Best and most accurate PH and PPM meters..?

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Deadstill

Deadstill

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BlueLab is good you just have to treat them with the respect that their price demands. If you are careful with them and do not ever drop them and do not ever let the pH pen dry out, they will last forever. I keep mine in a safe location where I know they won't get damaged.
 
Observationist

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I don't buy them. But Blue lab is the only expensive one I'd bother with. But I prefer drops. Sounds like everyone agrees.
cost effective.

easier to get a 3-5$ bottle of phenol-red then a 100-200$ bluelabs ph pen, but i do love the simultaneous digital read out....but thatll pen will probably pay for itself in time with proper care.
 
Deadstill

Deadstill

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cost effective.

easier to get a 3-5$ bottle of phenol-red then a 100-200$ bluelabs ph pen, but i do love the simultaneous digital read out....but thatll pen will probably pay for itself in time with proper care.

The only reason I don't like drops is some folks are colorblind and don't know it. I'm not, personally, but if I ever want someone else to do it, I'd rather they used a pen.

If I remember correctly, I think it's a little cheaper, too, if you purchase the Bluelab "Grower's Toolbox" which has both the pH pen and conductivity pen. I think I saved like 40 or 50 bucks buying that, rather than separately. Shop around because there are retailers selling it for cheaper than Bluelab's website
 
Observationist

Observationist

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The only reason I don't like drops is some folks are colorblind and don't know it. I'm not, personally, but if I ever want someone else to do it, I'd rather they used a pen.

If I remember correctly, I think it's a little cheaper, too, if you purchase the Bluelab "Grower's Toolbox" which has both the pH pen and conductivity pen. I think I saved like 40 or 50 bucks buying that, rather than separately. Shop around because there are retailers selling it for cheaper than Bluelab's website
oh yeah,that too, also women perceive colors better then men i read.

thanks, definitely want to get one.
 
Clyde4210

Clyde4210

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I meant that blue lab is worth a premium investment. And it's either that or drops that I'd choose.
I got the Asperia or whatever off Amazon. I don't use it and it's garbage but probably my fault I think I was a little too hard on it. I use drops it's easy and you know instantly. I've even used bad drops for weeks and nailed it. I feel good with the drops and I'll stay with that. I still use the pH meter on fresh buckets along with drops so I can get an idea of what I'm looking at.
 
RootsRuler

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I take their pen solution and put it in a cup and just stick my pens in there to maintain moisture at the probe end.
 
Clyde4210

Clyde4210

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I have the Apera 20 and I shook mine too hard too many times and dropped it a couple times. Amazon gave it too me free because it was late delivery. I still use it but for fresh buckets only and compare it to drops. Helps me know exactly the pH is using drops without a pen.
 
Moe.Red

Moe.Red

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The best one is the one you can get your hands on that has 2 point calibration. Like 7.0 and 4.0 or 10.0.

The nature of these probes is that they drift over time. Calibration is key.

I used to use BlueLab and was happy, but now I make my own.
 
Moe.Red

Moe.Red

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Please explain how you make your own.
Well, its a whole thing. Keep an eye on @Aqua Man 's thread for glimpses.


Once you buy the parts and build your own, you can do all sorts of cool things like PH Dosing, text yourself alerts, crap like that. I can run my grow from my phone.
 
Moe.Red

Moe.Red

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How much we looking at uncle Moe 😃 ya got me sitting up..
Sorry bud, not quite ready for that. I'm still working with prototypes and doing a lot of testing. Also depends on what functionality you want.

Once you put a microcontroller in the mix and start writing software, it seems a waste to just do PH. Once you get to that point, additional cost to add more functionality is just the cost of the probes you want.

RH, TEMP, PH, EC, O2, DO, PPFD, control over AC outlets like pumps, fans, yada yada and the list goes on.

Then the cool part is the historical data.

I'm a geek.
 
BigBlonde

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Sorry bud, not quite ready for that. I'm still working with prototypes and doing a lot of testing. Also depends on what functionality you want.

Once you put a microcontroller in the mix and start writing software, it seems a waste to just do PH. Once you get to that point, additional cost to add more functionality is just the cost of the probes you want.

RH, TEMP, PH, EC, O2, DO, PPFD, control over AC outlets like pumps, fans, yada yada and the list goes on.

Then the cool part is the historical data.

I'm a geek.
I'd be surprised if something like that didn't already exist. I've been paying a little attention to the new commercial-scale vertical farms in which the environment is sealed and controlled. Those must have computerized control systems. I suppose they're proprietary, though. Maybe some will eventually be scaled down for consumer markets.
 
Aqua Man

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I'd be surprised if something like that didn't already exist. I've been paying a little attention to the new commercial-scale vertical farms in which the environment is sealed and controlled. Those must have computerized control systems. I suppose they're proprietary, though. Maybe some will eventually be scaled down for consumer markets.
They do but there are many aspects that can be improved upon and are not utilized. Its not my place to say what those are or what what he is working on but much like the systems we are working on somethings are known and understood yet not utilized or incorporated. That’s exactly how advancements happen. Someone finds a way to utilize or incorporate them
 
BigBlonde

BigBlonde

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They do but there are many aspects that can be improved upon and are not utilized. Its not my place to say what those are or what what he is working on but much like the systems we are working on somethings are known and understood yet not utilized or incorporated. That’s exactly how advancements happen. Someone finds a way to utilize or incorporate them
Oh, I understand and I'm not prying. I'm just an old retired programmer who did a lot of work with data-driven systems. So, I can't help but look at my tent and think about what could be done to automate the process. I have a temperature and humidity sensor in the tent and can see the values on my phone from anywhere. But looking is all I can do. There's no integration to change fan speed, for example. So I'm just interested because this is fun stuff.
 
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