How often do you need to calibrate ph meters

[Guest]

Don't waste your money on ph test pen. Just get the drops to test it. Yeah the nutrients change the color but when you add the ph testing drops it changes the color according to you ph levels at least for me it's easier and since I started using drops instead of my pen I've had no deficiencys.. the run off from my plant comes out pretty clear and when I test it the ph is where I want it which means my initial ph test is where I want it which means the drops are giving me the correct reading even with off colored nutrient water.. so if you ask me a 10 oz bottle of drops on amzon is $10 and the pen over 100 and you still have to but solution to store it re calibrate in other words a never ending expense just as if you where using drops except the drops are cheaper and no maintenance necessary.. I say why make it more work than you need.. my 2 cents..

[OzBud]

Can you post a photo of a jug of your nutrient solution? There's no way I'd be able to use test strips with the colour of mine. Even the runoff is coloured.

[CCisme]

When I broke mine, zi found that using the liquid drops w nutes was impossible, I was meticulous and still had a ph issue in the week to getting the new pen.

[OzBud]

The cap can be a bit tight sometimes, I could see that some people may have a bit of an issue getting it off if they don't have a great deal of physical or grip strength for whatever reason. Once it's off for the first time though someone could store the probe in a shot glass or something similar full of storage solution and never have to put the cap on and take it off again.
The not holding calibration comments surprise me,Mine holds calibration great, mine wasn't used for 7 months (kept in storage solution though) and after all that time without calibration it was still spot on with the 4.0 solution and only 0.1 above the 7.0 before I recalibrated to start this grow

[StoneyTony]

Thanks OZ. I believe I will get the BluLab. I've always used the drops, but have always had issues with my plants. This is the first grow I've done with a pen and it's been perfect so far. In my case I've had a hard time determine the color with the drops accurately. Type of daylight out side, what lights I had on in the house, what glasses I was wearing, etc. all seem to change the color - no matter what I did.

[OzBud]

I've seen Nebulas video, my nutrient solution gets quite darker than that due to using the full GH line instead of just the trio as there's a few quite dark coloured supplements including Floralicious Plus and FloraBlend

[OzBud]

I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Blue Lab Stoney

[oldjarhead100]

so I ended up buying a new pen from my local grow store its not a blue lab but they stopped carrying the Hanna because it was junk so I picked up the one they use so far so good

[StoneyTony]

Keep us posted.