Ph Reader

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Racky

Well-Known Member

• Aug 21, 2022

• #1

What is a good PH reader? I got one off amazon in a 3in 1 pack. It worked ok for few weeks but now when i turn it on it flashes a bunch of random numbers over and over instead of 0000

 

GangaDownUnder

Well-Known Member

• Aug 21, 2022

• #2

Have you tried a new battery?

Otherwise I prefer the vial with the drops for ph over an electronic one.

 

LeastExpectedGrower

Well-Known Member

• Aug 21, 2022

• #3

Have you calibrated or recalibrated the one you have?

 

R

Racky

Well-Known Member

• Aug 21, 2022

• #4

LeastExpectedGrower said:

Have you calibrated or recalibrated the one you have?

Click to expand...

No not yet, i was thinking i need to recalibrate

 

LeastExpectedGrower

Well-Known Member

• Aug 21, 2022

• #5

Racky said:

No not yet, i was thinking i need to recalibrate

Click to expand...

That's step one to figuring out if it is functional or not. If it won't hold calibration, then you're in the market for a new pH meter. Also, if you dodge this bullet and it still works, you should be using storage solution for the probes so they don't 'go bad'.

 

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Racky

Well-Known Member

• Aug 21, 2022

• #6

Yeah that is where i messed up. After every use all i did was wipe and blow it dry.

 

LeastExpectedGrower

Well-Known Member

• Aug 21, 2022

• #7

Racky said:

Yeah that is where i messed up. After every use all i did was wipe and blow it dry.

Click to expand...

They don't last long like that. At the very least they want some fluid keeping that bulb covered. Though really storage solution is key. If you're going to take a step to invest in a nicer one (rather than the 10$ cheap ones), get the storage and calibration fluids.

 

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Racky

Well-Known Member

• Aug 21, 2022

• #8

Oh yeah im gonna.

 

calvin.m16

Well-Known Member

• Aug 22, 2022

• #9

Fun Fact: This works 100% of the time and I don't have to replace batteries, calibrate it or worry about breaking it.

 

Rurumo

Well-Known Member

• Aug 22, 2022

• #10

Those inexpensive PH readers will crap out on you if they get even slightly wet. I lost two in one month due to moisture, until I spent a little bit more $$ and got my Apera which has remained accurate for 1.5 years. When it dies, I'll get a bluelab or maybe a nice Hanna. I agree with Calvin, drops are better than a cheap reader, but a quality reader makes your life easier than using drops.

 

MickFoster

Well-Known Member

• Aug 22, 2022

• #11

Cheap, never needs calibration, and never wrong.

 

ClaytonNewbilFontaine

Well-Known Member

• Aug 22, 2022

• #12

I got lucky with a cheap Amazon one for about 6 months. Then it started giving me crazy readings. I would use the vial with drops to verify the readings were correct, but I had a hard time differentiating the colors. Also once you start adding nutrients the color of the water changes and I'm not sure how to get an accurate reading in the vial if the color of the water with nutrients is already brown. So I got a bluelab and I fucking love it.