Can I use different PH calibration solutions?

[janejane820024]

My Vivosun PH meter I want to calibrate says to use 4.0, 6.86, and 9.18 solutions. But I have some premixed 4.00, 7.00, 10.01 calibration solutions. Can I use the premixed ones instead or will this end up giving me inaccurate readings? The manual says it can be calibrated with just a 6.86 or all three for better accuracy.

 

[Billy the Mountain]

My Vivosun PH meter I want to calibrate says to use 4.0, 6.86, and 9.18 solutions. But I have some premixed 4.00, 7.00, 10.01 calibration solutions. Can I use the premixed ones instead or will this end up giving me inaccurate readings? The manual says it can be calibrated with just a 6.86 or all three for better accuracy.

The requisite calibration fluid is baked into the firmware

There's no need to use the pH 10 calibration solution for hydoponics

If your budget is limited to a Vivosun pH meter, consider getting some pH drops as a sanity check

 

[janejane820024]

The requisite calibration fluid is baked into the firmware

Does that mean I can only use solutions that the manufacturer states in the manual?

There's no need to use the pH 10 calibration solution for hydoponics

My growing medium is coco/perlite, so it's sort of being treated as hydro. Why is PH 10 not needed for hydro?

If your budget is limited to a Vivosun pH meter, consider getting some pH drops as a sanity check

I purchased an Apera PH meter kit bundle through Amazon and received the correct extras (Premixed PH solutions, storage solution, etc) but they sent me a TDS meter instead of the PH meter so I'm just looking for a temporary fix until I can get the correct meter.

 

[DCcan]

My growing medium is coco/perlite, so it's sort of being treated as hydro. Why is PH 10 not needed for hydro?

If you are doing readings that are expected to be between 7-10 PH or 4-10 PH, then you calibrate it for that.
You're going to be between 4-7 ph, so thats what the calibration range is. No need for the upper limit calibration.

 

[Billy the Mountain]

Does that mean I can only use solutions that the manufacturer states in the manual?


My growing medium is coco/perlite, so it's sort of being treated as hydro. Why is PH 10 not needed for hydro?


I purchased an Apera PH meter kit bundle through Amazon and received the correct extras (Premixed PH solutions, storage solution, etc) but they sent me a TDS meter instead of the PH meter so I'm just looking for a temporary fix until I can get the correct meter.

1. Yes
2. It's pointless to calibrate to pH 10 since it's far outside the range used in hydroponic solutions
3. A wise choice; the Vivosun pH meters are rubbish

 

[janejane820024]

If you are doing readings that are expected to be between 7-10 PH or 4-10 PH, then you calibrate it for that.
You're going to be between 4-7 ph, so thats what the calibration range is. No need for the upper limit calibration.

Thank you for the info!

1. Yes
2. It's pointless to calibrate to pH 10 since it's far outside the range used in hydroponic solutions
3. A wise choice; the Vivosun pH meters are rubbish

Thank you for you for the help! Appreciate it!

 

[BenGman]

Just calibrate it with the solution you have , if thats the only option..get it to the best range you can...and if you know the ph of your tap water that is a bonus to know if you are a point off is no big deal really till you have something more reliable.

 

[Weedoguido]

I had that stupid yellow pen myself. Yes, you need to use the three packs of the powder for calibration. Make sure you use distilled water. Don't let it dry up, keep it in storage solution.

 

[Billy the Mountain]

I had that stupid yellow pen myself. Yes, you need to use the three packs of the powder for calibration. Make sure you use distilled water. Don't let it dry up, keep it in storage solution.

No, the pH 10 cal. solution is unnecessary for hydroponics

 

[Flash63]

 

[Weedoguido]

No, the pH 10 cal. solution is unnecessary for hydroponics

With my experience with the vivosun ph pen, to keep it calibrated properly you need to use all three calibration powders. Not saying you need for hydro, just to make the pen work right.