Help needed, looking for a PH Tester that won't break the bank

[Raskalius]

I use BlueLab. Aspera makes some good units but it's been hit or miss on accuracy and ability to stay calibrated in my experience. This is one piece of equipment I wouldn't skimp on, especially if you are running hydro or coco. BlueLab is good and durable but will stray out of calibration fairly quickly after about 8 months of use. Whatever you buy, calibrate weekly. IMHO, YMMV, etc.

I took the plunge and bought a "Bluelab BLU8000 Grower's Toolbox Pen, Conductivity Tester and Probe Care Kit"

 

[Raskalius]

I went cheap initially, it died after a week, and then I went to an Apera PH 60. It has now done about two and a half years of use (not all year), and it is still in close enough calibration for me. (still within ~.02 or so). The PH60 has a replaceable probe which costs not a lot more than one of the cheap units.

Good luck with your choice, but I recommend going with Apera or Bluelab. You can go cheap on the EC/PPM pen, but not the pH meter. Measuring pH is far more difficult, so decent meters cost more.

I went for the this - Bluelab BLU8000 Grower's Toolbox Pen, Conductivity Tester and Probe Care Kit

 

[Big Sul]

This became very relevant to me yesterday. I’ve been successfully using Hanna Checker for the last 2 grows without fail. Then out of nowhere, I was having trouble getting a stable reading when I decided to turn on res For Autopots. There is an 8 minute power off and the pen was timing out without settling. YES, I calibrated and stored in storage solution. When I tested with 7.0/4.0 solution it was able to read no problem. Try to read rainwater/tap water mix, times out. That is not acceptable to me so I went to my shop and bought a Blue Lab pen. fwiw.

 

[Raskalius]

This became very relevant to me yesterday. I’ve been successfully using Hanna Checker for the last 2 grows without fail. Then out of nowhere, I was having trouble getting a stable reading when I decided to turn on res For Autopots. There is an 8 minute power off and the pen was timing out without settling. YES, I calibrated and stored in storage solution. When I tested with 7.0/4.0 solution it was able to read no problem. Try to read rainwater/tap water mix, times out. That is not acceptable to me so I went to my shop and bought a Blue Lab pen. fwiw.

After being pointed towards Bluelab I bought their growers toolbox kit today on Amazon

 

[CannabisMingus]

I bought their growers kit

Good call.

 

[St. Tom]

After being pointed towards Bluelab I bought their growers toolbox kit today on Amazon

you cant go wrong with bluelab they will do you proud

 

[SneakyReefer]

This became very relevant to me yesterday. I’ve been successfully using Hanna Checker for the last 2 grows without fail. Then out of nowhere, I was having trouble getting a stable reading when I decided to turn on res For Autopots. There is an 8 minute power off and the pen was timing out without settling. YES, I calibrated and stored in storage solution. When I tested with 7.0/4.0 solution it was able to read no problem. Try to read rainwater/tap water mix, times out. That is not acceptable to me so I went to my shop and bought a Blue Lab pen. fwiw.

Let me say, the checker is not a good choice for alkalinity, calcium, and maybe PH (but know less about that one, most of the marine aquarium world didn't use pens and used probes on controllers or portable units). The others, calcium and alkalinity in particular were very easy to test accurately enough with far cheaper and easier reagent tests.

 

[SneakyReefer]

you cant go wrong with bluelab they will do you proud

I'll have to do some research on these... Since I've got you, where can I get info on what the various badges are? Thanks!

 

[St. Tom]

I'll have to do some research on these... Since I've got you, where can I get info on what the various badges are? Thanks!

on the newer software we are running now on-site there aren't a whole lot of badges available besides completed first grow etc

 

[Raskalius]

Let me say, the checker is not a good choice for alkalinity, calcium, and maybe PH (but know less about that one, most of the marine aquarium world didn't use pens and used probes on controllers or portable units). The others, calcium and alkalinity in particular were very easy to test accurately enough with far cheaper and easier reagent tests.

Which checker in YHO is not a good one?