Best ph pen??

[guest121295]

Could some of you folks chime in and give me some of your opinions regarding these fickle instruments? I seem to go through about 3 per year and I had a battle with 2 the other day that drove me mental. Which pen is bombproof and where is it??? Thanks, Chaco.

 

[GrnMtnGrwr]

http://www.bestlabdeals.com/Combo_pH_EC_TDS_C_tester_by_Ha_p/hi 98129.htm

 

[FreezerBoy]

As you've learned the hard way, pH pens are toys and a complete crapshoot. There's no clear winer such as the Bluelab EC Truncheon.

Of the pens, Milwaukee sucks the least followed by Oakton with Hanna bringing up the rear.

 

[guest121295]

Yeah, over the many years I've accumulated a drawer full of blown pens. The pen I use now is an Oakton phTester 1 or something like that and it's been no problem for 12 months until it went haywire the other day. Some new batteries and some curses brought her back into line. Thanks for the responses. I ordered a new one monday but I would certainly like to hear more because when my pens fail, well..everything screws up!!

 

[CovertCrops]

Proper storage of ph meter

Proper storage of ph meter

Chaco - Not sure if you do this but, always keep the electrode wet with tap water. Either fill the cap with some water or put a bit of paper towel in the bottom of the cap. Preferably the former. Allowing the electrode to dry out will kill your ph pen real quick. Hope your new one last's a bit longer. I've been through 2 beacuse I forgot to keep the first one wet. Good luck.

 

[GreenBizzle]

Blue Lab Combo meter...ph & ec/temp probes..300US but worth it.
Keep ph the probe in a glass of tap water when not being used. Clean & calibrate often. Bless

went through four hanna meters...but they are reallly good bout exchanging while under warranty.

 

[guest121295]

Yeah I always keep my meters in storage solution and calibrate them religiously. I clean them with some a&b cleaning solution and I've never let them go dry. Sometimes they simply flip out. Not always but at an occaisional critical moment. I've certainly had some good ones but I figured I'd ask and learn a thing or two and pick up a few meters and have them around for backup and comparison.I've had about 20 meters over the last 15 yrs and I figured I wasn't the only one who hadn't had a "10 year" meter. Mine is working real well today and next week I'll grab a few more.Thanks again, Chaco.

 

[Lune TNS]

I messed around with those pens for a couple years... Never liked any of them.

Unless you use additives like humic acid that turn the water straight black, color pH drops are the best in my opinion. Read cheap, they work awesome, and you never have to worry if they are calibrated or not... I pH to "yellow" and forget it, have never had a pH problem since I started using them...

http://www.wormsway.com/detail.aspx?t=prod&sku=PTI500&AC=1

 

[Mickymouse]

Why would you use a pen.Sun leaves drops $10.Easy to use,never break,never lie to you.

 

[Kcar]

"yellow" is actually pretty high imo (6.2 - 6.6)
More like orange-yellow for hydro (5.8 - 6.2)

 

[guest121295]

I use pens because I'm a fussy pot snob and a prick. I need my ph accurate!!!Just kidding but I am a bit anal about my reservoirs!! Oh, I am pot snob too....

 

[Lune TNS]

"yellow" is actually pretty high imo (6.2 - 6.6)
More like orange-yellow for hydro (6.8 - 6.2)

Yellow is around 6.0, and perfect for soilless mediums...

 

[Greyskull]

I use pens because I'm a fussy pot snob and a prick. I need my ph accurate!!!Just kidding but I am a bit anal about my reservoirs!! Oh, I am pot snob too....

nothing wrong with that!

 

[cocktail frank]

longest lasting pen i ever used was an oakton ph pen.

 

[ogatec]

i like those oaktons too..they rate up there with the "least sucky" dont get the econo model they are crap..

 

[medi-useA]

Had my ph pens and ec pens for 8 years with no probs...

Always clean probes...
Always store probes in water...
Always have spare batteries...and probe tips!
Always calibrate with a ph buffer solution...
Always put the lid on the probe IMMEDIATELY after use...

Always have a backup/redundancy scenario planned!

muA

 

[FreezerBoy]

I use pens because I'm a fussy pot snob and a prick. I need my ph accurate!!!Just kidding but I am a bit anal about my reservoirs!! Oh, I am pot snob too....

If you want accuracy, get a 4$ test drop kit from the aquarium store. Accurate to 0.1, no calibration, no batteries. Pens are for convenience and really shouldn't be used without checking them against a drop kit first anyway.

 

[philcollins]

I'm gonna vote for the drops too...I feel stupid for all the money i have spent on ph and ppm meters over the years...i had more problems with those expensive things than i ever had with the gh ph indicator drops...so easy and foolproof...and way way cheaper. get the cheapo ph kit and be done with it...

 

[Green Smoke]

If you want accuracy, get a 4$ test drop kit from the aquarium store. Accurate to 0.1, no calibration, no batteries. Pens are for convenience and really shouldn't be used without checking them against a drop kit first anyway.

My drops only read to 0.4 and the range is only from 6.0 to 7.6. Guess I need a new kit.

 

[philcollins]

get the general hydroponics kit from the hydro store...about eight bux...should last a long time if u dont spill it