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Digital Garden pH tester
- Thread starter fatoldsun
- Start date
How is it calibrated?
fatoldsun
NJRC Member
I was thinking the same thing. Maybe with soil that degree of precission isn't necessary, hence $12
For $12, I’d question the accuracy. If you were able to calibrate this unit, I’d consider purchasing. If you can’t calibrate, stay away. You also realize that this pH meter has an electrode that must be keep wet at all times….just like any pH probe.
So why are you eating up pH probes? Couple basics about pH probes:
1. They must be wetted at all times….either keep in your tank, or in water, or buffer.
2. You cannot totally submerse the probe. If the whole probe goes under water, high likelihood it’s toast.
3. If they start to get sluggish, put the probe in vinegar overnight and then rinse with water and re-calibrate.
4. Calibrate your pH probe every couple months. Since we shoot for an alkaline pH, use pH 7.0 and pH 10 buffers to calibrate the probe.
And finally, you should get a good 3 – 4 years out of a probe, if not longer.
Hope this helps.
So why are you eating up pH probes? Couple basics about pH probes:
1. They must be wetted at all times….either keep in your tank, or in water, or buffer.
2. You cannot totally submerse the probe. If the whole probe goes under water, high likelihood it’s toast.
3. If they start to get sluggish, put the probe in vinegar overnight and then rinse with water and re-calibrate.
4. Calibrate your pH probe every couple months. Since we shoot for an alkaline pH, use pH 7.0 and pH 10 buffers to calibrate the probe.
And finally, you should get a good 3 – 4 years out of a probe, if not longer.
Hope this helps.
fatoldsun
NJRC Member
the $12 probe is sold dry - not sure how it differs from the probes but it's just a raw electrode in the package, but I too the accuracy - that's why I skipped it.
As for the probes - I think #2 on your list is what got me. I've been through 3 - well to be fair, 2 (one came with the RKII I got and it was shipped dry) The other 2 were too low - under the water line - I know they had to stay wet but I hadn’t come across the "not fully submerged" rule - bummer. Anyway, I have a new BRS probe (when I last ordered, they sent one and I believed it was sent "dry" so they sent out a new one - the new one had the same gelatin substance - not what I expected but I had every reason to question my initial assessment so the extra is either bad too or neither was bad. I'll try it and see what I get - making sure not to mount it as low. thanks for the tip (pardon the pun)
Good luck with the ph...
Dave, did you get the pics of the Fox & damsel i sent you?
Dave, did you get the pics of the Fox & damsel i sent you?
For the life of me, I can’t see how this could work without a thin walled fritted glass electrode. This electrode must stay wet to maintain the solutions within the probe. That’s a real puzzle, unless this is a one season, short termed probe…..bottom line, it’s not going to last if the probe isn’t kept wet.
As far as keeping the probe from going under, I lost one this way by it slipping into the sump. That’s why my re-worked sump now has a probe bulkhead, which will now guarantee that the probe never goes under again.
As far as keeping the probe from going under, I lost one this way by it slipping into the sump. That’s why my re-worked sump now has a probe bulkhead, which will now guarantee that the probe never goes under again.
WOW..that’s ingenious! 
fatoldsun
NJRC Member
yep, got the pics - they looked GREAT!!
I'm so glad that worked out - that was too far to drive for a gamble so I was worried that after all that you might have problems - I was glad that they settled and looks like they're thriving.