PH/EC Testers. What Do You Use?

[Weedhound]

And do you love them, hate them or could take or leave them?

Which ones do you guys think are the best and the worst? Fast or slow? Easy or hard to read? How about to calibrate and store?

ALL meters...ph, ec and/or tds any info would be great. :thumbsup:

Thanks. :jointsmile:

[BigWeed]

And do you love them, hate them or could take or leave them?

Which ones do you guys think are the best and the worst? Fast or slow? Easy or hard to read? How about to calibrate and store?

ALL meters...ph, ec and/or tds any info would be great. :thumbsup:

Thanks. :jointsmile:

I have a hanna grocheck combo cant live without it easy to use and easy to calibrate.:rasta::rastasmoke::pimp:

[PharmaCan]

I have a Milwaukee pH51. It's medium fast, easy to calibrate, the cap holds just the right amount of storage solution and doesn't leak.

Only negative I've found is that it doesn't have an auto shut-off.

PC :smokin:

[Opie Yutts]

I already said this in your other thread, but in case anyone cares and doesn't get over that way,

I have an inexpensive Control Wizard for both PPM and PH (two pens). As far as I know they've never done me wrong.

[Weedhound]

Well I've had horrible issues with both my hannas....ones a combo (waterproof) and the other is a handheld with probe on a stick thing. I've had sincere questions on BOTH of their accuracy more than once.

[rhizome]

Oakton pH Tester ( w/ ATC- well worth the $10 US)
Truncheon EC meter ( Mine's the old New Zealand Hydro manufacture- which should tell you how reliable these meters are. )

Both these meters are coming on ancient- but function like brand new.

Both are on their original electrodes.

The Oaktons pH meters will last a lot longer if you fold up a piece of filter paper ( I use a bit of a coffee filter) into a little square that you can tuck into the very tip of the cap and dampen w/ 7.0 buffer ( or storage solution, if ya just gotta have one more bottle on the shelf). Keeps the junction nice and moist. They used to come w/ this pre-installed- don't know why they stopped.

At some point you'll be tempted to calibrate in the cap- I gotta shamefully admit that I do, but w/o problems. ( I can hear Stinky groaning and muttering about " laboratory best procedure"...) Just rinse it out really well.

Let the Oakton TDS dry out once in a while- no wet-nap for the tds.

Truncheon has required no care but batteries, and the occasional wipe of the tip w/ some Scotchbrite. ( Ya gotta pop off the little oval tip sheild- DO NOT LOSE THIS!!! The design of the meter pretty much gaurantees that if you run w/o the tip gaurd, you will promptly manage to ground the electrodes and burn the board.)( NO STEEL WOOL! EVER!)

:stoned:Love the flashy lights.:stoned:

Most useable meter I've ever used- and I've used just about everything.


I've said it before and I'll say it again- :wtf:HANNA METERS ARE GOD-AWFUL CRAP.:wtf: Ya put it down in a non-reverent manner and it's done.

'Sa good idea to color-test the pH once in a while as a matter of course- It's tough to diagnose temp compensation circuit probs, as they won't show in calibration.

[Weedhound]

Well I just coughed up the dough for a Truncheon ph meter which will be here soon so I'm afraid it's too late for the oakton ph tester. One nice thing about the truncheon is the size of it....I can stick it in the w/f and never get my hand wet the way I always had to to with hannas....... and I got my drops so I'll be set with that as far as a backup.

I have a strong feeling that what you are saying about the temperature/condensation IS causing the issues with the hannas.....they calibrate dead on...then turn around and read the same solution several different ways...the reading for ph just is NOT reliable even minute to minute and the tds readers just quit.....period. They may need a new probe but they are actually taking a vacation out to my trash can. :D

I DO want to get a second tds/ec meter and was thinking of the truncheon.....does the truncheon read ppm AND ec? And do you know what the conversion is on them? I asked my hydro guy about liquid tds testers and he said they don't make them so a second tester would be the way to go. I'm sick and tired of getting caught short here. :wtf:

[dejayou30]

I use a Hanna Champ pH tester and a Sun Leaves TDS pen meter.

I agree that the Hanna is junk, but I have dropped mine off my hydro table (2 ft) onto cement a handful of times and it stays working. However, I am on my second meter because the first would no longer calibrate. I had to calibrate it every 2 days, and after about 5 weeks, it got to the point where I had turned the calibration screw down too many times and could not be turned down anymore. Luckily, I exchanged it for a new one at my local store. My new one stays calibrated for about a week and goes up a lot slower. Might have just been a bad meter, but I would say if you can afford to, stay away. It IS the cheapest pH meter available, so you get what you pay for.

My SunLeaves TDS meter is awesome. It was also very cheap and hasn't failed me yet. It also hardly ever needs calibration. I've had mine for a couple months now and I have only calibrated it like twice. The first time it read a 1K solution at 980 and the second was 1040. Its also very durable and has been dropped off the table more times than the pH meter.

