The cadillac of pH meters ...? suggestions?

[darkhollo]

I am tired of cheap and some not so cheap pH meters. Where can i find a pen or continuous meter that gives accurate readings for more than a week. Constant calibrations that aren't exactly easy and not fraught with error.

Where can I buy a GOOD RELIABLE pH monitor. I don't care about price at this point. I just want some shit that works.

--dh

 

[solarz]

the hanna grocheck keeps calibrated for about three weeks or so (sometimes longer). Its the continuous meter, however, you have to keep BOTH the ph reader and the ec/ppm/temp reader n the SAME solution together (7.01 calibration solution). It has dual calibration...which is another good thing to have w/r/t accuracy. Hope this helps...i'll try to get the model # for you, but its the one with the blue casing.

solarz

 

[micro gro]

Key is to not allowing the tip to dry, which means proper storage in proper solution. If you store it dry, it will go bad quick.

 

[pontiac]

Consider getting a laboratory grade meter. Maybe something from Denver Instrument, Acorn, Hach, Beckman, Hanna lab, Fisher, Thermo, etc.

These things do not f*** around with accuracy, I can tell you that from experience.

 

[FreezerBoy]

My inline fan fiasco led me to do serious homework on pH and EC meters before buying. It indicated that, of the types commonly used by growers, they were a crapshoot at best. Oakton sucked least followed by Milwaukee with Hanna in the rear. Reports of mere operation, let alone accuracy, were so grim I stuck with my $5 aquarium kit, accurate to 0.1 pH.

Unless you're willing to drop $500 for an el cheapo pro model, all you'll get is a toy.

 

[NOYB]

I had a Hanna continuous monitor meter and my EC probe was fine but my pH probe was a bit finicky. It lasted 6 months and had to calibrate fairly regularly. It was a 991404 and the probes were not submersible so I sealed the tops of the probes with multiple coats of the liquid tool handle goop you can buy in a hardware store for a few bucks and worked great. I liked the 991404 but Hanna used their cheapest pH probe and your stuck with that probe if you use that meter.

It's important to put your continuous monitor probe in the quietest part of the tank as it will extend it's life.

After research I felt using something like a Hanna pH minicontroller (like a 981411) and a Hanna flat tip industrial grade pH probe was the way to go. I think the probes themselves are like $100 but are self cleaning and you only need to calibrate them like every 6 months. They are designed for nasty enviros which make a hydro res look tame.

Think I was looking at the minicontroller cause it was the way I could use one of their industrial grade probes. Was also looking at pH dosing though but those minicontrollers are stout, reliable and designed for industrial grade applications.

If you go with something like Cutting Edge Solutions for nutes pretty sure they have em designed where they are auto adjusting for pH.

 

[NOYB]

I stuck with my $5 aquarium kit, accurate to 0.1 pH.

Unless you're willing to drop $500 for an el cheapo pro model, all you'll get is a toy.

Peeps in the office used one of those kits and everybody looked at the results and said the water in the new well was 7.0...the lab results came back and it's 7.3...but still I think they're close enough for growing weed.

A Hanna minicontroller will run you about $200 and $100 for the probe. Still pretty pricey for simple pH monitoring but you'll get rock solid, accurate and durable equipment.

 

[cantstoplooking]

you can get a oakton pen for 70-80 bux, maybe less. The oakton pens also come with a 1 year warranty and they work good. just put some ph'd water in the cap or storage solution till the next time you use it. I know some people who fold up a paper towel and put it in there cap to help hold water.

 

[ScrubNinja]

Not sayin' it's better to store them dry but I've never stored my eutech in any solution and it must be a year old now. Has never needed callibration as it's always spot on. My pal has done the same with the same pen.

 

[NOYB]

Not sayin' it's better to store them dry but I've never stored my eutech in any solution and it must be a year old now.

I think you and your buddy have gotten lucky. It's not a good idea to let pH probes go dry. Yes you can revive em.

