Milwalukee ph600 is a good, cheap, easy to calibrate model. Under $50.00. Hanna is a good brand. Like anything else, stick to well known brands. Know it's something you might not have forever. Whether you go cheap or expensive you should still replace every it every year.
Make sure you buy calibration solution, your meter should be calibrated at least once a week. If you have to order it I suggest getting 2. I also suggest having a back up regaurdless but if there isn't a hydro store near you and you have to order one, get two.
You should also have a TDS or EC meter, either one will work. Most people I know in the u.s. go with the TDS meter which gives a ppm(parts per million) reading. Ec measues electrical conductivity I believe. They both measure the same thing, and it's prefrence. Just like I use tsp./gal instead of ml/L. This is how you'll get an accurate read of exactly how much fertilizer you mix up. Just going by measurements is very inaccurate. I go by measurements when I mix my nutrient solution but I check it with my TDS meter before I water my plants with it. This let's you increase/decrease your fertilizer with accuracy and gives you peace of mind about what your doing. If you know EXACTLY how much you fed your plants it makes it easier to diagnose a problem.
These are two tools every grower should have. I use both my meters everyday. As soon as I wake up, assuming I am home, I go to my resevior and I check the ph and the ppm. I know from experience that everything should be right where I want it to be, but I check it anyway to stay ahead of a problem. If I checked it one morning and my ph was really high, I know somthing is up-maybe my resevior temps are too high, or I have a biological issue, but because I stay on top of checking these things I avoid prolems.
I also frequently check my run-off to make sure the TDS is on point. If the runoff TDS is higher then the feed i'm giving them, then I know salt has built up in the medium and it's time for an irragation/flush with 1/4strength solution. Again, these tools are your friends and when you use them your plants stay happy and healthy.