advice on purchasing pH meter/refractometer

[gabrielstormont]

I'm looking to purchase a digital pH meter and a refractometer but I'm new to the hobby and could use some advice on where to shop online and what brands to look for. I want to keep each under $100. (turns out this is an expensive hobby!) Thanks for any help-

 

[JayM]

I'd suggest you DON'T go online, but rather support your local store - take a drive over to either CRA in Seekonk, or Water World over in Chepachet.

I just replaced my (broken) refractometer when I was last @ CRA.

 

[Turbosnail]

+1 CRA refractometer was $49.

 

[JohnK]

+1 CRA refractometer was $49.

Note that ^ is competitive with online prices, but without the shipping

 

[IPWitan]

Curious, why do you need a ph meter? Is this for a CA reactor or something? I never check my ph - ever.

 

[Leroy]

I'm looking to purchase a digital pH meter and a refractometer but I'm new to the hobby and could use some advice on where to shop online and what brands to look for. I want to keep each under $100. (turns out this is an expensive hobby!) Thanks for any help-

I'd agree with the other posts to support you LFS they really do compete with online vendors. If they don't stock what you're looking for then look on here to see if someone is selling equipment.

As far as cost a Milwaukee has always been reasonable and easy to calibrate. Others like the Pinpoint and advanced reefers will invest in a controller from AquaController jr up to the most elite of equipment. I've found it's always a good practice to monitor your PH and temp. Routine testing of your waters parameters is always good practice. I still have an old mercury thermometer at a glance within the green has never lied and I'll even test the PH with 5 drops of PH test in a 5ml vile just for the hell of it when doing other tests. Takes 2 seconds. Not watching the simpler things in the tank could someday bite you in the a$$.

 

[Blueflu1]

Definately get a refractometer. Best purchase ever. Just calibrate it once a year with distilled water. I calibrated mine after 3 years and it was only off 1/10th.

I got a used Milwaukee PH meter off brs with a reactor package and works well. If you are just testing water though, I wouldn't bother with a PH meter. I have mine in my reactor. It takes 30 seconds to test wtih drops/vial.

 

[Liam]

I'd suggest you DON'T go online, but rather support your local store - take a drive over to either CRA in Seekonk, or Water World over in Chepachet.

I just replaced my (broken) refractometer when I was last @ CRA.

so are you saying we should not purchase from the online vendors that support the BRS???

Personally i shop where i get the best service and price,we can't all afford to pay a heavily marked up price( or price gouging) just to support an LFS.

Don't forget online vendors are often LFS somewhere also,they have just developed their business plan to suit the market and be competitive.



With that being said i have found Jeremy at CRA to be excellent as far as service and pricing.

Getting back to the original question,i have found the sybon refractometers to be quality and also pinpoint ph meters,for a little more money you could get a basic controller set up with the capability to monitor ph

 

[Cjtabares]

I would look into getting a basic controller, look at the reef keeper lite plus. You will be able to monitor Ph, it will control your temp, and you can use it to turn your lights on and off. It is also upgradable so if you ever want to get more advance you can.

 

[JayM]

so are you saying we should not purchase from the online vendors that support the BRS???

Personally i shop where i get the best service and price,we can't all afford to pay a heavily marked up price( or price gouging) just to support an LFS.

Don't forget online vendors are often LFS somewhere also,they have just developed their business plan to suit the market and be competitive.



With that being said i have found Jeremy at CRA to be excellent as far as service and pricing.

Getting back to the original question,i have found the sybon refractometers to be quality and also pinpoint ph meters,for a little more money you could get a basic controller set up with the capability to monitor ph

Liam, what I was suggesting was nothing like that at all.

What I was suggesting was that someone new in the hobby speak with someone who had some experience in the hobby. Both LFS suggested in my post meet that criteria.

I also happen to know (from shopping there for a refractometer recently), that the LFS price for the item in question was not "heavily marked up" when compared to online prices. The other question I will pose is this....when you buy your refractometer online (as a newbie), will they calibrate it for you before they sell it to you? I can say 'yes' with my recommended stops....and I cannot (with certainty) with our online sponsors. While I know an experienced reefer would think nothing of that calibration, it could be a daunting task to someone with less time in the hobby. As for the 'price gouging' comment, I don't know what to say because I have never found it to be the case with any of our existing local sponsors. I guess opinions vary...it's why we have this forum.

What I will say is, 1) support our sponsors...they help keep this web forum, and the club, running. and 2) absolutely shop for the best VALUE for what you need to buy. What you perceive to BE that value is up to you.

Plus, I find it very pleasurable to wander around LFS and look at the stock, corals, clams and fish. Wandering around the stores with my kids is an experience that makes this hobby fun (for me), even if it keeps my VISA balance higher than I'd like.

 

[gabrielstormont]

First of all thanks to everyone for the input. This is my first experience with this site (it was recommended by my local vendor) and I think it's great that I can post a question and 1 day later have so much great info. The idea of getting a controller never occurred to me, and the recommendations for different meter brands from unbiased sources will make me feel a lot better about the purchase.
As far as buying locally, I completely agree. I've been very loyal to "Something Fishy" and they've gone above & beyond helping me- they just don't carry pH meters. The reason I want a pH meter is because while cycling my new tank the 5-in-1 strips have shown the tank to be running a little acidic and I hate judging the colors. I had 9 semester's of chemistry in college so I'm probably a little uptight about exact readings.
Thanks everyone!

 

[Blueflu1]

I would not rely on the strips. In my experience, those are very unreliable. Maybe ok for cycling the tank but you want more accurate test kits when you have fish and corals.

In my opinion, Elos is one of the best test kits. Not cheap but worth the extra money.

 

[JayM]

^ What Rob said...the strips are not going to give you the accuracy you want for a reef tank.

I'm also fond of Elos test kits

 

[Bo_]

I use API liquid test kits and i like them

 

[stevenp]

If you're going to buy a PH meter spend the extra $35 and get a PH controller. At least then you can put it to use on a CA reactor down the road. PH meters by themselves are not very useful IMO.

 

[JohnK]

Or spend a little more and get a system controller

Think of how much you could save by not having to buy all those stupid $20 timers...

 

[stevenp]

True, but you have to draw the line somewhere and it sounds like the thread starter is budget conscious. All I know is the Pinpoint PH meter I purchased years ago does nothing but gather dust.

Just my opinion, but PH meters cause more harm than good as they only tempt hobbyists to correct a parameter that is usually better left alone.

 

[JohnK]

I totally agree. Want to bet a nickel on who's monitor is more dusty

 

[gabrielstormont]

OK, so if I spring for a controller do you think the Reef Keeper Lite is the way to start?

 

[JohnK]

I actually don't have any experience with controllers, I'm just in the shopping process as I've just reccently started to grasp the value.

That RKL does look really nice for the $. $99 plus the cost of a PH probe and you'd have your PH monitor/controller, temp, 4 controllable outlets, and plenty of room to expand from there. That would be cheaper than a PH monitor and 4 ditital timers, but it would do a whole lot more.

Also IIRC there have been a couple of controllers being sold reccently used for cheap. (RayD maybe?)