Portable PH monitor or PH pen

lcstorc · 10-12-2008, 03:16 PM

Which one is better?
I know a constant monitor is the best option and I have one on my reef, but I have several tanks and it just doesn't make sense to buy seperate monotors for each tank particularly for my 20g tanks.
So, I am looking for a digital portable solution.
I have found both handheld monitors and PH pens. They seem to be roughly the same price so my question is which one is better and why?
Specific models or brands would be terrific as well.

TucsonSandy · 10-12-2008, 03:22 PM

Someone suggested the PinPoint pH monitor. I've checked it out at Drs Foster and Smith... it's 89.99 there.

tex5620 · 10-12-2008, 03:51 PM

I have the hanna ph pen and I couldn't get it to calibrate properly or get accurate readings. I second the ph pinpoint monitor

cbrownfish · 10-12-2008, 05:04 PM

I have the PinPoint Monitor and love it. pH pens are better than liquid tests but not always as reliable as the monitors. A monitor with the high quality probe are A++. I would recommend Milwaukee or PinPoint.

The problem with the Hanna products is that most are not rated for use around aquarium equipment. Our lighting, especially metal halides, wreak havoc on the electronics inside the Hanna meter. I considered the Hanna monitor for pH and temp along the way but I emailed a Hanna rep who was kind enough to share this info.

Boomer · 10-14-2008, 02:52 PM

First, I rarely recommend Hanna stuff as it is bottom shelf equipment. Second, I have see more posts and issues with Pinpoint and electrical inferences than all the others put together. Third, when it comes to pens or folding probes or even credit card pH units it depends on one thing, WHO'S is it. Pinpoint and Milwaukee is not the greatest stuff either in the world of instruments. They are just more or less hobby grade, which really is about all we need.

Me, I will choose a * good pen any day, as I can take it with me anywhere and stick it in my pocket and it has no cable dangling or a exposed probe to break, drop or rip out of the housing. My choice is one and one only, for price, quality and what it does, and that is the HM Digital PH-200: Waterproof pH Meter @ $80.00. And the same thing with their HM Digital COM-100 TDS Meter.

PH-200: Waterproof pH Meter - HM Digital

TDS - pH Meters

Woodstock · 10-14-2008, 02:59 PM

I have been using a Hanna PH tester for quick PH & Temp checks of my rotifer/fry tanks. I really like it.

Boomer · 10-14-2008, 03:14 PM

You lost me Doni, PinPoint does not have a pH pen. They have a hand-held pH meter/portable meter, which they actually wrongfully call a montior. There are pH pens, sticks, cards, meters, monitors and controllers. A monitor is the same thing as a controller without the ability to control pH or in short a gutted controller. They are actually kinda rare nowdays, as technology and pricing has changed all that.

Woodstock · 10-14-2008, 03:18 PM

I lost me there too. Thanks for finding me Boomer.

I have this 'instrument'
Pond Water Quality & Testing: Hanna Instruments pH Testers

Boomer · 10-14-2008, 03:21 PM

I have a new Brunton compass, so it is easier to find people now

See here is where you were...............

Woodstock · 10-14-2008, 03:26 PM

LOL~ You're the man!
I bet it is part of that fancy, scientific, formula filled, calculator/computer you carry around!

Boomer · 10-14-2008, 03:29 PM

Yes, I did have to use that to plot some vectors to find you

Woodstock · 10-14-2008, 03:32 PM

lcstorc · 10-14-2008, 04:21 PM

Thanks Boomer. I just ordered both and from a sponsor no less. Air Water and Ice had them for an even lower price than you said.

Boomer · 10-15-2008, 12:16 AM

Cool

I'm working on the new pH monitor you want for the tank. Tell Frank he may have to sell the car

Yokogawa EXA PH100 1/4 DIN Panel Mount pH Analyzer

lcstorc · 10-15-2008, 08:33 AM

LOL
No way he is selling that car. He would get rid of me first.
We'll be fine with the one we have on the reef and the one I just ordered for the other tanks. Shoot we just started dripping kalc. We are way behind on the high tech stuff.

10-12-2008, 03:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,482 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Portable PH monitor or PH pen Which one is better? I know a constant monitor is the best option and I have one on my reef, but I have several tanks and it just doesn't make sense to buy seperate monotors for each tank particularly for my 20g tanks. So, I am looking for a digital portable solution. I have found both handheld monitors and PH pens. They seem to be roughly the same price so my question is which one is better and why? Specific models or brands would be terrific as well. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

10-12-2008, 03:22 PM	#2 (permalink)
TucsonSandy Midas Blenny Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 98 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Protable PH monitor or PH pen Someone suggested the PinPoint pH monitor. I've checked it out at Drs Foster and Smith... it's 89.99 there.

