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Who makes a Dependable PPM Meter ?

Beachwalker

Beachwalker

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I've got five of them here, three of the basic blue type and two of the square White ones, they all read different.

Who makes a Dependable PPM Meter ?
 
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I always used this one when I was breeding fish and the TFS was important.

Amazon.com: HM Digital TDS-3 Handheld TDS Meter With Carrying Case, 0 - 9990 ppm TDS Measurement Range, 1 ppm Resolution, +/- 2% Readout Accuracy : Industrial & Scientific

Amazon.com: HM Digital TDS-3 Handheld TDS Meter With Carrying Case, 0 - 9990 ppm TDS Measurement Range, 1 ppm Resolution, +/- 2% Readout Accuracy : Industrial & Scientific
www.amazon.com
Cheap and worked for years for me.
I never calibrated it or anything, ever.
 
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steamroller said:
I always used this one when I was breeding fish and the TFS was important.

Amazon.com: HM Digital TDS-3 Handheld TDS Meter With Carrying Case, 0 - 9990 ppm TDS Measurement Range, 1 ppm Resolution, +/- 2% Readout Accuracy : Industrial & Scientific

Amazon.com: HM Digital TDS-3 Handheld TDS Meter With Carrying Case, 0 - 9990 ppm TDS Measurement Range, 1 ppm Resolution, +/- 2% Readout Accuracy : Industrial & Scientific
www.amazon.com
Cheap and worked for years for me.
I never calibrated it or anything, ever.
Click to expand...
Actually I was just looking at this one it was about 15 bucks if it's the same one? I had this brand pH meter which worked well for a few years, thanks for the input
 
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steamroller said:
I always used this one when I was breeding fish and the TFS was important.

Amazon.com: HM Digital TDS-3 Handheld TDS Meter With Carrying Case, 0 - 9990 ppm TDS Measurement Range, 1 ppm Resolution, +/- 2% Readout Accuracy : Industrial & Scientific

Amazon.com: HM Digital TDS-3 Handheld TDS Meter With Carrying Case, 0 - 9990 ppm TDS Measurement Range, 1 ppm Resolution, +/- 2% Readout Accuracy : Industrial & Scientific
www.amazon.com
Cheap and worked for years for me.
I never calibrated it or anything, ever.
Click to expand...
I was wrong it was this one same company different meter I think

I have no idea why it says unisex?

Edit: I just bought GH micro, I already have gallons of the grow and Bloom. I can measure that with a teaspoon, set the ph and I'm good to go!

I don't know why I'm getting these weird readings all of a sudden with my Masterblend but I'm putting it on the shelf for this grow.

Amazon.com: HM Digital unisex adult Pocket science lab ph meters, Brown, Without Digital Thermometer US : Industrial & Scientific

Buy HM Digital unisex adult Pocket science lab ph meters, Brown, Without Digital Thermometer US: pH Meters - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
 
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I never calibrated my meter.
I tested it with RO or tap water that went through a wall mounted TDS meter.
www.bulkreefsupply.com

Dual Inline TDS Meter DM-1

Why does BRS recommend this? Using a RODI system without a TDS meter is like driving a car without a speedometer and gas gauge. At some point you will end up in trouble. With RODI systems it is TDS that you will want to monitor for performance and filter quality. By using a dual TDS meter it...
www.bulkreefsupply.com www.bulkreefsupply.com
IMO the meter was very consistent.
 
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IMG_7601.jpeg

I have two sets of each meter. My good PH pen is in its own case, the other is the yellow one.

The other two are the PPM/TDS/EC, the good one is the HM. I use one to check the other once in a while or at the start of a grow. If I have an issue I’ll use both as well just in case.
 
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Beachwalker said:
I've got five of them here, three of the basic blue type and two of the square White ones, they all read different.

Who makes a Dependable PPM Meter ?
Click to expand...
PPM meters are cheap, I still have the first one I bought $10 I think Amzone. I have a few, they had deals with PH & ppm meters $20 ish. Ph tester need calibration but PPM meters are good to go, just a cleaning of it in clean water aft testing solution seems enough
Beachwalker said:
My pH meter by HM worked very well with only occasional calibration for a couple years

Do you have to calibrate this meter before the first use?

Do you calibrate It Often?

Do I need calibration solution?
Click to expand...
I find test strips and the cheap ph pens enough for me. Test strips are accurate without calibrating. They show you are in the ball park and for soil growing that's all that's needed. I don't ph anything.....ever.....nutes and water I'm good to go. Depending on your water, well water I'd guess, if you are drinking it and the PH isn't up in the 8's-9's or down in the 4's you maybe good without adjustments. My ph comes in 7.2 - 7.4 seasonal changes I never adjust the ph. .......my spiel ...PH down is an acid that can and will accumulate in your soil so you think you are PH ing religiously to what ever your magic number is, say 6.5 but from constant ph adjustments your root zone maybe in the 4.s from all the acid still in the soil. Your plants don't absorb the acid so it sits in wait accumulating ready to kill your plants when they get enough....oooops a bit dramatic there....its early I haven't smoked yet....
 
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I never found a pH pen that I liked or trusted.
Always stuck with liquid aquarium test { API }. Fortunately for most fish TDS was way more important than pH.
I had many Hanna test instruments for other functions, and they all required maintenance, calibration and up to date reagents that did not last long.
I spent a good amount to just toss them in the fish box like spent batteries and go back to liquid reagent test.
 
