Did you know that the correct pH could make your plants look better and taste better? Optimal pH is also directly related to high yield and minimal visits from pests.
We’d like to share with you what we know about the importance of pH to hydroponics, how these pH meters work, and how to choose the right one for your plants.
By the end of the article, we’ll also reveal the best pH meter for hydroponics based on our rigorous criteria, so read on to the last word!
Top 7 Best pH Meter Comparison Chart
Reviews of the Best pH Meter for Hydroponics
This is a roundup of the best devices currently in the market. We included various tech levels and price points to suit the various needs of hydroponics growers.
Apera Instruments are high-end devices, and this often means quality, precision, and a hefty bill!
Hydroponics is a sensitive business, where accuracy is critical for your plants’ development and well being.
The Apera probe gives you readings correct to one-hundredth of a pH grade, which is more than you’ll need for a single reading, but it can be helpful in monitoring trends or fluctuations over time.
This pocket tester is a practical way to take as many measurements as you need. You’d probably repeat that throughout the day to maintain your tank’s correct parameters. It’s also CE-certified, so you know you’re getting dependable results.
It’s generally easy to use. A clear example is its self-calibration feature. The kit comes with all the needed solutions, so you wouldn’t have to scurry around looking for these supplies.
Temperature affects pH readings, you might recall reading about than in high school chemistry. While the effect isn’t substantial, incremental differences tend to accumulate into noticeable errors.
The Auto Temperature Compensation (ATC) feature keeps your pH readings correct and realistic.
Various display colors indicate the mode you’re currently using, and there’s also a nice function that tells you when you get a stable reading. You actually see a smiley in the display.
This pH probe is clearly a premium product. We like it, and we’ll gladly recommend it to all users, however, it's more suitable for large plantations where errors are costly and precision counts.
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This is a compact tester with a probe that fits easily into a test tube, and a kit case that you can carry in your pocket. It’s a premium quality device, which is what we’re used to seeing from Apera Instruments.
This model is like the Apera PH60 in its accuracy, temperature correction, and elite quality standards, but this one has a lower price, which is an attractive attribute, in addition to its being portable and versatile.
It contains a smart alert that tells you when you need to replace the probe. And yes, you have the option to change an old probe instead of throwing the whole device away.
It’s waterproof and dust-proof with an IP57 rating, which is suitable for the humid and often splashy surroundings of hydroponic farms.
The Apera SX620 is well-suited for a dynamic workday. If you’re constantly on the move between tanks and locations, then this pH probe will be your best friend. It’s efficient and quite easy to carry around.
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The Oakton EcoTster isn’t a flimsy commercial pH meter. This is a rugged and dependable device designed for serious work.
The main attribute of this device is ‘easy operation’. It’s intuitive with a clear display, and when the time comes to calibration, you’ll just push a single button.
The device will turn itself off if you leave it unattended for a few minutes, but that’s pretty much all the fluff it has. No bells and whistles here. Just the basics in a reliable instrument.
It doesn’t come cheap though, so it’s not a device we’d recommend for the occasional grower. If you’re a beginner who wants to learn the ropes properly or a seasoned grower with a sizable hydroponic farm, then this pH probe is for you.
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The Pop V is a popular pH meter that’ll barely scratch your budget. The price factor weighs high here, we wouldn’t deny that. However, its other aspects fit the bill nicely as well.
It has several practical features that we were surprised to see in this economic model. The accuracy of the Pop V is high, and well within the double-digit resolution.
The pH range spans 0-14 pH, which is more than enough for your application, and finally, it contains temperature compensation within more than the workable range.
This unit is lightweight and portable. With about 1.8 oz and total dimensions of 6 x 1 x ½ inches; it’s easy to carry around.
It’s sufficiently accurate, easy to use, and dependable for day to day work. It’s especially useful if you’re just starting out in hydroponics, and wouldn’t want to splurge too much on instrumentation.
It’ll get the job done effectively, and that’s the important part.
