pH pen or controller?

[cphile]

Hi,

I'm finally grown tired of testing the pH of my FW tanks with those fiddly little vials and messy reagents.

Now, I need some advice on the purchase of either a pH pen or pH controller. I dun really get the thing of the pH controller. Must it be hooked up to a CO2 set becos I dun have one. [] And how often does the pH pen needs to be calibrated? Do pH controllers need to be calibrated as well? Which is better in the long run for a planted setup? Considering tt i may/ have to get a CO2 set?

Any recommendations for pH pens and/or pH controllers... ? my budget is ard $100-300 for either of these. pls incl. any miscellaneous costs as well.

Thx!! [:]

[cphile]

Hi,

I'm finally grown tired of testing the pH of my FW tanks with those fiddly little vials and messy reagents.

Now, I need some advice on the purchase of either a pH pen or pH controller. I dun really get the thing of the pH controller. Must it be hooked up to a CO2 set becos I dun have one. [] And how often does the pH pen needs to be calibrated? Do pH controllers need to be calibrated as well? Which is better in the long run for a planted setup? Considering tt i may/ have to get a CO2 set?

Any recommendations for pH pens and/or pH controllers... ? my budget is ard $100-300 for either of these. pls incl. any miscellaneous costs as well.

Thx!! [:]

[cphile]

Hi,

I'm finally grown tired of testing the pH of my FW tanks with those fiddly little vials and messy reagents.

Now, I need some advice on the purchase of either a pH pen or pH controller. I dun really get the thing of the pH controller. Must it be hooked up to a CO2 set becos I dun have one. [] And how often does the pH pen needs to be calibrated? Do pH controllers need to be calibrated as well? Which is better in the long run for a planted setup? Considering tt i may/ have to get a CO2 set?

Any recommendations for pH pens and/or pH controllers... ? my budget is ard $100-300 for either of these. pls incl. any miscellaneous costs as well.

Thx!! [:]

[cphile]

Hi,

I'm finally grown tired of testing the pH of my FW tanks with those fiddly little vials and messy reagents.

Now, I need some advice on the purchase of either a pH pen or pH controller. I dun really get the thing of the pH controller. Must it be hooked up to a CO2 set becos I dun have one. [] And how often does the pH pen needs to be calibrated? Do pH controllers need to be calibrated as well? Which is better in the long run for a planted setup? Considering tt i may/ have to get a CO2 set?

Any recommendations for pH pens and/or pH controllers... ? my budget is ard $100-300 for either of these. pls incl. any miscellaneous costs as well.

Thx!! [:]

[tawauboy]

if you just want to check ph then get the ph pen.
using a ph controller just for measuring ph is a massive overkill, especially your pocket.[] price is around $400+, if not wrong.

however if you plan to get a co2 set in near future then you can consider getting a ph controller. ph controller is not a 'must have', just a good to have. a lot of fellow forumers are doing well without one. the main advantage is that the ph will be controlled to a smaller range.

both ph pen and ph controller will need calibration. as for the interval between calibrations, i leave it to someone to comment.

[David]

just to add on.....usually a PH pen needs to be calibrated just before using while a PH controller needs to be calibrated once a month, at best every 2 months.

As what Tawauboy has mentioned if you are not into planted tanks then the PH controller does not do very much for you and a PH pen will be more pratical...unless you have money to burn....the controller will set you back by 400, CO2 tank 150, tubings, bubble counter, diffuser ...perhaps 50 to 70 dollars....

[eprouve]

So how much is a pH pen and where to get one?