10-12-2008, 03:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
tex5620 Serpent Star Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 217 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Protable PH monitor or PH pen I have the hanna ph pen and I couldn't get it to calibrate properly or get accurate readings. I second the ph pinpoint monitor

10-12-2008, 05:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
cbrownfish Acropora Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,917 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Protable PH monitor or PH pen I have the PinPoint Monitor and love it. pH pens are better than liquid tests but not always as reliable as the monitors. A monitor with the high quality probe are A++. I would recommend Milwaukee or PinPoint. The problem with the Hanna products is that most are not rated for use around aquarium equipment. Our lighting, especially metal halides, wreak havoc on the electronics inside the Hanna meter. I considered the Hanna monitor for pH and temp along the way but I emailed a Hanna rep who was kind enough to share this info. __________________ *Confucius Say: "best way to save face, is to keep lower part of face shut".* CURRENT SET UP -- 90 gallon display, 30 gallon refugium, 6 gallon pod breeder, 100 gallon sump (complete with frag rack), 2X250 MH 14K DE HQI, Vortech MP40w and Koralia #4 for flow, 2X Tunze 9010 Skimmers, Sequence Dart return, 2X Ranco Controllers w/Titanium Heaters, 150 lb LR (90 in display, 60 in sump), 5" DSB, Mixed reef - Softies, LPS, SPS, Clams.

10-14-2008, 02:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,660 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Portable PH monitor or PH pen First, I rarely recommend Hanna stuff as it is bottom shelf equipment. Second, I have see more posts and issues with Pinpoint and electrical inferences than all the others put together. Third, when it comes to pens or folding probes or even credit card pH units it depends on one thing, WHO'S is it. Pinpoint and Milwaukee is not the greatest stuff either in the world of instruments. They are just more or less hobby grade, which really is about all we need. Me, I will choose a * good pen any day, as I can take it with me anywhere and stick it in my pocket and it has no cable dangling or a exposed probe to break, drop or rip out of the housing. My choice is one and one only, for price, quality and what it does, and that is the HM Digital PH-200: Waterproof pH Meter @ $80.00. And the same thing with their HM Digital COM-100 TDS Meter. PH-200: Waterproof pH Meter - HM Digital TDS - pH Meters __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

10-14-2008, 02:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 25,831 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Portable PH monitor or PH pen I have been using a Hanna PH tester for quick PH & Temp checks of my rotifer/fry tanks. I really like it. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistance conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Last edited by Woodstock : 10-14-2008 at 03:20 PM. Reason: Correct instrument type

10-14-2008, 03:14 PM	#7 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,660 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Portable PH monitor or PH pen You lost me Doni, PinPoint does not have a pH pen. They have a hand-held pH meter/portable meter, which they actually wrongfully call a montior. There are pH pens, sticks, cards, meters, monitors and controllers. A monitor is the same thing as a controller without the ability to control pH or in short a gutted controller. They are actually kinda rare nowdays, as technology and pricing has changed all that. __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

10-14-2008, 03:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 25,831 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Portable PH monitor or PH pen I lost me there too. Thanks for finding me Boomer. I have this 'instrument' Pond Water Quality & Testing: Hanna Instruments pH Testers __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistance conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

10-14-2008, 03:21 PM	#9 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,660 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Portable PH monitor or PH pen I have a new Brunton compass, so it is easier to find people now See here is where you were............... __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

10-14-2008, 03:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 25,831 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Portable PH monitor or PH pen LOL~ You're the man! I bet it is part of that fancy, scientific, formula filled, calculator/computer you carry around! __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistance conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

10-14-2008, 03:29 PM	#11 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,660 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Portable PH monitor or PH pen Yes, I did have to use that to plot some vectors to find you __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

10-14-2008, 03:32 PM	#12 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 25,831 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Portable PH monitor or PH pen __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My Victorious Battle with ICH* 120 Reef Chronicle ~ *Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* *Massive 300 gal growout~* *My Anemone & Picasso Tank ~* *Picasso & Snowcasso for sale~* "Energy and persistance conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

10-14-2008, 04:21 PM	#13 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,482 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Portable PH monitor or PH pen Thanks Boomer. I just ordered both and from a sponsor no less. Air Water and Ice had them for an even lower price than you said. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

10-15-2008, 12:16 AM	#14 (permalink)
Boomer Reef Sanctuary's Mr. Wizard Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Posts: 2,660 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Portable PH monitor or PH pen Cool I'm working on the new pH monitor you want for the tank. Tell Frank he may have to sell the car Yokogawa EXA PH100 1/4 DIN Panel Mount pH Analyzer __________________ Boomer Want to Talk Chemistry ! The Reef Chemistry Forum Want to See More ! The Coral Realm If you See Me Running You Better Catch-Up An explosion can be defined as a loud noise, accompanied by the sudden going away of things, from a place where they use to be.

10-15-2008, 08:33 AM	#15 (permalink)
lcstorc Sunshine Reefer Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cocoa Fl Posts: 26,482 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Portable PH monitor or PH pen LOL No way he is selling that car. He would get rid of me first. We'll be fine with the one we have on the reef and the one I just ordered for the other tanks. Shoot we just started dripping kalc. We are way behind on the high tech stuff. __________________ Peace LYNN Lynn and Franks saltwater adventure Lynn's 20g clown tank Lynn's 90g of sunshine Lynn's frag tank experiment A reef tank is like a race car. The faster you go the harder you crash.

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