rinsing bluelab PH pen? what kind of water...

[matt11]

a bluelab ph pen fail on me after about 4 months of use, wouldn't calibrate and giving crazy inaccurate readings. I took very good care of it; cleaned, hydrated, and calibrated every month. Got a replacement (under warranty). I asked the blue lab people what may have cause it.
They said it was because the water I was rinsing it with after readings (always store it in kci solution). I have well water, really good pure quality, with an E.C. of 0.0. they said to rinse it with tap water or add some cal mag to water. And never to rinse with RO, distilled or spring water because of the reference solution in the bulband ions and shit.
All I have is well water, and am hesitate to use cal mag enriched water. And I use my pen every day.
What do you guys use to rinse your ph probe after readings? Think their on point with this assumption?

From there website:

 

[SocalNugz]

I bet she was just dirty an a lil dry.
Did you try to soak it in kci over night then wash it well then calibrate it?
I've had it fail calibration before an this fixed me right up.
I store my pen with just a few drops of kci in the cap an it has lasted me a couple years now.
Rinse with your well water or add some calmag to ro so it's buffered an your all good I use canned air to blow it off after every use an rinse then into the kci for storage.

 

[matt11]

I bet she was just dirty an a lil dry.
Did you try to soak it in kci over night then wash it well then calibrate it?
I've had it fail calibration before an this fixed me right up.
I store my pen with just a few drops of kci in the cap an it has lasted me a couple years now.
Rinse with your well water or add some calmag to ro so it's buffered an your all good I use canned air to blow it off after every use an rinse then into the kci for storage.

definatly not dirty or dry. I hydrate with the kci solution for 24hrs, clean with blue lab clening soap, then calibrate it every 30 days. And add 4 drops to the cap every week.
So you think I should be cool with rinsing with the well water? what kind of water you use when rinsing?

 

[Genes]

IF IT DRIES, IT DIES. never let the ball dry out!! You may be able to re hydrate it once to get stable readings, but chances are its FUBAR.
you can use

electrode maintenence tips:

just incase you were wondering.... The glass ball is actually a porus and permeable layer of glass to the reference solution stored inside. NEVER ever use your pen around distilled or extremely low ec solutions, and especially do not use them to store it in. You will actually pull solution from the ball and ruin the reference.

Cleaning can be done with iso 99% and a soft bristled toothbrush, or a tiny drop of any 'eco/green' dishsoap and a very thorough rinsing afterwards. Storage solution should be re added fresh (at least a few drops) every time you recap the device. Do not be suckered into the bluelab branded storage, it should be a standard solution first of all - second of all, they charge 2x the price of a bottle 1/3 as big as the others.

As for re calibration, I recommend a calibration once a week, or bi weekly. If you do more readings, less often calibration - as you should be able to tell the decline of the readings stability and speed of achieving the reading. If you use your pen infrequently, I recommend you re-calibrate every time to ensure proper feedings.

if your pen supports 2 point calibration and doesn't make both mandatory - please still make sure you do two points. It will keep the pen calibrated better, longer. Do not reuse the buffer liquids. 30-40ml per go is more than sufficient.

Make sure not to drop the pen, as cracks in the ball are sometimes hard to see or notice until the solution is drained and clearly broken.

Also, you get what you pay for.
swear by:
Hanna 98139 (built in probe check feature)
98129 (rugged, reliable, combo pen)
really good for the price:
nutradip pH continuous ( for the rezzies / constant read)
hm digital ph 80 (reliable, averages 9months no issues!! **avoid the upgraded waterproof-replaceable model)

ill never touch:
blulab ph pen (Just no. Never had one go 6months.)
hanna checker. (very susceptible to electronic interference)


Hope that helps!

Genes

 

[Genes]

Edit: Keep the ball submerged and fully hydrated, a couple drops of solution sounds very conservative for a device relying on its saturation to stay constant.

Also, make sure to store the units upright, so the solution cant roll out the side when tipped over. I recommend a small pot or cup, lanyard, etc near your sink or where you do your readings.