I have an Apera ph20 for ph… was wondering if it’s worth sticking woth Apera or moving over to blue lab for the EC/PPM? There’s so many options out there. All in one devices, etc.
Having a hard time making a choice. So far I like the pH 20 I’ve only been using it for a few months, but it seems to be doing the job.
Anyone have any insight on this?
I have been using the Apera PH60 for over years now and love it. After 3 years I had to replace the probe and calibration solutions as the probe was not calibrating but they say to replace every 2 years so it went a full year past it’s recommended usage life. Nothing against Blue Labs but Apera has been good to me.
They use the same storage solutions across their ph/ppm probes too and I wouldn’t have to learn two different companies, so to speak.
Any experience with their ppm/EC measurement devices?
I guess the only reason I would go with blue lab is if they had the upper hand on PPM measurement.
Leaning toward this:
Not specifically, no. To be honest, I don’t bother measuring those things. I use coco and have my feed recipe for GH trio that I use. I just mix and adjust PH. I would think they would be good going by the quality of their PH probes but cannot say for sure. I did get a cool calibration box when I ordered new calibration solutions. They recommend replacing those every 2 years as well. It has a holder for all 3 solutions and storage solution which is very handy. My probe sits perfectly and it holds it upright so it’s hands free. It’s a cool addition that makes calibration that much easier.
That looks like a nice option. I love that it has a replaceable probe like my PH60. Will save you some money down the road rather than replacing the whole unit.
I wish I had gotten the pH 60 but I went with the 20. I’ll just replace the whole thing with a 60 when the 20 goes bad. I have Bottles of those calibration solutions, but not the storage… Just been storing in tapwater so far haven’t gone more than a few days without using it yet
It all came as a kit. I had PH issues when I fired up my grow so tried to calibrate my probe and it wouldn’t take the 3rd calibration point. I replaced the probe and thought I was good but still had issues. That’s when I read on their site that I should replace the solutions after 2 years. Since I bought new stuff my issues went away.
Thanks man I appreciate that feedback. I’m just gonna go ahead and get this Apera one. Has good reviews and they seem to be a good company so I can’t really go wrong.
I am sure it will do good. Merry Christmas bud. 
Yeah, and it was only like $25 more. Definitely worth getting the 60 imho.
Same to you
I just got this for Christmas!
“To be honest, I don’t bother measuring those things.”
Yes! I said this in a FB group recently and got blasted, lol. For me, I havent seen the need yet as I’ve only grown in soil. I’ve never had any problems yet, knock on wood. It’s cool to see I’m not the only one lol.
Yeah, some lose their minds when I say I skip that, lol.
I’m new to it… growing in soil but it’s like a promix type medium called sunshine #4 with some extra perlite. It doesn’t have any nutrients in it as far as I understand … I’m still trying to figure out I’d I’m supposed to feed like coco.
The clones I have going right now are looking a little underfed so I figured I’d start measuring:)
I’m also prepping to switch over to jacks 123
I’m actually kind of lost right now to be honest. I don’t know why I need it, I’ve been measuring in teaspoons by the gallon… but the guys that are helping me grow use this and are telling me to get it so lol.
I think with Jack’s 123 there’s different PPM for different stages of growth then you just get a more accurate measurement that way. At least that’s my understanding so far.
There is certainly a reason to get those readings. I am not against having more data and knowing what to do with it. I am just lazy, lol.
Most of the nute schedules I’ve seen are ml per gallon, or tsp per gallon. So I’ve always gone by that.
I still need to learn more about it. I think Jack’s uses PPM measurements, still in the shipping box though. But I still don’t understand how to do it, how to differentiate between cal mag, Epsom salts versus the other nutrients in there all at the same time.
