Cost of a TDS meter?

[HowardC]

I made the mistake of purchasing a cheap pH meter during my first grow. It turned out to be worthless so I purchased a very good quality pH meter to replace it. I suspect I will have it for a long time.
Now I'm on second crop and I'm about to harvest 4 plants, (likely will stagger the harvest slightly..), and I'm think about purchasing a TDS meter. I know it's late to worry about it but I couldn't afford another weed expense prior.
FWIW the plants were 8 cola trained with one plant having 7 and another with only 4 colas. There is one mystery plant that's likely indica and 3 Maui Wowie all entering week 9 today.
This has been a much better grow than the first one but I'm still not nearly satisfied with the results which is fine as I'm well inside the learning curve.
I'm looking for advice on a TDS meter and if having one is very important? I use the GH trio and dose slightly under the recommended while adding Cal-Mag most feedings and plain pH water every 5-6 watering. I bottom water BTW.
Thanks

 

[SlingShot]

very nice looking buds, well done,
it seems you've already discovered the 'buy once, cry once' positives with the failure of your first cheap ph meter, I purchased a Bluelab ph pen and their truncheon ec/tds meter, love them both, easy to read, the best in the biz, the only negative is the initial cost, AC Infinity also make a ph tds combo pen which I'm sure is top quality, but you already have a ph pen, if you're asking me, and you are, Bluelab and you're all good
and remember with the ph pen, 'if it dries it dies' always keep the glass tip wet, either clean water or better yet, kcl solution, best of luck

 

[amneziaHaze]

I had apera 40$ lasted until the garantie lasted.i go for 2$ aliexpress one each year downside its gonna say 120-140ppms bit for weed its aceptable.for ph meter i used to do the same every year a 3$ ph meter i have a blue lab now over a year old i kept it in kcl solution but its 3x slower than when i bought it we will see if it will last more than 2years

 

[SlingShot]

I had apera 40$ lasted until the garantie lasted.i go for 2$ aliexpress one each year downside its gonna say 120-140ppms bit for weed its aceptable.for ph meter i used to do the same every year a 3$ ph meter i have a blue lab now over a year old i kept it in kcl solution but its 3x slower than when i bought it we will see if it will last more than 2years

I don't really warranty products but I do know from other things I do that big brands, big names, big business, such as Bluelab will bend over backwards to retain a positive presence, if your ph pen gives up past the warranty time a friendly understanding email will have a replacement in hand more times than not

 

[amneziaHaze]

I don't really warranty products but I do know from other things I do that big brands, big names, big business, such as Bluelab will bend over backwards to retain a positive presence, if your ph pen gives up past the warranty time a friendly understanding email will have a replacement in hand more times than not

Disnt try i was annoyed how perfectly it died 1 day after warenty ended

 

[Beazy]

I had horrible luck with Apera PH meters 3 of them went bad right after warranty expired

 

[amneziaHaze]

I had horrible luck with Apera PH meters 3 of them went bad right after warranty expired

But readings from ppms where amazing allways showed one number and didnt move. If you buy an expensive ppm meter buy one with removable probe

 

[Coconutz]

If money was tight I'd buy a new/light use 2nd hand blue lab, the chances of it breaking down are slim, if you feel strongly about reliability buy 2 it'll still be around half the price.