Bluelab ph pen, box says no ro water?

[Ganja Maker]

I just had to replace my ph meter and decided to order the same one. It's the bluelab ph pen . When I was opening it up I noticed a orange warning dot on it that says DO NOT use,store or rinse the ph pen in RO, Distilled or De-ionized water.
Now is this true? I use RO water and maybe this is why my previous meter stopped calibrating correctly after the year and a half I used it. Now I know many people use RO water, and many people like the bluelab stuff. So is this really a no no?
Also I don't store it in RO water, but the nutes that I test are in it. For storage I use the storage solution or the 4.0 calibration sol.

 

[ceosam]

Is it is true. It will cause your meter to read inaccurately, this goes for all PH meters.

 

[Ganja Maker]

So what are the people that use RO water using, to make sure there plants are receiving the correct ph?

 

[Ganja Maker]

I'm just thinking out loud here, but maybe it's just the plain RO water by it self, and once mixed with nutes and things that then it's ok. I don't know I'd like to hear more since I haven't heard much on this topic discussed here.

 

[ceosam]

What do you mean? They are using a PH meter to test the PH of their RO water and then they store the probe in the proper solution.

 

[Ganja Maker]

I know you shouldn't store them in RO water, but what baffled me was that it said not to USE, store, or rinse in it. Key word being use.

 

[Ganja Maker]

?

 

[Granger2]

I'd like to see a definitive answer to this. On another note, some of the storage solutions are IMNSHO, toxic to you. I bought one online that was a Pthalate. No thanks. I'm first using pH7 calibration fluid till it starts growing slime, then I switch to 4.0 for awhile. Good luck. -granger

 

[MIway]

this is off of memory, but there is a reference solution inside the glass bulb, which is semipermiable & operates via ion exchange... so when u place the probe in a low ion solution like ro water, it leaches out the reference solution & shortens the life of the probe. you can still use it in ro water, just not ideal. should give u enough to look up the specifics.

 

[Ganja Maker]

Thanks for the answers guys. This could be why my last two meters only lasted a bit under two years.The first was a cheaper Hanna, then I tried the Bluelab. The Bluelab had a one year replacement guarantee, so it out lasted that. I will say that I really liked the Bluelab so much better. That's why I bought the same one even though it broke.

I plan to just continue doing what I do,and keep it clean, calibrated, and stored in proper solutions. I've been using ro water for years, and I'm not changing my system to baby my meter. I'm not sure how others feel, but for what we do and get out of it. I can spare spending $75 every two years.

 

[Hundred Gram Oz]

Thanks for the answers guys. This could be why my last two meters only lasted a bit under two years.The first was a cheaper Hanna, then I tried the Bluelab. The Bluelab had a one year replacement guarantee, so it out lasted that. I will say that I really liked the Bluelab so much better. That's why I bought the same one even though it broke.

2 Years is actually excellent for a PH probe, I have to change mine annually. I'm thinking that they mean RO water only, once nutes are added to RO water it should be fine with all the salts.

Peace,
HGO

 

[Ganja Maker]

Thanks HGO I totally agree, and like I said what's $75 every year or so. It just surprised me when I seen the warning on the new box as it wasn't on the old one. I don't recall any conversations on the matter around here so maybe it will be helpful to someone down the line.

 

[Hundred Gram Oz]

I have a Bluelab combo meter, the one with and EC probe and PH probe. The PH probe used to last me a lot longer than these new ones, I've had to replace it twice over the past year, maybe I got a dodgy one. I just hope they aren't knocking out inferior probes because I have always been happy with Bluelab's gear. Also, Bluelab only give 6 months warranty on the PH probes. If you're buying a new probe, make sure that the one you're buying has got water in the cap otherwise it will most likely screw up in no time.

Peace,
HGO

 

[Zeke Varg]

Unfortunaly my english aint better than this, but IF you can read and understand my text, this info may help:

If youre ph-pen or probe is inaccurate because you store or rinse the ph-pen in RO water, you still can "refresh" the probe, and make the probe work well again. I've got an cheap china made pen which began to work inaccurate after just a few month because I used to rins it well in RO water in combination with improper storage. I didnt know better untill I found some information on the internet.

So this is what worked for me: First if you use the probe to test heavy fertilized solutions you may first have to clean the probe.

Buy some 30% HCL - hydroclhoric acid. This is some really strong stuff and you must protect youre eyes and wear protecting gloves. And never ever let water drip down in the acid. That will bring a heat reaction and things can turn seriosly wrong in no time! Allways ACID IN WATER, never water in acid! Just have that in mind so nothing goes wrong) when you got all the protecting gears on, you just fill a plastic cup or a glass cup with some HCL so it cover the probe and then dip the probe in the acid for about 10 second. You can also dilute the 30% acid with plain water to 3% and let the probe stay in the acid for 30-45 minutes. (when diluting acid, think aboute the rule: ACID in Water)

When this is done you rinse the probe carefully in tapwater.

Now its time to "cure" the probe. You take the prober KCL storing solution and fill up a measure cup so it cover the probe. Than fill a ordinary kitchen skillet with water. Heat the water to the point that it the begin to "vibrate" or make bubbles. Than place the measure cup with the KCL solution so it touch the water in the skillet. You must fix the mesure cup so it doesnt tip over. Take what you can find. I fixed it with a small wrench. Just take something that secure the measure cup in the water. Then put the ph-pen in the KCL solution and let it stay in the heated (ca 90 degree Celsius) solution for about 3-4 houres. (you can heat the KCL solution directly on the stove plate, but its hard to controll the heat)

When this is done you just calibrate the pen as u use to do. Drip some KCL in the storage sponge and let the pen stay in the cap over the night. After that, the pen should work good as a new one!