[Weedhound]

It DOES seem as though the hannas are made to be dropped....the one with the long stick is JUST long enough to hit the floor hard if you hold the probe part. And they are SLOWER than goddamn molasses in January and all the stupid little quirks to keep it calibrated.....never again. :wtf:

[fosomker]

I like the continous a monitoring meter being a newbie. I use a tri meter that is really easy its just pricy. It has been helpful on several occassions, I have noticed when my water level gets too low because my PH meter and/or ppm/temp comes out of the water.

[Weedhound]

What brand is it fos?

[PharmaCan]

Rhizome - What is an ATC?

PC :smokin:

[fosomker]

Tri-Meter is the brand. For me it is fool proof, something I need when I get high.

Here is one site that sales it, I got mine a local grow store.
Tri-Meter Continuous Monitor PPM/pH/Temp (http://www.homedecorworld.com/browseproducts/Tri-Meter-Continuous-Monitor-PPM-pH-Temp.HTML)

[Weedhound]

PC....I think it means automatic temperature conversion....or something like that.

[Opie Yutts]

The flashing lights you love so much; the easiest calibration system ever; reliability only Bluelab products can provide; the longest lasting replaceable probe on the market; auto-on and off just like the Bluelab EC Truncheon; Automatic Temperature Compensation; a scale of 2.0 pH through 10.9 pH and it's available worldwide.

[SFGurrilla]

I just use a pHTestr Ultrabasic

[Opie Yutts]

I have an inexpensive Control Wizard for both PPM and PH (two pens). As far as I know they've never done me wrong.

I should have knocked on wood. My PPM meter started sucking. When I add nutes the ppm goes down. I got a little nute burn last feeding and now I know why. I thought it was kind of acting weird when I was mixing that batch, and come to think of it, when I was calibrating it about 3 weeks ago. I changed batteries then too.

I'm leaning toward the truncheon, which is just a style of meter according to the guy in the hydro store. As far as I can tell Bluelab makes the best of these, or at least the most popular. Maybe even their combo meter. It has a lot of things I like about it, especially the 5 year guarantee.
Bluelab : Manufacturers of the World's favorite pH, EC, CF and ppm handheld meters and controllers (http://www.getbluelab.com/index.html)

Those individual meters are huge though. I'm thinking they are for pools and not small reservoirs. The lights are cool though.

[Twentyinches]

Milwaukee SM802.... Got it because I got an awesome deal on it... plus had heard good things about it, anyone have one?

[Opie Yutts]

does the truncheon read ppm AND ec? And do you know what the conversion is on them? I asked my hydro guy about liquid tds testers and he said they don't make them so a second tester would be the way to go. I'm sick and tired of getting caught short here. :wtf:

Truncheon is a model of Bluelab products. Their multimeter does everything, but otherwise it's separate ph and ppm meter, both with nice, shiny, flashing lights, both about 2 feet long or something. You ought to check out the videos on their site I linked.

[gainesvillegreen]

Oaktons.... use Oaktons unless you want to fork out the big bucks.

Hanna makes nice products when you buy their more expensive pieces ($2-300 per individual tester). Their less expensive testers are fragile and need constant recalibration. Don't buy their combination units either because they break more frequently and are typically less accurate than separate meters. Hanna also is a pain in the ass when it comes to warrantying-out their items.

Oaktons are cheap (considering what you get) and they last forever. I use the ultrabasics and when I check the calibration on them every month, my pH meter is seldom off by more than .1 and the TDS changes by only about 20 ppm.

Whatever you decide on, buy a tester with a replaceable electrode... it will save you money down the road.

[Weedhound]

Yeah the truncheon ph meter and the truncheon ppm/ec.....I've bought one of each and am waiting on them...one in the mail and one at my hydro store.

Gainesville...you echo a LOT of people with the Oaktons but I find my ultrabasic a little hard to read with my eyesight and the waterfarms.....you have to hit the hold button before you can pull it out and read it. That's my only real complaint about my Oakton. The truncheons seem almost MADE for the waterfarms.....but they ARE quite $$$....especially the ph meter. :eek:

And DON'T get me started on the Hannas.....I had two combo units of theirs and couldn't trust either one of them. :wtf:

Opie.....the truncheon ppm meters also never need to be calibrated. Nice touch. :thumbsup:

[Opie Yutts]

I was just ready to buy the Milwaukee SM802, then all of a sudden I didnâ??t. Iâ??ve spent a good part of the afternoon looking around for meters. I went with both the Bluelabâ??s truncheon models, one for PH, one for PPM/EC. I nearly bought the Bluelab combo meter, but then I looked for a combo meter with one probe for everything, and that led me to the Milwaukee. I vaguely remember reading something about one probe for everything not being ideal. I donâ??t know if that has any truth to it, and I donâ??t remember what the reasoning was.

