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How often do you need to calibrate ph meters

oldjarhead100

oldjarhead100

New member
so I was watering the clones yesterday and the starting PH was 8.4 .I decided to check my Hanna ph meter and the high end was off adjusted it ok checked the lower end that was ok. How often does everyone else calibrate there meters and such .
 
I have a cheap PH pen that I've been using for about 18 months now. I find that I have to calibrate after every four or five feedings or so (maybe once a month or so during my grow). However, it should be pointed out that when I make those adjustments, they are usually pretty small. Adjusting my pen so often is probably more for my own piece of mind than anything else.

One of the things that I think is prolonging the life of my pen is that after each use, I put a little bit of 4.0 PH calibration / storage fluid in the cap so that the probe does not dry out.
 
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I use tap water. I adjust cheap ph pen once a month or if I feel it's actin funny. I use coco, making water up everyday I can almost eyeball ph my water. I got my pen sitting in storage solution in cutoff plastic bottle sit ting inside a heavy glass cup, so it won't tip over. I will probly invest in a quality pen when this one dies. My 2 cents
 
Like Jibberjoe I pretty much know what my Ph is going to be with a set amount of Ph Down and nutes, I only re-calibrate my Hanna Ph pen when it reads significantly outside what I expect. I think I've re-calibrated twice in the last year. I also use the storage solution in the cap and a small glass to stand the pen in when not in use.
 
I calibrate my cheap pH pen every time I use it, cause I just can't rely on it.
Every time I test it, it seems to have increased by 0.03 or so, but maybe that's cause I don't use storage solution. I just wash it after use, leave the probe kinda wet and put the cap back on.
I do have 4.0 solution. Should I be storing it in that, or is it not worth using it up for a cheap pH pen?
 
Ive done mine twice since I started and I dropped a pen in a bucket of water, I have NO hand strength, any pressure is pain so... lololol leaves everyone auround me entertained at my ability to drop everything lolol and that hands broken lol just got my pins out. Its really amusing most days.
 
I am repeating myself but..I am very enthusiastic about the BlueLab pH pen. The pen plus the 2 calibration fluids and the storage solution ranges @ $100. The pen tells me when to calibrate in its message windows. Heck mark says I'm cool... o check mark says calibrate. Easy to do. The pen must be kept hydrated ( with solution which I do every time I put it away). Recalibrate maybe every month or month and a half. It is accurate, easy to use and has saved me a lot of grief. You get what you pay for :)
 
I agree with Tika, the BlueLab pH pen is great.
It might be a bit expensive but it's accurate and will last years and years when looked after.
It's fully waterproof (I haven't tested this), has a hold feature, auto off and shows you water temp which you can change between C/F.
It shows you on the display when it should be recalibrated (approximately every 30 days, pretty sure it goes by days, not because it knows it's no longer accurate), I've checked the readings using the 4.0 and 7.0 solution before recalibration a few times, twice it was still spot on and once it was up by .1
 
Lol same here.. I got tired of guessing if my pen was correct or not.. I just use the drops now.. after a grow you will know your water and how to ph it so your plant will love it.. plus you just add 3 drops and bam you see a color easy to read I usually ask my kids what color is this and go with what they say cus they see what I see LOL.. Drops the way to go cheaper or the same as buying solutions for you pen and that's not including the price of the pen..
 
Thanks everyone I have a Hanna and It is not a calibration issue its just junk hahaha .top scale went crazy wont adjust so I ordered a new blue lab
 
I'd be really interested in hearing your opinion of the two after you have gain some experience using the Blue lab.
More consistent readings? Better calibration?..I'm using a cheap Jellas and can't simultaneously have it correct at 4.0 and 7.0 when calibrating.....
TIA
 
The bluelab pen being sold in my grow shop here costs the equivalent of 270 dollars. That's why I didn't buy it. Fuck spending that much on a pH pen.
Maybe for my next grow i'll order something good from overseas. :)
 
Hey guys I was looking up the BlueLab pH pen on Amazon and the reviews are not that great. Mainly people are saying that it doesn't hold the calibrations very well and they have a hard time getting the cap off when they first get it. So I wanted to hear from my trusted brothers and sisters here how they feel about that.
 
Initially I was using the GH liquid- some find it good- I can't see how it can be accurate as many nutes mixed gain color and right there you can't have an accurate read by color chart alone as the color chart is determined by clear liquid...not a colored solution.
the Blue lab has worked fine for me for 2 years at least. Cap you learn how to remove....no problem.
I have not used other pens. Mine with solutions ran about 100$. They need to be cared for like any fine tool. No big deal :)
 
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Thanks Tika. I take the Amazon reviews with a grain of salt. You never know if the reviewer is an Apt person with technology or a Dumb Ass. I trust your opinion and experience much more - Thank you again :)
 
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