New Grower I need a ph meter for under $25. Suggestions please?

[The Squid]

Hey friends.
I have a little bit of extra cash(not really but I know I need one) so I am wanting to order a good, cheaper ph meter that will help me more than the liquid drops until I can afford a really good one. So if you have any suggestions and/or personal experience with any in my range hit me up. One love.

 

[Joe Dirt]

It's not the best, but it has worked well for me... Milwaukee 600 (I think that's the model number). I'm not aware of any other meters that are that inexpensive except the ebay/chinese ones.

 

[JM]

i'd stay with the liquid drops until you can afford a hannah or something... milwaukee is horrible!!!!



http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002ZG8L58...d=18798821381604559531&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=

you almost always get what you pay for...

 

[cres]

What ever you buy buy a big bottle of the calibration fluid... Dont believe the fucking thing unless you calibrate it often...

And as soon as you forget and let your ph meter dry out...guess what its done.

 

[The Squid]

Effed it up cres! haha. Thanks guys so hey jm am I ok doing that though with the drops? It'll be a while before I can spend a hundred something $s on a good one that does it all. I guess with the drops I can tell if it's either yellow or greenish yellow. Which is right in between 6 and 6.5. Which is good. But it's tricky to check my runoff with the drops, and for nutrients as well because of the color change. Not sure what I should do damnit. haha

 

[The Squid]

Hey what about cheaper soil testers? Like the probe ones or something of the like. Just wondering... Thanks.

 

[zaQ]

I used this for two grows. $14.99 Free world wide shipping.

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/0-6-lcd-ph-test-pen-set-3-ag13-42734

But now I have changed to a better. Its always better to buy good quality in the end. You save money in the long run.

 

[The Squid]

Awesome that looks cool and you have experience with it. Would I need calibration solution and storing solution?

 

[slightlystoopid]

Seen this the other day http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-HANNA-H...aultDomain_0&hash=item45f2951bad#ht_704wt_922.
Replaceable electrode is always nice

 

[JM]

yeah, get a radpitest for now... 25 bucks... ish
http://www.amazon.com/Luster-Leaf-1880-Rapitest-Electronic/dp/B000HHLJQA/ref=pd_sim_lg_1

or here's one i havent tried... but looks nice:

https://www.sunlightsupply.com/p-14072-rapitest-digital-plus-soil-ph-meter.aspx

the drops are fine and simple...

to test runoff... water till runoff as usual... collect the total runoff and swirl it up good... (to make sure even distribution oh ph)

then collect to your tester vial... add 4-5 drops instead of 3 (color will be stronger but still on) if its still too muddy to see... wait a couple hours and let it settle... make sure to mix drops well with testing solution to insure that the color sticks after settling... hope this helps.