Hanna Meters

   

Left to right: Hanna ppm meter, Hanna pH meter

     Since my introduction to horticulture I've worked with both hydroponics and aquaponics.  One of the critical issues in both sciences is the quality of water in the system.  It's important for the system operator to monitor water quality to ensure that the system continues to run smoothly.  If the pH of an aquaponic system swings too high or low it can quickly lead to the death of both the fish and plants stocked in the system.  And in hydroponics the ppm (parts per million) measure of nutrients in the system is critical to ensure that the plants do not get nutrient burn from high levels of salts in the water.
    The easiest way to monitor water quality is with a meter.  Unlike chemical test kits, meters give the user a definitive readout that can be counted on so long as the meters have been calibrated properly.  When you get in to testing disolved oxygen and some of the factors dictating water quality, meters can get very expensive.  Like up in the $1000's expensive.  It almost seems rediculous.  But, there are very affordable options out there for pH and ppm meters.  And a system operator can easily get away with monitoring these two factors without compromising the system's efficiency.  In my experience I've found HANNA to be a company that offers affordable yet reliable solutions for these two tests.
      Currently I use both a HANNA pH and ppm meter for all my water quality tests.  Both of the meters pictured above have served me well.  There have been times that I haven't touched the pH meter for several months, went to calibrate it, and found that it was still spot on.  And they've been designed to be extremely easy to use.  Calibration of the pH meter requires using a penny or flathead screwdriver to adjust the reading when the electrode is dipped in a 7.0, 4.0, or 10.0 solution.  The calibration meter is even more simple.  Press and hold the on button until Cal flashes on the display then submerge the probe in a 1382 ppm calibration solution.  Then you're off to the races.
     Both of these meters together cost me less than $100.  And it was probably closer to less than $80.  I highly recommend them both.  I can't stress the importance of monitoring water quality enough to you.  And for the price and quality these meters are going to be near impossible to beat.