I agree… better getting like a bluelab… I have the combo plus… 200 bucks but it has served me very well plus I can check soil ph… which I hardly ever do… but when youre worried you’re worried ya know? I agree with hydro… deffo need it… and organic… deffo do not need it much as the microbes put ph where they need it
Agree 100%. I got mine in OCT 2021 and have only calibrated it twice. Once when I got it and last Sept after my summer break. It was off by just over half a point. It has been holding fine since. The biggest perks are its accuracy and speed in which it stabilizes. I got tired of sitting there for long periods of time waiting for a stable reading. It’s definitely my favorite over any other I have owned.
5 Likes
I will have to try those next!!! I had no idea!
3 Likes
What is the exact one you guys are talking about for reference? Woops I see ph 60 and ec 60 apera my bad
2 Likes
This is what I’m using now, it’s fast, it calibrates fast, came with premixed calibration solution, and measures ec/ppm too, it was on sale for 90 when I got it though, so I seem to have lucked out 
APERA INSTRUMENTS AI316 Premium Series PC60 5-in-1 Waterproof pH/EC (Conductivity) /TDS (ppm) /Salinity (ppt) /Temp. Multi-Parameter Pocket Tester Kit https://a.co/d/8sJQha5
4 Likes
Check it out here bud.
1 Like
Not bad… it’s definitely better than 200 for what actually works from bluelab
Thanks @DougDawson … when I get new I’ll go with those guys instead
1 Like
I went through several Bluelab ph pens, mostly my fault to be honest. But the rub is they design the friggin thing to fail… small ass sponge in cap, cap design that pushes out excess KCI, ships dry to begin with, and no replacement probes.
I recently went with a HM ph200 from a recommendation of a few. $60, cheaper than a bluelab, large sponge, much better cap design which allows plenty of KCI, stupid simple calibration, and cheap replacement probes.
I’d have loved to get a Bluelab guardian or similar to monitor my reservoir, but at a couple hundred per unit and only being able to monitor one reservoir i’ll wait for a better product to come along. Thats not bluelab…
4 Likes
I’ve heard good things about Milwaukee instruments too and they’re a lot cheaper than the bluelab for continuous res monitoring
1 Like
At 1st it drove me crazy… I went through hanna and it was trash in a month or so? Idk it took me like 6 months to realize my pen was messed up… so I killed much not knowing… then I went w the 80 dollar bluelab… again were not accurate for long… then finally settled with the combo plus… for a while I was about to get an aroya solus teros 12… it all drove me nuts! So people helping know is really a huge deal to me!!
2 Likes
I agree… after hearing these testaments of the true use of the product … I feel I’ve been duped again!! Son of a… I’m glad I’m here at og… that’s all I can say… I won’t buy anything without making a friggin post about it again 
3 Likes
@HolyAngel @DougDawson My PH60 has performed better in the past year or so than my Bluelab combo meter did in years. For much less money. I even had the newer, “better” leap probe and still always had issues. This thing is more accurate, stays calibrated for much longer and so far for me has been much more reliable. It takes much less times IME to get to a reading too. I will say that Bluelab’s customer service was very good but to me the downtime just wasn’t worth it. Mine is collecting dust now.
Recently I went to do a 3 point calibration after 3-4 months of nothing (usually would do once a month) and the thing was still pretty much as accurate as the last calibration. If I hadn’t already poured my buffer solution before I noticed I wouldn’t even have had to use any.
If this is the kind of quality Apera has in their lower cost products then I don’t really plan on buying meters and probes from other brands now. The only thing that’s a bit of a pain is trying to find pH buffer solution for 4,7, and 10 in Canada.
Although the PH60 is more than fine, I have an eye for fancy things sometimes and one day I eventually want to purchase their PC8500 and maybe a nice probe that can be inserted into grow media. I had the leap probe on my Bluelab but I never really trusted it.
Although I might decide to go for an equivalent pH only tester and grab a separate EC one because tangling cords can get annoying af.
2 Likes
I’m crazy but I keep my PH60 wetted with tap in the cap, glass probe version, and use it on and off spot checking for months. I calibrated for fun recently after a year of use, and was still getting good readings based on the calibration not being off before/after.
Edit:
YMMV. PH60 glass probe is SLOW to come to temp btw once in the res/liquid, assuming the res water is a good bit colder than ambient.
1 Like
Good point. The first reading does take longer than all the ones that follow as the probe aclimitzes, but I would think that’s the same on all meters. The initial slower reading is still much faster than any of my others’ fastest readings, though.
2 Likes
Yeah, KCI maintenance should be common practice. These probes on any meter should be taken care of properly or they’re destined to fail. Any meter. I put a drop or two in my cap every couple of weeks.
1 Like
Realistically all pH probes will fail sooner than later. The expected lifespan on any pH probe is only 12-24 months. The coating on the reference electrode loses its charge over time, which causes longer response time and more calibration drift. Doesn’t matter if it’s a cheap meter or expensive one, the probe wears out and need to be replaced. This is one thing every pH meter/probe manufacturer seems to agree on.
4 Likes
Wow ya so this has turned into very educational thread. I have a $13.99 yellow pen from Amazon seemed to work pretty good for 3 months. Although all I did was rinse with distilled and dried out cap on no solutions. Last feeding checked and it was crazy 4.6ph. WTF!! So I immediately rinse with distilled water dried then measured new clean distilled water pH 5.7 which I’m pretty sure should be neutral pH 6.5 or so. I also put 5g baking soda in 250ml of distilled water and it’s supposed to calibrate to 7.0 mine 6.3 so very not useful at this point. Definitely want one that has 3 calibration points and possible storage solution. Idk the misses will probably pick it anyways you know pick your battles carefully.lol jk total supportive of my hobbies.
Calibration should be made from time to time, but when performing calibrations, try to have the water at 25⁰C. My hanna with automatic temperature compensation, not compensates when calibrating. I dunno why, but that was.
Happy growings.
1 Like
I had the same failure/problem with my Bluelabs. Liked it until I let it dry out.
1 Like