Table of Contents
Introduction:
Hydroponics is a method of farming where you grow plants in water or any other medium that is rich in nutrients. To properly maintain a grow medium in your hydroponic farming, you need to balance the pH levels properly.
Maintaining pH levels can be a huge task, but it seems really interesting.
Unlike soil based farming or gardening, you have to be very cautious and careful when checking the water pH level, nutrient level of water. You have to track every angle details of this farming.
Failing to do any of those things properly will result in weak plant growth and high frustration levels. It is completely natural for you to not know about all these when you are starting hydroponics. We are here to guide you today for some of the best pH meters for Hydroponics.
Bluelab pH Pen Pocket Tester.
The Bluelab pH Pen Pocket Tester is one of the best pH meter for hydroponics. It not only measures the pH but also measures water temperature and displays on the black-lit LCD which makes it easy for us to read. This is the most recommended and popular pH meter that you can use for your garden on a daily basis.
Advantages
- Can easily measure pH and water temperatures
- Waterproof tester.
- Keep the probe moist with the sponge in the cap.
- 1 year warranty period.
DisAdvantages
- Does not include Calibration kit
- sensitive sensor bulbs.
Hanna Instruments HI 9813-6N Meter
If you don’t like our first and best option you can choose this Hanna meter which is more versatile and the best alternative to our top choice. This can be one of the best choices you can make if you don’t want to enter the Bluelab pH meter line.
One of the best features that we love about this Hanna meter is its built-in calibration reminder. So you don’t have to wonder why your readings are off if you buy this!
Advantages
- Measures pH, temperature, electroconductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS)
- Easy to read display
- Easy operation and calibration
- Built in calibration reminder
- 7.0 and 4.0 calibration
- Waterproof
DisAdvantages
- Cap has no seal lock
- No anti-slip feet
Bluelab Combo pH Meter
The Bluelab Combo pH Meter is a standard meter which is a combination of pH, temperatures, PPM/TDS/EC meters.
It is also in the list of most recommended meters for hydroponics. It is also said that most growers who use this are satisfied with the results.
Advantages
- Measures pH, temperature, and electroconductivity (EC)
- Accompanies a replaceable double junction pH probe.
- Auto off function
- Auto calibration
DisAdvantages
- Sensitive probe
- Not completely waterproof – only the probes are waterproof.
Apera Instruments Premium pH Test Kit.
This pH water tester is also a great option for your hydroponic farming, but needs a little care and maintenance at the same time. It has different models and this is on the top of the list.
It accompanies a complete pH test kit that include calibration solutions, a glass probe made of quality material, storage and battery option.
Advantages
- Easy calibration
- Replaceable glass probe
- 3-color LED window to identify mode of operation
- waterproof
DisAdvantages
- Should be protected from freezing conditions
- Replacing probes can be costly.
Oakton EcoTestr Pocket pH Meter
Oakton EcoTestr Pocket pH Meter is an old and pocket size tester. It is not very popular nowadays but is definitely a reliable option for you. It is a few dollars chep than the present new models, but you can happily rely on it for your garden testing.
Advantages
- Best budget tester
- Measures pH and temperature
- Waterproof and dust proof
- pocket size
- 1-year limited warranty
DisAdvantages
- Doesn’t last as long as the Bluelab pH pen
- Must keep calibrated more often.
Bluelab Guardian pH Monitor
This is one of the best combo meters in this bluelab queue. This is a costly motor that doesn’t suit hydroponic growers with less budget or less knowledge. It is an ideal kit for serious growers with a maximum budget.
If you are growing on a large scale and have enough budget, we definitely recommend using this monitoring Bluelab guardian. There is no other option that we can think of!
Advantages
- Large displays
- Flashing alarms if numbers are out of range
- Comes with a wide range of accessories
DisAdvantages
- Sometimes the digital displays bugs out (only a few reported this)
- You can burn through probes quickly if not taken proper care and calibration
Apera AI209-T Value pH Test Kit
The Apera AI209-T Value pH Test Kit is one of the popular pH testers. This is a portable pH tester and very easy to use. This has all the important and necessary calibration solutions that ensure accurate reading on the display. If you want something less expensive but has all the features, then this is the one.
Advantages
- Easy to calibrate
- Offers dual display
- Comes with probe cleaning brush & calibration solutions
- water and dust proof
DisAdvantages
- Can get bubbles in the probe sensor that need to be dislodged
- Takes about 30 seconds longer to show the readings.
Why is monitoring pH important?
pH of any growing system either hydroponics or regular soil based farming is very important. It is just not about alkaline or acidic substances but also determines nutrients that are available for plants. Until your pH shows the right range, your plants can not absorb nutrients from the soil or water.
Let us just have a look over the pH readings, Most plants can do well between the pH value of 5.5 to 6.5. This does not need to be the same for all plants. A good rule of thumb can be something around 6.2.
It is good to keep your growing system slightly acidic, this will reduce many waterborne algae varieties, as we don’t like them to grow in our system. It is definitely a win!!
Conclusion.
We know that you are looking for a reliable and durable pH tester for your garden. There are a wide range of varieties and types available to you, You just have to choose the one that fulfills all your requirements.
With the availability of these many options, it is hard for you to choose the right one. That is why we made a list of Top 7 pH meters for you in this article!
Frequently Asked Questions.
Can a soil pH meter be used for water?
Can a soil pH meter be used for water? A soil meter cannot be used with water because accuracy and consistency are fundamental traits that a meter must provide.
The testing range offered by soil pH meters is often very limited for the needs of a water system.
Are cheap pH meters accurate?
The higher the accuracy in a pH meter, the better — though it certainly drives up the price.
Average pH meters have an accuracy of +/-0.01 to +/-0.2, though high-performing models can be accurate up to +/-0.001.
