Are continuous monitor meters worth it?

[Guest]

Are the pH/EC/TDS/temp meters from someone like Hanna OK? How well do they hold their calibration? How well do the probes/sensors hold up being continually immersed in the nute solution? Sould I stick with pens?

Thanx...

 

[clowntown]

I'd love to hear some feedback as well, as I'm definitely interested in this myself...

Not that I was ever doing much research on them, but I haven't yet seen anyone complain about the Hanna GroChek's but have heard of a problem or two with the Milwaukee monitors. I can't quite recall the details, but I know I've seen at least one instance, more likely two, where it was mentioned that Milwaukee continuous monitors were bad for one reason or another. Any Milwaukee owners out there to share your experiences?

Depending on your nutrient solution, what's in it and how it's mixed, I've noticed that it would be a good idea to have the probes "suspended" mid-reservoir rather than letting them drop all the way to the bottom. I recall seeing an instance where someone was having problems with his pH readings, and it turned out that whatever additives he was using wasn't being dissolved / mixed in the rez evenly, and causing a low pH on the very bottom of the reservoir while the rest was normal. I suppose a good air pump or water pump to circulate the rez would have helped, but just something to take note of.

 

[Guest]

...WTF...nobody is using continuos monitor meters for their res???

 

[Guest]

Redux and Clown.... I was certainly interested but looks like no one uses them

Redux and Clown.... I was certainly interested but looks like no one uses them

I have thought serously about getting them ......... I am basically lazy and get tired of sitting there adding something then waiting for it to equalize and then testing then anding some more dito dito dito.........

I love my Hanna pen but I know that is not what this is about......

Peace

 

[stealthpackage]

Kabump! I'd like to hear some answers on this as well...

 

[THCV]

hey, if you don't dote on your plants it might be worth it. but i spend enough time with them daily that taking a few seconds off one daily duty is pretty much pointless. Could be useful in a very large production setup that has multiple check points or res's and, you know, people walking around with clipboards writing the numbers down, or linked to a pc...sitch like that makes sense to avoid having to stick your hand in the res. I think you'd have to have an automated fert/ph injector too to make it worthwhile; if you are ferting/ph'ing manually you may as well stick the probe into the res yourself, IMHO.

 

[clowntown]

I dunno, even for a small grow I would find it very handy and convenient... a single quick glance at the screen to tell me where it's at and what needs adjusting, rather than having to take out the pen, take off the lid, measure, put lid back on, rinse pen, re-store in solution.

I mean, it's not much I agree... but it sure is helluva convenient and for not too much more than a decent pH + EC/TDS pen separately or even a combo pen, it appears to be a nice deal/solution.

 

[THCV]

you'll still have to get wet and agitate the res before the numbers are accurate. and once you're in there...

store your ph/tds meters in solution? wow, yeah, it would be a lot easier than that! what a pain...i don't bother personally. is it necessary?

 

[clowntown]

The pump in the controller / rez bucket would be doing the stirring / agitating, so no I won't have to do anything as long as the probes are placed in a proper location (see post #2). With pH electrodes, yes you definitely do need to store it in a storage solution and never allow it to go dry. I've quickly ruined 2 pens this way, not knowing that. With TDS probes, I don't think it's that big of a deal.

 

[Guest]

OK...I threw up a thread in the hydro section but not much action there either. The thread got a little funky but feedback was:

Lurkerguy said a friend uses the Nutradip Trimeter and it's rock solid

Thescissors said double junction pH probes outlast single junctions by about 4-10x

Damakkus said beware of possible rf interference from digital ballasts.

I do remember a member here who had to return their digital ballasts due to interference with their CO2 monitor. I've been looking at the new Hanna HI991404 continuous meter from bghydro.com for $139.95. Kind of hard to go wrong with Hanna...I think. Accuracy for this model is EC/TDS +/-2%, pH +/-.1 and temp is +/-1 but said temp deviation is +/-2 (???).

I guess if you're running organic nutes the res may need to be stirred but I use GH and don't see the need to stir. I would think the solution would equalize. I guess it'd be important to use a cleaning solution for the probes on a regular basis. If going with a pen I think I'd vote for the Hanna HI98129 for about $110. Accuracy on pH is like .05...sweet. I was originally going to get a Hanna pHep5 pH pen for about $70(?) but the trimeter pen kind of makes more sense.

