pH tester questions

I am looking into buying the "Milwaukee pH600" pH Digital tester
http://www.eseasongear.com/ph600.html

I read that i must get some calibration solution. 7.01

Before I go and buy this item I want to make sure that this is what I really need. Im looking for a good but cheap pH tester.

Im looking for sugestions here... Maybe a different brand... Pros and cons of this brand... Any additional items that i must purchase..... pH +/- for ex.... Must I have a pH tester?

I really dont believe the words good and cheap will ever go together, but milwaukee is an awesome brand. I personally own a blue lab combo because its practical, I check my soloution, calibrate then check solution again and its never more than a few 10ths off, you want something to easy to calibrate you want a meter where your probe doesnt take a shit every six months, def. ask how long the probe will last ! Remember to keep your probe moist and also if your meter allows use a 2 point calibration 4.0 and 7.1 for greater accuracy Good luck and happy hunting

Spank you for the help babe... will you recommend a site or store to me so that I can get this Milwaukee ph tester ..

Any recomendations??? Anybody

tried that milaukee and either there was a bad batch or they suck. tried one, it fried, tried another, fried even quicker. try the red Hanna checker-is cheap around 40 and is pretty decent but not waterproof so dont dunk it. yes you need the 7.01 calibration and you should get the 4.01 as well to properly cross calibrate.
also, be careful b/c ph probes are sensitive to electromagnativity-i.e. ballasts. the milaukee ones, I would just put my hand near it and it would jump all over the place.

thanks bud.. but the whole concept of a ph tester is still new to me... i have been told that i should test the water run off of my plants... so in order to do that i would probably need one of those testers that i can splash around in the run off.. am i getting this right.. and along with the tester i need some of that calibration stuff... Im so freaking not sure what to get or what to do.. can u provide some links for me to check out

EDIT: and it cost so much to get a pH tester.. but someone told me that i could get one at walmart for 5 bucks

u r talking about a chemical ph test versus a digital ph test. if soil, than you can use the ones at walmart, although they are not exactly the most accurate. the kit comes with drop solution which you take a few drops and test your water and than compare the color to a chart for ph. get a test kit that has ph up and ph down.

smokeybandit22 said:

u r talking about a chemical ph test versus a digital ph test. if soil, than you can use the ones at walmart, although they are not exactly the most accurate. the kit comes with drop solution which you take a few drops and test your water and than compare the color to a chart for ph. get a test kit that has ph up and ph down.

Click to expand...

I have that kit, and I love it, not the walmart kit. 15bucks from general hydroponics comes with the drops, ph up and down.

smokeybandit22 said:

u r talking about a chemical ph test versus a digital ph test. if soil, than you can use the ones at walmart, although they are not exactly the most accurate. the kit comes with drop solution which you take a few drops and test your water and than compare the color to a chart for ph. get a test kit that has ph up and ph down.

Click to expand...

I really dont know what i should get.. I have seen two types.. one has a rod on it and is made to stick in the soil like a probe.. the other is like a mouth themometer but it is used to test liquid solutions

I dont know which to get really.....

the one with the soil probe is probably worthless-usually always read 7. get the one richjames likes. most of us start there

I cant figure out which one are you guys recommending? Where do i get this one at online?

http://www.generalhydroponics.com/genhydro_US/buffers.html
check this out

is haveing a 50$ + ph tester setup really necessary.. isnt there any other ways I can grow without using this?