Long story short I now am the proud owner of a 16â?� long, $150, PH meter with lotsa nice flashing lights to look at when Iâ??m stoned. And to compliment it a PPM meter of similar nature. As best as I can figure out, Milwaukee is a great brand. Bluelab is top of the line though, so I took the plunge.

Milwaukee sm802:
http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=611 (http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=611)
What I liked:
Single probe for PH/EC/TDS
Price to get a reading for both PH and PPM ($150)

Bluelab truncheon models:
PH:
http://www.specialty-lights.com/716051.html (http://www.specialty-lights.com/716051.html)
What I liked:
Big easy to read readout, since Iâ??ll still be using it when Iâ??m 95.
Flashing, pretty lights.
Automatic on and off
One touch calibration
3 year guarantee, one year on the probe. (Milwaukee is 2 years, and 6 mo. for the probe)
No buttons, dials, or switches
What I didnâ??t like:
$$$
Itâ??s a little bigger than I saw myself with.

EC/CF/PPM 500 scale/PPM 700 scale
http://www.specialty-lights.com/716050.html (http://www.specialty-lights.com/716050.html)
What I liked:
Covers all the nutrient scales
Auto on and off
No calibration needed
Durable. They dropped it in in their video
5 year guarantee
No buttons, dials, or switches
Waterproof
Big and easy for my senile years
Yeah, I suppose the flashing lights
What I didnâ??t like:
$$$
Itâ??s a little bigger than I saw myself with.

Iâ??d better like these because Iâ??m pretty sure my wife wonâ??t (because of the price, and â??how many meters do you need?). I got them from Ebay, and I got a better deal than what other online or walk-in places were offering, and free shipping to boot.

Do you guys use any alternative to the store-bought probe cleaning solutions and probe storage solutions?

Here's some important info about CF,EC,PPM,TDS and mS/cm sq:
Bluelab (http://www.getbluelab.com/education/values_and_scales.html)
and here for a measurement conversion chart:
Bluelab : Measurement Conversion Chart (http://www.getbluelab.tx.co.nz/news/2004-06_conversion_chart.html)

The first pic is the Milwaukee.

[Weedhound]

Yes....those are what I ordered Opie! Now they just need to make their way to me....:D i'm told they are foolproof and accurate as hell and that's what I want.....despite all the $$$$$ spent (and there WERE $$$$$ spent...) :eek:

[stinkyattic]

pH: GH liquid indicator. It's VERY cheap and all you really need if you grow in compost or good soil, and your source water isn't outrageously bad.

EC: ehhh... I once licked the bottom of my pot to see how bad the salt tox I suspected was... does that count? It was pretty bad, in case anyone cares...

Caveat: I grow in compost. In hydro, I run Canna. I don't measure it. I'm not trying to tweak it hard enough to give a crap what the PPM is. Maybe one of these days... :D

If I cared, I'd go Truncheon all the way. Both of em. Maybe I'll ask my mom for a set for Christmas... you know, for my um... African violets... yeah... :D

Oh... HANNA SUCKS. They sent my old lab a bunch of pH electrodes a while back as freebies to test. At FREE, they were too expensive. THAT was a waste of time; we shoulda billed 'em for it. Ugh.

[Weedhound]

All right....I shouldn't....but I will. :D Are you saying your mom doesn't know you have 35 strains going on in your attic?

[Opie Yutts]

You're right, you shouldn't have.

But does she?

[Opie Yutts]

Both my truncheon meters arrived last night via UPS at about 10:30 PM. If you want to see kind of an interesting story about why it was so late go here:

http://boards.cannabis.com/cannabis-com-lounge/144527-what-i-went-through-get-good-ph-meter.html

[stinkyattic]

All right....I shouldn't....but I will. :D Are you saying your mom doesn't know you have 35 strains going on in your attic?

Luckily I'm 30 and own my OWN place... so my mom not knowing about my grow is a little different... she's anti-pot to the max.

[GodBud]

I have the Milwaukie SM802

Great meter!

Peace

[Weedhound]

That's the interesting part......does Mom drop by? Does mom notice the the mother plant you have going in the bathroom with the mh light or no? Does she think you just grow a LOT of tomatoes??? :D

[the image reaper]

I'm 56 years old, have a Doctor's Medical MJ recommendation, and if my Mom knew I was still smokin' pot, she would shit a truckload of kittens ... :S2:

[Weedhound]

They'd BETTER BE SPAYED AND NEUTERED ONES YOUNG MAN.....:wtf: :S2:

[Opie Yutts]

Yuuouch! An entire truckload? Sounds painful. Sounds a lot like my mom, and dad too.

[dejayou30]

My Hanna has fallen into the same fate as the last one where I can't turn it down. Do not buy Hanna Champ pH meters unless it is your absolute last resort for a digital meter. It DOES beat a liquid test kit, but not by much!