Banditt
Well-Known Member
Ok, well I am starting to get aggravated with PH testing. I got a PH controller with my hydro setup. This is the controller: http://www.stealthhydroponics.com/product.php?xProd=136&xSec=27
So after using it for about a week (I didn't try calibrating out of the box because it said it was calibrated from the factory) i find out that the readings are off. I got a packet of about 80 PH test strips with my setup. So in comparing results between the two I found the digital was way off. I got calibration solutions and attempted to calibrate the digital. Problem is I could not get the calibration to work on the controller because I could not get it to calibrate with the 4.01 solution. Lowest I could get the meter to display was 6.84 or something around there. So I said screw it I need a meter for now and I ordered a Hanna PH/Temp meter. It came in today, this time I calibrated before using it. Calibration went smoothly and according to the meter was a success. So I go and check my water and the meter displays 7.1. Well last night with the ph test strips my ph was around 5.5-6.0 so I know something is up. Not knowing if the test strips were bad or the meters I decided to try one of the test strips in the calibration solution. Reading came out perfect, exactly what it should be on the strips, 7.01. I tested the water again with the strips and I am still in the 5.5-6.0 range according to the strips....
This is starting to piss me off because while the strips are good and all, I would like to get an exact digital readout of the ph. Anyone have any similar experiences? Am I doing something wrong? I find it hard to beleive I have two defective meters that are both less then 2 weeks old. Any suggestions on what might be causing the readings from the digital to be so far off the strips?
So after using it for about a week (I didn't try calibrating out of the box because it said it was calibrated from the factory) i find out that the readings are off. I got a packet of about 80 PH test strips with my setup. So in comparing results between the two I found the digital was way off. I got calibration solutions and attempted to calibrate the digital. Problem is I could not get the calibration to work on the controller because I could not get it to calibrate with the 4.01 solution. Lowest I could get the meter to display was 6.84 or something around there. So I said screw it I need a meter for now and I ordered a Hanna PH/Temp meter. It came in today, this time I calibrated before using it. Calibration went smoothly and according to the meter was a success. So I go and check my water and the meter displays 7.1. Well last night with the ph test strips my ph was around 5.5-6.0 so I know something is up. Not knowing if the test strips were bad or the meters I decided to try one of the test strips in the calibration solution. Reading came out perfect, exactly what it should be on the strips, 7.01. I tested the water again with the strips and I am still in the 5.5-6.0 range according to the strips....
This is starting to piss me off because while the strips are good and all, I would like to get an exact digital readout of the ph. Anyone have any similar experiences? Am I doing something wrong? I find it hard to beleive I have two defective meters that are both less then 2 weeks old. Any suggestions on what might be causing the readings from the digital to be so far off the strips?