Ph pen out of wack comparison

[Greenpassion]

I've been using the vantakool pH pen for the last 6 months. But I've also been reading that people sometimes have to to compare them to. I calibrated the new one which is supposed to be a van to cool as well, despite no wording on it. Anyway wildly different readings. So back to the consultant thing, he said the only way you can get a decent pH pen is to pay like 2 or $300. Anyone want to chime in on that one?

[Toker1]

This consultant is sounding more like a con than anything else.
Thats total BS... I have used $1200 professional water testing meters at my job, but I prefer my $20 PH pen that has lasted me 5 years now.
We don’t need to get lab grade results ( rounded to the nearest hundredth). Rounding to the nearest tenth is fine for growing purposes.
I once didn’t calibrate my pen for an entire year, just to see how far off it goes. It was off by .1 after one year.
The meter has to be washed with DI water then stored in a solution to stay operational. Most people don’t realize the bulb should never be stored dry on the PH pens.

[Peebz]

Buying a new one off the back off this 😂

[Vitaminthc]

Those cheap square pens a superb, I used one for about a year never really cleaning it so there was nutrient scale all over the diode, just checking the tap water before testing and it still gave accurate readings everytime, you get genuinely lab grade results.

All the expensive multimeters have exposed diodes some literally take readings of (cf/temp/ph) all off one sensor... mix that with temperature fluctuations and organic/synthetic mixed nutrients combos with fungi and bacteria and you don’t get such accurate readings..

Oh and the cheap shit ph pens the probe is already submerged in a liquid inside the diode if you look closely, they’re china quality they don’t need no special storage haha

[Redwasp]

Yeah I use the $20 pen and it is more than accurate enough. I occasionally double check my results with the drops but I do that just for my piece of mind. I know that my tap water stays at 7.24 to 7.29 and has for years so I have that as a comparison.

[Greenpassion]

This vantakool pH pen that I've been using is not one that needs to be stored in a solution. After I rinse it with distilled water I put the cap on it immediately so it doesn't get lift in the air. Initially that was strange to not have to store one in a storage solution but the instructions say it's not required. So that said, the pen apparently is accurate or I would be having pH problems. Which I am not.

[Toker1]

As long as the bulb doesn’t go dry... it’s all good. 👌

[Greenpassion]

Thanks Toker1

[gbauto]

I will use either drops or a dip stick to verify my meter readings if I suspect it's out of calibration. Dip sticks are almost impervious to failing.

[Greenpassion]

I don't quite understand. How do you use drops or dipstick to verify the accuracy?

[Canuck147]

I suspect he means litmus paper.

[Greenpassion]

What. Is litmus paper?

[Redwasp]

General Hydrophonics pH test kit.



Cheap and always accurate.

[Greenpassion]

if I recall I remember reading and actually experiencing that the color chart of that isn't actually accurate. But it's probably close enough. I don't want to overthink this. You guys are all awesome. That I have you guys to go to is just beyond great.

[Vitaminthc]

Honestly please just buy one of these $10, I bought three used two to compare and calibrate and one spare! Accurate and reliable!

Dont go for marketing hype, it’s a simple diode and a calculator battery, but the ones with the U.S. sticker will cost you the difference, these ones are even have automatic temperature compensation so it does give slightly varied readings at different temperatures.

When you’re ready for automation go for the full set up with auto feed dosing and ph maintenance, then it’s worth the full $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[starramus]

I have two of these , and they do the job. Also have the GH test kit to triple check.

[starramus]

Beware Chinese quality control.

[Toker1]

No such thing as QC in China.

[starramus]

Are you gonna put that blind guy out of a job?

[Greenpassion]

🤣😂😆 there's probably too many other people that fall for his stuff.