 

[Greyskull]

i got mine used, and have used it for a for 2 years straight.
i ALWAYS put the probe away dry (i swear homey who runs a major hydro shop advised... unorthodox I know but he also told me i can get free probes replacements when needed - all good thus far!), and no problems.
i check & set the calibration once a month.
i like that it checks ec, tds/ppm (ec x 700), and ph in one easy to use meter/probe. and its dead on accurate. i like being precise...
works great. so far so good - check the gallery.

i had milwaukee ph pen previously, and from that experience i don't care for using their products any further. a friend of mine has the nutridrip tri meter.... its collecting dust now - he uses the hanna combo now.

all that said, if you are just into 'ranges', litmus strips, ph drops, and ec/tds/ppm truncheons (the sticks) will suit your fancy.

and when you decide to purchase, it doesn't hurt to inquire about return policies and what not before finalizing a purchase for a meter. and have the shop calibrate & test it for you before you leave. good luck

 

[darkhollo]

Thanks for all the great replies. I have had a tri-meter and then a milwaukee. I have purchased a liquid drop tester to validate my meter on a weekly basis and I will have to save up for a more industrial setup.

I want precision.. i want to know exactly what my pH is. I understand a swing is good and there is a certain window that is viable, but I'd like to ensure I'm well within the window and not on the fringe.

Thanks!
--dh

 

[ogatec]

i vote for the hi-9813 line also.. i've had mine for over 7-8 years now. (with probe changes)
http://www.automatedaquariums.com/h_9813.htm

my favorite part is you dont have to bend over to take measurments,like with a pen or stick meter... just drop the probe into the rez!

 

[caljim]

Nutra-dip trimeter, replaced the ph probe once in ten years, calibrate once a month or so....barely ever needs adjustment.

One of the best peices of gear i have bought.

Find it here http://www.hydroasis.com/hy/productdetail.aspx?id=484&product=nutra-dip-tri-meter.



if you look around you can find a better price....

 

[NOYB]

I want precision

Most meters are +/- .1 pH accurate and that's good enough. First meter I had was a $20 Hanna Checker. Lasted me 2 years. Was a pain to calibrate though.

After having a continuous monitor meter last time around wouldn't go any other way if I ran hydro again.

 

[Greyskull]

i can see the continuous being total luxury....
when you go to do your 'welfare check' (thats what i call it when i go visit my girls) you could just peek your cabeza in thru the door, look at the wall, and get you ph, temp, & ec/tds/ppm. no grabbing the meter, no bending and waiting for tempeture compensation...

 

[NOYB]

i can see the continuous being total luxury....
when you go to do your 'welfare check' (thats what i call it when i go visit my girls) you could just peek your cabeza in thru the door, look at the wall, and get you ph, temp, & ec/tds/ppm. no grabbing the meter, no bending and waiting for tempeture compensation...

Once you have one you never go back...lol. They're great for a single res. I found myself checking it very regularly and helped me learn/understand hydro much better cause you can monitor changes while they happen easier and then know what to expect and when during the cycle. Had 1 110 gal res supporting 8 3' x 3' trays. Deal with that for a few years and anything you can do to cut corners you do...lol. The meter helped me get things dialed in to the point where I could fill/nute a res and go through half during full flower without any significant pH or EC drifts. Also helped me understand the res's ability to hold, buffer, shed heat through the light cycle and through the year.

Thought about multiple res's and looked at a Hanna meter probably exactly what you have.

For luxury I was gonna get a Hanna 9828...oh my...for about $1750 you could measure like 13 parameters, some useless for growing though, and record 60,000 data points which you could also set the record interval. You could then download to a puter and graph. Could probably set it to monitor an entire grow cycle. That thing is bitchin but for sure overkill!!!

 

[Greyskull]

sure its overkill

overkill is good.

 

[NOYB]

sure its overkill

overkill is good.

I'm an over engineerer and has always served me well

One thing great about that Hanna was it's ability to measure ORP and % dissolved O2. ORP monitoring/control is pretty important when running something like DWC but not so as much for something like E & F.

Anyway...have mainly been doing small grows 100% organic in soil since then.

 

[Greyskull]

awwwman i thought you were gonna say 110% organic soil lol