 

[Guest]

How you doin Redux..........Been a big fan of the Nutradip Trimeter for long long time...One stop shoppin so to speak and accurate to a "T".....One of the only pieces of equipment that I actually have saved due to it`s durability and reliability......All calibration info easily explained with the instructions as well as easy access to replacement probes,calibration fluid ,etc............Take care dewd and ..................PEACE...........DHF.........

 

[Guest]

Awesome Dehedfred...thanx for the confirmation on the Nutradip.

Does seem like the Nutradip rpbe needs to be 1/3 above water so guess for those with water levels that fluctuate a float of some type may be in order. I'm checking on the Hanna probes.

 

[Guest]

Redux.......As far as the nutradip depth of the probes in your rez?.......Dewd........You should have a R/O unit supplying the Rez via a float valve to top off your rez after each feeding to regulate your PH and PPM`S to the point of flushing and changin out each week or however long it takes to bring the ppm`s down to low ppm changeable levels.....But now that`s just the way I do things and maybe you`re doing somethin else that I`m not aware of....Anyways ....Let us know how things are goin and....PEACE........DHF........

 

[Guest]

You know Dedhed...that's what I need to hook up next. Was taught to let the res level drop some as pH fluctuates within acceptable levels. I'm gonna take a closer look at setting up an RO unit as recommended.

 

[Guest]

Redux...... I have the Hanna HI98129

Redux...... I have the Hanna HI98129

It is great. Don't stick it into the res more than 1/3 of the way because I had one leak on me that way.... around where the pH probe screws in. I have had the one I have now for probably 4-5 years .... it was a little more than $200 back then but it works great. Calibrate every 1-2 months and it is good to go.

You need to change the coefficient to 0.7 from 0.5 because most people who talk ppm on here are using the 0.7 factor. I was like you have to be kidding me when someone was talking about how high their ppm was. Hanna has it preset at 0.5. I would always rather talk in EC when talking testing with a pen because at least you know you are talking about the same thing. Of course, I know you need the ppm for figuring nute mixes and the like but is confusing when comparing res readings.

Hey Clown--have to agree with you. I would love to just look up on the wall and see the current readings at a glance. I would really love to see the reading grafts of the hourly changes. I know I probably wouldn't change anything I do but I bet it would be interesting.

Peace

 

[Guest]

Bree - I'm leaning toward the Hanna 991404 but I think that pen is great. I did do a bunch of research awhile back into inexpensive datalogging equipment but don't remember something for pH and definitely not for EC. I was looking at temp and humidity. I think it would be helpful to chart info as I'm sure some things would jump right out at you.

Word is the Hanna probes are not submersible soooo...gotta get modern with an RO unit topping of the tank like Dedhedfred suggested.

 

[billbob]

Nutradip Trimeter works great. gotta love the constant/easy checking. Just dont let it get dry and it will hold the calibration for a long time. Well worth the added checking. Also double check with a calibrated pen once a week or month or ???, but do it now and then.

 

[Guest]

Redux.....

Redux.....

Looked up that meter and it looks good. Yeah, definately not submersible.... dropped it in by accident and ruined it. This one has definately done its duety.

Billbob-- do you place the probes through styrofoam and just let them float?

I would love to have data collectors. I can read my plants well but over time I bet you really would see some things you just don't think about. A company would never think of not graffing the ebb and flow (no pun intended) of resources.

Peace

 

[razerfish]

Are the pH/EC/TDS/temp meters from someone like Hanna OK? How well do they hold their calibration? How well do the probes/sensors hold up being continually immersed in the nute solution? Sould I stick with pens?

Thanx...

Continuous meters are the way to go. Just glance at the meter and be done with it. I have one for continues PH and TDS readings. It's more accurate than my pen reading and doesn't need to be calibrated as often. have another for just the TDS. Get the dual one. Will save time and effort.

 

[Guest]

Thanx Razerfish...that's what I wanted to hear. I'd like to set it up and be able to check things at a glance. Anything I can do to save a little time is worth it.

Bree - maybe minor misunderstanding...I was talking about the probes and not the entire unit for submersion...thanx for the input.

I'm still gonna get a pen as backup, for verification and for the odd time I need to check some solution I'm mixing up for a different use.