EC from ebay, ok or crap
- Thread starter lax123
- Start date
joe macclennan
Well-Known Member
I have no idea what that is. It has been a verrrrry long time since i've ran dirt. I use liquid ph buffers for everything.
fir3dragon
Well-Known Member
I know you get what you pay for, but I don't want to spend cash on a meter I don't need for soil
joe macclennan
Well-Known Member
and as I said I wouldn't get an ec meter for soil. Maybe ph...maybe and that's only cuz I hate those damn strips.
You said you were gonna order the combo pack with both for 150 and I was like if you are gonna get an ec meter get the truncheon. I stand by that.
You said you were gonna order the combo pack with both for 150 and I was like if you are gonna get an ec meter get the truncheon. I stand by that.
fir3dragon
Well-Known Member
My bad lol. I have to agree about those strips.. Ill just get the ph meter then and some storage solution. Does the ph meter need calibrated? If so ill get some of that too
joe macclennan
Well-Known Member
no worries bro!
as far as the calibration solution..
I would. A small bottle of each should last you a very long time.You only use like an oz. of each at a time. I know some people who say they've went months without calibrating their bluelabs. I personally don't go over a month. I like to calibrate every two weeks. But I'm in hydro and it gets used daily Often twice daily.and am a bit anal about my ph.
if you are in dirt and only gonna use it once or twice a week I could see you going a month or more between calibrations tho.
I believe you will be very happy with it.
as far as the calibration solution..
I would. A small bottle of each should last you a very long time.You only use like an oz. of each at a time. I know some people who say they've went months without calibrating their bluelabs. I personally don't go over a month. I like to calibrate every two weeks. But I'm in hydro and it gets used daily Often twice daily.and am a bit anal about my ph.
if you are in dirt and only gonna use it once or twice a week I could see you going a month or more between calibrations tho.
I believe you will be very happy with it.
fir3dragon
Well-Known Member
Alright. Thanks a lot. Saved me about 100 bucks? More then that.... No need to buy equipment ill never use. I got a cheap ph meter, but you mention storage solution... I never use any of that so its prolly not even working properly..
joe macclennan
Well-Known Member
i'd be surprised if it's working properly. And even if it is, that's good. Now you'll have a backup and have one meter to check against the other to ensure accuracy.
yes, you need storage solution for sure
and you'll need both 4.0 and 7.0 calibration solution.
you need all these things to maintain any ph meter.
Think of it like a car. Sure, you can get in it and drive it to town every day and never check the oil. It might last you a long time...
but If you perform a little maintenance on her, she WILL last you a very long time.
be careful around the bulb tho. They break and scratch very easily.
yes, you need storage solution for sure
and you'll need both 4.0 and 7.0 calibration solution.
you need all these things to maintain any ph meter.
Think of it like a car. Sure, you can get in it and drive it to town every day and never check the oil. It might last you a long time...
but If you perform a little maintenance on her, she WILL last you a very long time.
be careful around the bulb tho. They break and scratch very easily.
fir3dragon
Well-Known Member
very good info. Thanks a lot man. I wrote it all down so I won't forget lol. 20 bucks for calibration solution 15 for storage solution and 80 for the pen...
joe macclennan
Well-Known Member
and those solutions should last you over a year. I would replace all those solutions after one year tho.
edit: you guys are both very welcome. I enjoy helping people out around here when I can.
edit: you guys are both very welcome. I enjoy helping people out around here when I can.
joe macclennan
Well-Known Member
agreed, and a little experience.
TreeOfLiberty
Well-Known Member
I use cheap meters but I buy from eseasongear.
The cheap TDS meter I use is an HM Digital brand and I use 2 of them, also use 2 of the Milwaukee 600 pH meters and I test them against each other. I've always believed in having 2 meters of the same type because I know that when they're both reading the same number after calibration and even 2 weeks after calibration that I'm dead on accurate. I'm a fanatic about keeping electrode cleaning and calibration solutions stocked up because I believe in frequent electrode cleaning and calibrating. I keep fresh 1.5 batteries for the meters as back up also.
If you're going to go cheap, buy 2 meters of the same type and test them against each other. Even if I did spend $100 on a fancy name brand meter I wouldn't trust the bastard until I spent another $100 to have 2 matching meters to test against each other.
All of my meters are almost 3 years old now and just as accurate as day 1.
I use HI 7061 electrode cleaning solution by Hanna and General Hydroponics standard reference solution 1500 ppm NaCI.
Some of the super cheap meters on ebay with no name I would not trust and I've seen them as low as $7.00.
If you want a cheap meter that's reliable and want to know that you're accurate , buy 2 of these>
http://www.eseasongear.com/hmditdme.html
They are $15.59 each but $30.38 for 2.
You don't have to have 2 , but the extra one let's you know you're dead on accurate. Think of it as a good insurance of assurance.
I have 2 of these for pH also >
http://www.eseasongear.com/ph600.html
I'm can't help being obsessed with having a back-up to everything, but I'm cheap also.
The cheap TDS meter I use is an HM Digital brand and I use 2 of them, also use 2 of the Milwaukee 600 pH meters and I test them against each other. I've always believed in having 2 meters of the same type because I know that when they're both reading the same number after calibration and even 2 weeks after calibration that I'm dead on accurate. I'm a fanatic about keeping electrode cleaning and calibration solutions stocked up because I believe in frequent electrode cleaning and calibrating. I keep fresh 1.5 batteries for the meters as back up also.
If you're going to go cheap, buy 2 meters of the same type and test them against each other. Even if I did spend $100 on a fancy name brand meter I wouldn't trust the bastard until I spent another $100 to have 2 matching meters to test against each other.
All of my meters are almost 3 years old now and just as accurate as day 1.
I use HI 7061 electrode cleaning solution by Hanna and General Hydroponics standard reference solution 1500 ppm NaCI.
Some of the super cheap meters on ebay with no name I would not trust and I've seen them as low as $7.00.
If you want a cheap meter that's reliable and want to know that you're accurate , buy 2 of these>
http://www.eseasongear.com/hmditdme.html
They are $15.59 each but $30.38 for 2.
You don't have to have 2 , but the extra one let's you know you're dead on accurate. Think of it as a good insurance of assurance.
I have 2 of these for pH also >
http://www.eseasongear.com/ph600.html
I'm can't help being obsessed with having a back-up to everything, but I'm cheap also.
you have a calibration solution...why then use 2 meters? You put it in 4.0 and 8.0 and if it doest show 4 and 8 its not working. Or dont u trust your solution, but then both would get calibrated wrong anyways. But still, thanks alot for ur post and links. You dont use soil but dwc, do you?
TreeOfLiberty
Well-Known Member
I do use soil. It's an aspergers thing. Obsessed over accuracy and details. Check, re-check, then check again. I even use pH test strips in addition to my 2 pH meters. I believe in having back-ups to back-ups. 