Just thought I’d give the growmies here a heads up …
I’ve gone through a dozen other pH meters/monitors. Hanna, Bluelab, HM, many white label. After being disappointed and out lots of money on crappy gear, I decided to investigate what guys in the reef hobby use.
American Marine kept coming up. After using the units, I see why. They are based on what are now, old old designs. That’s a good thing here, they work and last. Analog calibration. Another big plus IMO.
On average, my probe will be off .06 after about a month. YMMV. Their brand calibration solution is available for a decent price, and great stuff
The probes themselves are excellent. They should be cleaned w iso every month/other month, before calibration. One, two, or three point calibration can be performed. I usually use just the 7.0 pH solution, and check w the 4 or 10 every other time. Two plus years out of a properly cared for probe is easy. I’ve had one last 5+.
They also have a controller that will run dosing pumps. Excellent for large reservoirs in run to waste or recirculating applications.
as a homegrow hobbyist, the paper tests are the best. dont need or even want to be dead on accurate, they never go bad or need calibration, cheaper than hell.
you can get basically a lifetime supply for eight bucks.
This can also be used with a simple camera board setup to get WiFi ph updates or use an OCR to digitize the pH levels which can be used by a raspberry pi to adjust things with automatic dosers
$99 meter, $10 cam board. Not bad for Wi-Fi ph updates
Haven’t tried the Aspera, but I’m going to have to disagree with you on the blue lab. I spent over $600 on instruments, and they did not take care of me when their equipment was faulty as hell.
I speak from experience, there’s no comparing blue lab to the American marine, in performance of hardware and definitely not customer service. But you can spend your money however you want
Also I don’t appreciate the insinuation that I don’t maintain my gear. I’m sharing my personal experience here. If it doesn’t help or apply to you just move on.
I’m just trying to give some people a heads up who may have gone through the same thing I and at least a dozen other growers I know have, and trying to find a reliable electronic pH meter… I got 20 bucks says this outlives any other brand
I think their prices are fine, if their gear is good.
I looked at their line, their cases, comes with sachets, seems like a decent item.
25 years ago, I bought a Hanna, PH/PPM/EC meter, and cost like 4 times what these do.
I got maybe 5 years of hard use, when it needed completely replaced.
I had experience with Hanna, as I worked in a corporate test center, for a few years.
I’ll defiantly will look at their stuff, Thanks for sharing it!!