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The Bluelab Combo is a high-end product like the Apera Instruments, and they both offer distinctive features and outstanding performances. The Bluelab went a step ahead as it came up with a practical 3-in-1, that reads out temperature and conductivity in addition to pH.
The pH probe isn’t connected directly to the device. There’s a 6.5-foot cable connection that you can remove to replace the probe when it gets old, or to install a soil probe.
The soil probe is a good idea if you have a hybrid farm with parts hydroponics and parts regular soil. You’ll have to purchase it separately, and then, you could use it for both regular and hydro tanks pH testing.
The calibration procedure is straightforward, and you’ll see indicators on the display informing you that you’re on track. The calibrated state lasts for about 30 days, and the device will let you know when a next round is needed.
The conductivity and temperature parameters don’t need routine calibration, as they come factory set for direct usage.
The pH range of the device is between 0-14 pH, which is well above the hydroponic natural range. The operating temperature also has comfortable boundaries from 32-122 degrees Fahrenheit. If something goes wrong, there’s an overshoot indicator for out-of-range values.
This is a neat setup that’s compact, practical, and easy to use. It’s good for beginners who can afford it, and a must-have for professionals looking out for the wellbeing of their plants.
A good healthy yield means financial gain, and that’s how we see the justification of the Bluelab Combo high price. It’s also a multi-parameter device, so overall, it’s a good purchase.
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Apera is constantly one step ahead of other manufacturers, and that’s why we keep returning to their products.
This is a next-generation pH tester that takes the testing data, transmits it via Bluetooth to a smartphone, and from there you get a full lab processing of your trending data. You can also store all these logs and graphs on the cloud, in addition to any photos you’d like to attach.
This close-range monitoring of your hydroponic farm should keep your plants in top shape. You could easily pick the best nutrients and the ones that don’t work too well. You can also spot an erratic event and trace it back to its root cause.
Data management has many uses, but it mostly gives you a better way of decision making. Counting on your gut and general observations is lovely, but it’s better to have the right information.
The smartphone app also gives you full access to the information contained in the operating manual, plus detailed step by step procedures for testing and calibration. You save plenty of time by this quick reference method.
The ‘Double-Junction’ probe is a new tech that’s more sturdy and easy-going than similar probes. It’s not likely to get clogged or trap in air bubbles.
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This is another quick-and-easy pen probe. Moreover, it’s a moderately priced one.
This doesn’t mean that its quality is questionable. Its popularity and positive user experiences give us sufficient grounds to consider it as a reliable probe. In addition to its practical features, of course.
The testing range is 0-14 pH with a tolerance of 0.01 within a temperature span of 32-122 degrees Fahrenheit. These are typical values, and the Qustcell covers them effectively.
This pH probe is lightweight with only 0.12 pounds, and it measures about 6 x 1 x 0.6 inches, you can practically carry it around like a highlighter pen. It looks like one too.
The Qustcell pH meter is a great tool for beginners. It’s simple, dependable, gives quick accurate results, and it comes at a competitive price. It’s a nice start for your hydroponics project.
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What’s a pH Meter?
For a long time, acidity or alkalinity was detected by dipping a special type of paper in a liquid and getting a color change. Litmus paper testing was pretty simple back in the day, but it didn’t say much about the exact degree of acidity or alkalinity of a liquid.
Numbers are essential, especially when you’re working within incremental differences. A pH value of 5.5 is good for hydroponics, while a 5.3 pH may be unhealthy. In that case, a color change would be lacking in information.
pH meters provide the precise reading required for proper monitoring.
How Does a pH Meter Work?
Neutral water has a balanced state. Its content of Hydrogen (H+) ions equals the Hydroxide (OH-) ions.
This changes when other materials interact with water, causing its H+ content to increase and it becomes more acidic, or the (OH-) ions increase making it more alkaline.
The pH meter measures the amount of (H+) ions in a solution. This can’t be done by counting them, of course. So these devices employ a principle of physics similar to how a battery works.