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steamroller said:
I never found a pH pen that I liked or trusted.
Always stuck with liquid aquarium test { API }. Fortunately for most fish TDS was way more important than pH.
I had many Hanna test instruments for other functions, and they all required maintenance, calibration and up to date reagents that did not last long.
I spent a good amount to just toss them in the fish box like spent batteries and go back to liquid reagent test.
Click to expand...
I've been doing it so long now, same place ,same nutes that i no longer need to check. I grew for 20 years without knowing what ph was. Then the internet was opened to me. Once I learned about ph I thought that was the answer to any problems I had, had. So I ph'd everything. perfectly and almost killed all of my plants then I found the Farm and they helped me by recommending dolomite lime as a top dress and it fixed my crop. I think it Aquaman and Dirtbag that set me on the path. Once I found people I could talk to, a community of like minded folks and stopped worrying about the Man busting down my doors my flowers started to grow better.
 
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Pipecarver said:
I've been doing it so long now, same place ,same nutes that i no longer need to check. I grew for 20 years without knowing what ph was. Then the internet was opened to me. Once I learned about ph I thought that was the answer to any problems I had, had. So I ph'd everything. perfectly and almost killed all of my plants then I found the Farm and they helped me by recommending dolomite lime as a top dress and it fixed my crop. I think it Aquaman and Dirtbag that set me on the path. Once I found people I could talk to, a community of like minded folks and stopped worrying about the Man busting down my doors my flowers started to grow better.
Click to expand...
I used Dolomite for years in soil, but Pro mix usually has Dolomite in it. I remember one time I added the amount I used to put in soil to pro-mix and my pH was in the sevens and I couldn't get it back down

that said I got to read this Pro mix again (I think it's the BX) I got to see if it's got Dolomite cuz two of my plants were below 6.0 pH, don't know how low because I use aquarium drops that start at 6:00 and end at 7.4pH

Edit: just checked BX does not have dolomites so I'm going to order some now and water it in; next time I buy it I'll make sure I get the one with the Dolomite in it
 
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Beachwalker said:
I used Dolomite for years in soil, but Pro mix usually has Dolomite in it. I remember one time I added the amount I used to put in soil to pro-mix and my pH was in the sevens and I couldn't get it back down

that said I got to read this Pro mix again (I think it's the BX) I got to see if it's got Dolomite cuz two of my plants were below 6.0 pH, don't know how low because I use aquarium drops that start at 6:00 and end at 7.4pH

Edit: just checked BX does not have dolomites so I'm going to order some now and water it in; next time I buy it I'll make sure I get the one with the Dolomite in it
Click to expand...
Hey, I only needed it that 1 time, I bought a 10lb bag, $5.....BX may not have lime but it could compensate with another buffer. I wouldn't add lime unless you see a need to, like you said once in the soil its hard to get rid of.I've used BX a number of times I treat them all the same way.
 
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Pipecarver said:
Hey, I only needed it that 1 time, I bought a 10lb bag, $5.....BX may not have lime but it could compensate with another buffer. I wouldn't add lime unless you see a need to, like you said once in the soil its hard to get rid of.I've used BX a number of times I treat them all the same way.
Click to expand...
Because two of my plants were below 6.0 shows me it needs dolomite cuz it doesn't have any in it.

I'm going to water in a tablespoon I'll cast on top and see how it goes
 
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Beachwalker said:
Because two of my plants were below 6.0 shows me it needs dolomite cuz it doesn't have any in it.

I'm going to water in a tablespoon I'll cast on top and see how it goes
Click to expand...
Ya you don't want anything under 6, I was getting a 6.10 reading in soil one year and it went fine. I lost leaves earlier than I do now but I feed differently in Autopots thanI did in straight soil/perlite
 
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Beachwalker said:
Because two of my plants were below 6.0 shows me it needs dolomite cuz it doesn't have any in it.

I'm going to water in a tablespoon I'll cast on top and see how it goes
Click to expand...
Have you been adding any ph down to your water? What is the ph of your input water. 6.00 seems low for promix. soils.
 
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Beachwalker said:
I used Dolomite for years in soil, but Pro mix usually has Dolomite in it. I remember one time I added the amount I used to put in soil to pro-mix and my pH was in the sevens and I couldn't get it back down

that said I got to read this Pro mix again (I think it's the BX) I got to see if it's got Dolomite cuz two of my plants were below 6.0 pH, don't know how low because I use aquarium drops that start at 6:00 and end at 7.4pH

Edit: just checked BX does not have dolomites so I'm going to order some now and water it in; next time I buy it I'll make sure I get the one with the Dolomite in it
Click to expand...
I ran out of Sunshine Mix#4 so grabbed two bales of Pro-Mix HP. Reading your posts got me wondering if mine didn’t have any dolomite.

Checked the producers site and they say it does have dolomite lime. For both the BX (I checked all BX versions) and the HP.

The site link:
www.pthorticulture.com

PRO-MIX® BX AGTIV REACH®

PRO-MIX® BX AGTIV REACH® is a general-purpose growing medium that combines high-quality peat moss, perlite and mycorrhizae for improved plant growth.
www.pthorticulture.com www.pthorticulture.com

IMG_7619.jpgIMG_7618.jpg

So watch it if you’re adding more.
 
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Zen_seeker said:
I ran out of Sunshine Mix#4 so grabbed two bales of Pro-Mix HP. Reading your posts got me wondering if mine didn’t have any dolomite.

Checked the producers site and they say it does have dolomite lime. For both the BX (I checked all BX versions) and the HP.

The site link:
www.pthorticulture.com

PRO-MIX® BX AGTIV REACH®

PRO-MIX® BX AGTIV REACH® is a general-purpose growing medium that combines high-quality peat moss, perlite and mycorrhizae for improved plant growth.
www.pthorticulture.com www.pthorticulture.com

View attachment 118193View attachment 118194

So watch it if you’re adding more.
Click to expand...
Thank you for bringing that to my attention, I checked again and you're absolutely right. I don't know how I missed that, probably same way I screwed up those two plants... 🤦🏻
20251113_001701.jpg
 
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