My ph meters keep showing different amounts and don't seem to respond to ph changes, but they always read the reference solutions correctly.

[AutoWonders]

That doesn't seem right. I even remember being instructed on how to store the electrode in a ph meter in high school and college chemistry courses. Can anyone else confirm if they store their ph meter dry?

I took a look at the meters you bought. Do you see any info regarding having it sit in solution when not in use? Please point that out to me. I have a bunch similar to that style and not one of them sits in solution when not in use. They store dry!

 

[GeorgeCloney]

This argument is amazing.
I own a $250 Blulab professional grade soil PH tester.
Guess what, its stored with a wet tip.
End of argument.

You get what you pay for in todays world.
If you buy a $8 Chinese ph pen... You will get $8 Chinese results.
So perhaps every lab on the planet buying $1000 PH pens are idiots????

My advice is, dont screw with cheap ph pens, they will mislead you more, than using absolutely nothing!!

Getting a $10 pool ph kit, will be more accurate long term , than something Chinesium.

This is not to say a good quality ph pen NEVER needs calibration.
It will....
The more you use it, the more frequently it should be calibrated.
Faster, and more accurate readings will be had.
These kinds of pens are designed to keep from ( new term here boys)...floating.
Meaning variances from true values.
Used 20 to 30 times a day.
The Blulab is regularly off by 0.02 every 90 days ( or dipped in earth!!!)...every 2500 times.
Piece of Sh!t...

The $8 Chinesium will be without fault to 0.3 every 4 tries.
Which is impressive really.
For 5 to 10 days...
Not 90.
And +-0.5 meaning 1/2........N0T 0.02(1/50)

Now, there is a cheat that is possible...
Listen up boys and girls..
Uncle Georgie is going to show you all how to cheat!
Calibrate your Chinesium pen...test a solution and record.
Use a $ 100 PH pen in the same solution and record.
Keep the Chinesium calibrated every 2 to 3 days to hold accuracy.
The test solution mixes are about $0.30 each.
To do it properly you need 2 to 3 solutions.
$1/day...or $30/month.
Long live the savings of Chinesium

 

[Bantersaurus]

This argument is amazing.
I own a $250 Blulab professional grade soil PH tester.
Guess what, its stored with a wet tip.
End of argument.

You get what you pay for in todays world.
If you buy a $8 Chinese ph pen... You will get $8 Chinese results.
So perhaps every lab on the planet buying $1000 PH pens are idiots????

My advice is, dont screw with cheap ph pens, they will mislead you more, than using absolutely nothing!!

Getting a $10 pool ph kit, will be more accurate long term , than something Chinesium.

Argument? lol? Just shooting the shit and discuss ph meters.

So, you store yours wet? Ok, see, that's what I thought.

I took a look at the meters you bought. Do you see any info regarding having it sit in solution when not in use? Please point that out to me. I have a bunch similar to that style and not one of them sits in solution when not in use. They store dry!

It's in the small instruction booklet that they came with. My general knowledge and experiences in chem courses reinforces this.

 

[GeorgeCloney]

Argument in the sense of discussion...
Not disagreement

I have 3 PH pens.
An $8 from Amazon.
A $60 Dr.Meter which is my every day go to.
And the soil ph Blulabs.
The $8 meter has caused me more $ of lost or ruined plants... Than the $300 combined of the Dr. Meter +Blulabs!!

A decent ph pen just keeps its accuracy tighter...and for a longer period of time.
All need regular calibration.

Here is a life secret.
What you save in $, will be paid in time.
Which do you have more of?

 

[Bantersaurus]

Argument in the sense of discussion...
Not disagreement

I have 3 PH pens.
An $8 from Amazon.
A $60 Dr.Meter which is my every day go to.
And the soil ph Blulabs.
The $8 meter has caused me more $ of lost or ruined plants... Than the $300 combined of the Dr. Meter +Blulabs!!

A decent ph pen just keeps its accuracy tighter...and for a longer period of time.
All need regular calibration.

Here is a life secret.
What you save in $, will be paid in time.
Which do you have more of?

I completely agree with you, but I need to present a "business plan" to myself so that I can justify the extra cost. This first grow has taught me a lot, and the rest of my budget is going to some Root Riot cubes and a heat mat so that I don't kill 3/4 seeds. After my next grow of 3 plants, I'll go for a Dr. Meter or the PH50.

 

[Jimmythenugg]

Hey @GeorgeCloney I have developed a little push back against 'Chinesium'.
No push back against people (people i dislike equally wherever they from), just the constant crap that is being pushed our way: Uk based but guess its same in aus or state side.
Pumps lasting 3 weeks, lights that give out after a month or so, not to mention warranty problems cause they dont care ( oh and PH pens lasting a 10days before they become 'uncalibratable')
Its all just sh1t and comes with a credit line in earth damage.
Costs a little more but replacing any stuff i need now with as local as possible products.
Its better all round.

 

[GeorgeCloney]

Hey @GeorgeCloney I have developed a little push back against 'Chinesium'.
No push back against people (people i dislike equally wherever they from), just the constant crap that is being pushed our way: Uk based but guess its same in aus or state side.
Pumps lasting 3 weeks, lights that give out after a month or so, not to mention warranty problems cause they dont care ( oh and PH pens lasting a 10days before they become 'uncalibratable')
Its all just sh1t and comes with a credit line in earth damage.
Costs a little more but replacing any stuff i need now with as local as possible products.
Its better all round.

Unfortunately it took covid19 for the world to wake up.
From the the makers of N95 masks, Corona virus.
On the world scene the Chinese fucked themselves. Made in China has a new meaning to all.

 

[AutoWonders]

That

t's in the small instruction booklet that they came with. My general knowledge and experiences in chem courses reinforces this.

That's interesting. Wonder why it doesn't show that with online info. If your manual says so, then that's that. Lead with that next time.

 

[AutoWonders]

This argument is amazing.
I own a $250 Blulab professional grade soil PH tester.
Guess what, its stored with a wet tip.

It's not an argument. And it does not include those that sit in solution, like the Bluelabs, which I own as well. This is specifically about the cheapie meters, of which I have about 6 right now that I don't use. All of them store dry. That's it. Original poster now says that his manual shows cheapie stores wet. I didn't see any info online that says it stores wet. It's unusual is all. No biggie. I've never seen a cheapie meter that stores wet.

 

[Jimmythenugg]

Cheap yellow meters come with a cap for a reason, no??