I’m going to grow one plant at a time. 2 x 2 grow tent. Coco/perlite. The cocoforcannabis recommended ph meter is $45.00 usd. It goes bad after a year or so. Seems like that’s way too much to spend on 2 or 3 harvests a year.
Anyone have any other recommendations? Thank you.
by Ploppyun
8 Comments
Get one with a probe that can be replaced, like the Apera PH60. Or get test drops/strips. Or do a search because this question has been asked a thousand times and the answers are always the same.
Grab an indicator solution dropper kit, always reliable and fairly cheap. Its a little nuanced reading it, and you can only get a ball-park of 0.5 ish.
All probes have an expected life of 12-18 months.
You can spend a bit more (80 bucks) to get one with a replaceable probe.
You can pick up (or make your own) probe storage solution. I have a little puddle of it sitting in the cap, and between readings ill rinse off the probe and just carefully cap it. I’ll change out the probe solution every now and then, but its not really needed unless you dilute it.
I have both the droppers and the AC infinity equivalent of the apera PH20. IMO its worth it for the peace of mind. The pen is good for quick checks, and I can always confirm the pH range with the dropper solution.
Dropper Solution Reading:
6.7 – 7.0 – Dropper hits the water pale green, shaking it out becomes yellow-green
6.4-6.7 – Dropper hits the water a muddy yellow, shaking it out becomes yellow-brown
6.0-6.4 – Dropper hits the water a muddy yellow, shaking it out becomes yellow.
5.5-6.0 – Dropper hits the water yellow, shaking it out becomes orange to yellow-orange.
5.0-5.5 – Dropper hits the water orange, shaking it out becomes a deep orange to red.
I wouldn’t cheap out on your pH pen. It’s a tool you’ll likely rely heavily on and use daily. Cheap out on other items like the tent and even lights but not your pen or meter. And Apera is a good solid brand. I prefer Apera over Bluelab.
I’ve had that one for 2 years and it’s been good so far. It is my second one. The first one lasted a little over a year
https://preview.redd.it/icrtzzoayrtd1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ce7a3ca66276815992eee594bca6bef0b71243f1
I have had this one for a long time very good and reliable
Just buy litmus paper/tape.
[https://www.amazon.com/s?k=litmus+paper&crid=1Z5QFU4V6ODJ8&sprefix=litmus+paper%2Caps%2C192&ref=nb_sb_noss_1](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=litmus+paper&crid=1Z5QFU4V6ODJ8&sprefix=litmus+paper%2Caps%2C192&ref=nb_sb_noss_1)
It’s accurate enough and you don’t have to worry about calibrating your tester or babying it only to have it die anyways.
Just ph strips, simplicity 4 tha win
I needed one because my bluelab broke after 1 years and while I was waiting for Bluelab’s guarantee device, I got Apera. Does a very good job. When my Bluelab device came, I could even compare and there were 0.1 value deviation which is nothing.