PH meters

okay, i am growing tired of testing for my ph and not being quite sure of which color i have. i am never fully confident that my tank's ph is truely what i think it is. i was considering buying a ph meter and perhaps some peace of mind. Does anyone have a suggestion or recommendation?

 

I'm very familiar with the uncertainty of pH test kits. My probe came with my controller, so I don't have an answer for you, but I'm tagging along.

 

I was about to say, Sparky, that for the price of a pH probe & a bit more you can get a pretty nice controller. I am looking at the AquaController Jr. $175 for the base unit, $225 including the accessories.

 

Thanks, guys. i will look into a controller. what else does the controller do besides PH testing?

 

Monitors temp, pH, ORP if you get the probe. It has almost limitless capability. It allows you to produce graphs of those items, it allows you to use those items to make other things happen, like shutting your Ca reactor if the pH goes below a set point, or shutting your halides if the temp goes above a setpoint. You can control the on-off status of any AC item by time, or parameter above, or by other means.

Just a for instance, when my power goes out, upon coming back on, I have my skimmer remain off for 2 minutes until the water level in my sump goes down to normal.

The capability of a controller is limited to your imagination. Simply put, it automates almost any task if you have the hardware to perform it. From dosing kalk to sending you an email if your temp exceeds a setpoint, or if your fan has been on for more than 6 hours. Sky's the limit.

 

thanks, again. i probably wouldn't use most of that right now but it might be worth the extra money to have the option for later.

 

I use this one. My first one lasted me about 6 months. This one is going for about 8 so far. But for 20 bucks or so... frickin awesome.

image courtesy of google.

 

Do you feel that it is accurate?

 

I work in Offset Printing and use these handheld types on a daily basis. We had an old Hannah like the one pictured. It became mine when it was replaced by a newer version. It was replaced with a newer version that does EC. That one has since been replaced by one with more functions. The hand me down trend is working well.

About their accuracy; they are only as good as their calibration. Hannah sells 7.0 and 4.0 calibration solutions. Typically I can get a two month rock solid reading without re-calibrating. After that the value begins to drift. Some of the simpler types use a simple set dial on the back for calibration while the newer and/or more expensive ones enter a calibration mode. If you calibrate often and always rinse off the probe after use you'll easily be able to get two years out of it before the probe goes to crap and those are $20 to replace.

But Sparky has a good point. $100 on a good handheld is half way toward most controllers.