What is my PH?!?! Different results. Ebb and flow

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hydroleaf

Member
When I check the reservoir it says 5.8 (and has been in that range for the past few days). But if I take some water out in any type of container (clean of course). My PH reads 6.3

I have an airstone but no bubbles are near the area where the PH is being taken. I have a PH checker from Hanna. I have it set to 7.0 in the 7.0 General Hydroponics Solution.


Even if it was from bubbles in the airstone wouldnt they still technically be in there in the same amount as water just taken in a cup from my resevoir and then checked? Its 6.3 everytime but as soon as I check res its 5.8..


!
 
H

hydroleaf

Member
I believe this might help in finding out whats going on. Once I tried to get the PH in the top part when the water was filled with hydrotone.. but it was always reading way low like 4.0 (Do you think the meter could be different if something is in close range? Such as a cup verses in a big container like a 13 gallon res).

The Hanna Checker is the PH only non water proof. It was like $35. Seems like it works on the hard water here and in the PH 7 solution
 
S

s0high

Well-Known Member
You probably just have some form of ground in the water. This is going to throw off the ph meter when you check it in the system. Maybe a water pump or something in the water?
 
BeaverHuntr

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
nitro harley said:
I agree....I checked my barrell....then I took out some and checked and it was the same....all I have in the system are air hose's....no pumps

here's the results
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I have the exact same Hanna GroCheck.. I am running a EBB and Flow tray converted to top drip recirculating. I always check my PH and PPM using a sample in a clean plastic cup. Try some Hanna Clean and Cal solution maybe?
 
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Kdn

Member
The pumps magnetic field is most likely causing some noise on the pH sensor end, when AC fields and/or DC galvanitc action(e.g another pH probe) is present in the source it is best to take a sample in a clean non reactive container. You can also account for this noise and adjust for it, but as the probe ages its factor will be off and you would need to check it against the source and sample to reform the factor.
 
woodsmaneh!

woodsmaneh!

Well-Known Member
a couple years ago I purchased 2 Hanna Ph meters. 68$ each. I spent 2 days trying to get them to read the same after being calibrated. I called Hanna and got the run around, I got so pissed I called them and said I was a prof at the university and needed to speak to one of there engineers. The guy I spoke to said that it is typical for the lower cost meters to be out and read different from one meter to the other. He also said I should test them every week. He did say if I purchased a better meter it would read better and stay calibrated longer. The old you get what you pay for.
 
BeaverHuntr

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
woodsmaneh! said:
a couple years ago I purchased 2 Hanna Ph meters. 68$ each. I spent 2 days trying to get them to read the same after being calibrated. I called Hanna and got the run around, I got so pissed I called them and said I was a prof at the university and needed to speak to one of there engineers. The guy I spoke to said that it is typical for the lower cost meters to be out and read different from one meter to the other. He also said I should test them every week. He did say if I purchased a better meter it would read better and stay calibrated longer. The old you get what you pay for.
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This is very true. I use my Hanna Grow Check ( pretty expensive) and I always have a back up ( usually a cheap PH/PPM pen) and my cheap pen reads a little off my good meter reads very accurately but yeah you get what you pay for the big PH meters have better computers.
 
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kushnotbush

Well-Known Member
Your best bet is to take a sample so that your not contaminating your res with any other problems (or solutions tested) that may be occurring in another res. It's also advised to allow the meter to sit in the sample for a few seconds at least before reading. Also with that meter you should probably calibrate it once a week. JMO though, good luck and happy growing.
KnB
 
H

hydroleaf

Member
Yea this meter flucates every few days. Even after a few weeks tho it was reading like .17 higher than what the actual PH was. I usually test with the PH 7 liquid and just move the dial until its perfect.

I only have 2 plants in hydro setup. They are experiencing light yellow spotting on lower fan leaves and the middle leaves have a few speckles of what looks like burnt brown spots. I believe this was from my PH, so I've adjusted and now my plants seem to be doing nicely. They are stretching up towards the light big time.

A quick test proved that when my PH in the cup was at 5.8 the PH taken directly in the Res with the pump was about 5.2. So basically my PH this whole time has been 6.4.
I'm guessing that is what has caused my plants with the spotting. So the P.H. of the water is now 5.7 and I'll be changing the res tomorrow. I was using Aqua Flakes A&B w/ Roots Acculurator but I was having problems. (Obviously could have been due to the PH). So I went out and bought Pro Blend Grow/Bloom/Cal Mag and I'm using RO water.
 
H

hydroleaf

Member
Problend seemed more reasonable and plus it has a bloom formula. House and Garden doesn't and their nutrients are so fucking expensive. I was like .. ok I have $60 to spend.. Should I buy Drip Clean for $55+tax (and still need a lot more additives also at $50+) or go with the Pro Blend which all hydro stores seem to recommend.. and get grow/bloom/cal mag for like $40
 
BeaverHuntr

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
hydroleaf said:
Problend seemed more reasonable and plus it has a bloom formula. House and Garden doesn't and their nutrients are so fucking expensive. I was like .. ok I have $60 to spend.. Should I buy Drip Clean for $55+tax (and still need a lot more additives also at $50+) or go with the Pro Blend which all hydro stores seem to recommend.. and get grow/bloom/cal mag for like $40
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I use House and Garden and they have bloom nutes. Multi Zen Bud XL and Top Booster, but yeah they are expensive I use the House and Garden Cocos plus all thier other shit and it will cost about 300.00 when its all said and done. They are really good nutes that why they cost so much.
 
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