use every day.
Logan Burke
Well-Known Member
I just checked and noticed I have the exact same model as you, I just purchased from a different seller. Outside of Airwalker's explanation, I'm not sure why the ph would change so much from cup to res, but I would trust the reading you get with the probe in the res/root zone. It's for sure irritating that they're different readings, but I'd trust the one you get from your res.