any suggestions on Ph/EC/ meter?

I need a meter/s to test Ph/EC/ppm/temp. I will be doing hydro with 2 general hydroponics waterfarms I am setting up. I am leaning towards the Bluelab guardian monitor. http://www.sunlightsupply.com/p-11805-bluelab-guardian-monitor.aspx I can get it for around $250 but this seems expensive for just testers. Anyone have any advice on this? is it good/bad? what do you use? I do not mind paying for quality if it's worth it.

you dont need a all in one.

you dont need a meter that tests EC and PPM, either one or the other as they are the same. most meters test for EC and convert into PPM for ease of use.

i was able to pick up a PPM/temp meter for around 40 bucks and a PH meter for around 40 bucks. thats all you need. unless your looking at something that will provide constant measurements so you dont have to check them daily.

http://www.amazon.com/Hanna-Instruments-991404-Temperature-Monitor/dp/B002ZG8L7Q/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1367357360&sr=8-4&keywords=hannah+instruments+PPM

heres one for about 100 bucks cheaper and Hannah instruments is a trusted brand with a good warranty on thier products.

thanks for the response, i'll check it out. anyone else with an opinion on meters?

I own 3 of the bluelab guardian and can say they stand behind their product . very solid product too.
you may spend a little more on a guardian but money well spent.

Check out the milwalkee 802. Great piece of equipment.

Bluelab. I grow for an mmc in boulder CO. Its what we use. Very few issues after a year and a half. They're abused to say the least.

Peace

who else? all opinions are welcome. this is a big purchase and I like to get info from all sides before I make judgement calls. I have researched everything mentioned here. I need to get ordering this stuff soon before I drive myself crazy. I don't care if your meter cost 10 bucks, i'd like to hear from you. And I am not only looking at all in one meters.

go with your gut...BlueLab

I have a 10$ ph meter from amazon that has lasted me 3 years and i only have to calibrate it once a grow. My ppm meter was also 10$ from amazon and hasnt failed me yet. Of course if i had the extra money to blow i would get one of those fancy ones for the warranty/support/pinpoint accuracy.

I didnt see any ghetto meter responses so i thought i would add my 2 cents


my ph meter: PH-009, its yellow
my ppm meter: hm digital tds-ez, its blue now but mine is so old it doesnt come in tan anymore lol.

Hope this helps a little.

decided to go with bluelab guardian, have yet to see a bad review of them and its plugin so no buying batteries. was gonna get the portable so I could use it outside, almost forgot that could introduce pests from testing my garden into my hydro grow. not worth the risk, so plug in it is.
thanks for responding people.

Sir.Ganja I would like a reefer burger no fries and a large coke plz.

I have a Bluelab ph pen which was $110 I think at my hydro store, and a $40 Hannah ppm pen which has been rock solid for 6 months.

One thing I do not like about the bluelab pen is I can't change the probe.

Two things to consider about the guardian monitor: In an all-in-one if it fails you then have no ph or ppm or temp or anything else it tells you. As you mentioned, it is not portable and would be hard to use with multiple reservoirs. That said, you can't go wrong with a Bluelab and if you don't need the portability you will love it.

your 2 cents and my 2 cents will add up.. i use the same cheapo hand held devices and have yet to have an issue, still using the same batteries that it came with last year.. i also have 5 separate reservoirs to check so a single unit that only reads one res.. is not a wise spend for me but if i were going to run one single res. then i would spend the money on a good unit like the one you will be using.. goood luck.

RL420 said:

I have a 10$ ph meter from amazon that has lasted me 3 years and i only have to calibrate it once a grow. My ppm meter was also 10$ from amazon and hasnt failed me yet. Of course if i had the extra money to blow i would get one of those fancy ones for the warranty/support/pinpoint accuracy.

I didnt see any ghetto meter responses so i thought i would add my 2 cents


my ph meter: PH-009, its yellow
my ppm meter: hm digital tds-ez, its blue now but mine is so old it doesnt come in tan anymore lol.

Hope this helps a little.

Click to expand...

I have 4 Bluelab Guardians and love them. Also pick up another portable meter ( such as the Milwaukee 802) as a backup and to use as a secondary check to the guardian before making adjustments should a reading be way off.

I also have this combo meter from Hanna and hate it!!!!!!!!!!! I bought a new probe for it and it still won't stay calibrated for more than a few days.

I use a Greenlee ph/ppm/ec meter that I have had for over 5 years, and I have never had to adjust it. Great meter.

I have a 2' x 4' x 5'6" High space, with only two hydro units, so don't need to be portable. I have not purchased anything yet, so i'll look into those other meters.

i had a hanna pen it broke. then i had a hanna gro check combo meter. which broke too. now i have the bluelab combo meter and would suggest a blulab.

Go with the best (bluelab) why fuck with the rest!

Not sure if I was just unlucky but I am on my second Bluelab PH pen (portable). The first one would not calibrate after about 3 months. I did get another, no problem and no cost. My replacement is working but I do have to recalibrate quite often, but it is only out by -.2 when checking at 4, 7 is dead on. I also have an HM TDS meter that is 2 years old and no issues at all. If I was to buy another I would buy the HM ph due to low cost and quality product. My Hanna tds is broken! My Oakton is broken! lol. All of the pricey meters I have owned have had issues while the HM just keeps on going.