If you put two electrodes in an ionic solution, there’s bound to be a potential difference between the two electrodes. The concentration of the acid translates to a higher number of (H+) ions, and that creates a higher current to flow in the closed circuit.
The rest of the device is fundamentally a Voltmeter, which measures the incremental differences in potential between the two electrodes.
The readout of the pH meter is the amplified value of this little signal, that’s why incremental differences in acidity or alkalinity are picked up readily by the device.
This is a simple model for the pH meter, but now you get the idea.
Why Do You Need to Measure the pH of Hydroponics?
The pH in the regular soil takes its time to change. It’s often predictable that most experienced farmers can detect its telltale signs.
This isn’t the case with hydroponics, where abrupt changes are more frequent. This is associated with the way plants metabolize nutrients.
Fluctuations of pH value could block the nutrient absorption of certain elements, which ultimately affects the growth, appearance, health, and flavor of your plants. Sometimes it stunts the growth of the plant altogether leading to its demise.
That’s why it’s important to keep the pH at an optimal value, which is often between 5.5 and 6.5 pH. This value is different for each plant. You can add phosphoric acid to increase the acidity or potassium hydroxide to decrease it.
Some pests and diseases attack hydroponic farms, and they’ll thrive when the plants are at their weakest. pH imbalance and faulty nutrient concentrations are a welcome sign for these inconveniences. That’s one more reason to monitor and stabilize your plant’s pH.
How to Choose the Right pH Meter for Hydroponics
Here are the fundamental attributes of pH meters. Try to include as many of them as possible in your new pH meter, bearing in mind how each feature relates to your work.
Intended Usage
Do you need this probe to maintain a large hydroponics farm? You might consider the Apera Instruments, which give you precision and dependability. The Bluelab Combo is also a remarkable multiparameter device that’ll come in handy.
Are you a student and data collection is your priority?
Apera Instruments have a probe you can connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth. This is an invaluable way to get your trends and graphic representations with each data point, in addition to unlimited cloud storage.
Is this your first project and you need a budget-friendly device? Try the pen-type probes, which offer you the full benefits of pH meters in an easy-to-use instrument.
Precision
Larger plantations are at a higher risk of damage from pH fluctuations than smaller ones. This has to do with the massive biological processes constantly taking place with the larger hydroponic farms. The costs associated with bigger plantations are just as significant.
It’s essential to stabilize the pH levels in these cases, and it starts with proper monitoring. Higher accuracy isn’t a luxury in these projects.
Temperature Compensation
Temperature is one of the main variables in the equation that calculates the pH level of a solution. That’s why it should be taken into consideration as you take a sample and test it.
There are two ways of accounting for temperature. One is automated and the other is manual. The former is naturally the best choice.
Portability
Taking a sample and measuring it later on in a lab loses much of its relevance, as the pH is affected by several other parameters.
To avoid compromising your readings, it’s best to take your samples and analyze their acidity at the point of use.
A portable pH meter contributes to getting realistic and accurate readings of the tank’s pH level.
To Wrap Up
A well-monitored hydroponics farm provides your plants with the optimal ecosystem for healthy development. That’s why we focused on precision and dependability for the top spot.
The Apera Instruments AI311 PH60 pH Pocket Tester is easily one of the best in the market. Apera has been an industry leader for almost three decades. The company is a member of several standard-setting associations, and all the Apera products have CE and RoHS certification.
This device has high accuracy, it’s sturdy, intuitive, and user-friendly. There are several other Apera models you can also check out for a smaller probe or a smartphone connection.
If you’re just starting out in hydroponics, you’ll like the Qustcell pH Meter. It wouldn’t make a dent in your budget, and it’s easy to use. It’s also accurate and its calibration process is a no-hassle procedure.
Whether you choose the high-end Apera or the economical Qutcell, the most important parameter is the way you use your pH meter.
Use your measuring equipment regularly, follow the correct calibration and maintenance steps, and make informed decisions about the nutrition you give your plants.
Tell us which pH meter you like best, and if you find an interesting device outside this list, inform us right away!