Options for PH testing equipment?

[RandyL]

I'd like to hear about my best options for PH testing equipment. I was out looking at PH meters yesterday, and they were all in the $60 to $100 price range. Plus the calibration solution for 4.0 and 7.0 PH. All the meters were made by Hanna, is this a good reliable brand?

I was talking to someone in a hydro store, and he showed me a little liquid PH testing kit from General Hydroponics. It was a small bottle of some sort of testing fluid, with colored bars on the label with different PH numbers on them. The kit also contained a small plastic cup. According to the directions, you put 3-5 drops of the testing liquid in this little cup, and add the liquid you want to PH test. And the color it changes to is the PH.

At only $8, is this liquid testing kit reliable and accurate, or is it a waste of time? I think a regular PH meter would be better but $100 is a lot to spend at the moment. Plus we aren't done buying the needed items to grow yet either.

Opinions are appreciated!

[Hogdady]

imho i would say bite the bullet and get a good reliable meter....

[RandyL]

Are the Hanna brand PH meters a "good reliable" meter?

[Hogdady]

Originally Posted by RandyL

Are the Hanna brand PH meters a "good reliable" meter?

I have a Hanna pen, but I have heard some negative remarks regarding Hanna reliability. Take a look at the Milwaukee SM802. I have heard good things about it.

Milwaukee Instruments Smart SM802 pH/EC/TDS Meter

[Caddie]

Check out Milwaukee PH 600 on Ebay. They cost about $25 bucks shipped. Works great for me.

Took about two days of calibration, but now it holds steady.

[RandyL]

I ended up getting a Hanna Checker 1 PH meter for $41 at a local hydro store. I also got the 4.01 and 7.0 calibration solutions.

I let it soak in the 7.0 overnight as it was suggested to do in the instructions, tuned it for 7.0, and later that day, after thoroughly rinsing it out, I set it on the 4.01 solution. It was close right away, reading 4.02 before tuning.

It has 2 adjustable screws for setting the calibration.

[Hogdady]

Originally Posted by RandyL

I ended up getting a Hanna Checker 1 PH meter for $41 at a local hydro store. I also got the 4.01 and 7.0 calibration solutions.

I let it soak in the 7.0 overnight as it was suggested to do in the instructions, tuned it for 7.0, and later that day, after thoroughly rinsing it out, I set it on the 4.01 solution. It was close right away, reading 4.02 before tuning.

It has 2 adjustable screws for setting the calibration.

they also have a storage solution it should set in while you are not using it...

[LabRat]

I bought a Oakton Waterproof pHTestr 1 about five years ago and store it in dilute pH 7 calibration solution and it's dead on all the time. No adjustment screws, it's automatic. It wasn't cheap tho. About $125 USD but I got it a a hydro store so I could of got it cheaper if I shopped around. This one replaced a Hanna that only lasted a year. A couple of drops of peroxide in the storage solution keeps nasties from messing up the tip too.

Those cheap pH kits work close enough for a clear sample but any discolouration from the nutes and soil will make it difficult to read the colour scale.

A meter is for sure the best way to go but you could probably get by with the kit. pH test strips are another inexpensive option.