Ph meter

[derekmc]

Hi everyone - just wondered if someone could give me some pointers?

My wife is in the middle of a wildlife recording & environmental studies course at the University of Birmingham. She's got a birthday coming up and - as her main present - she'd like a pH meter to help with her field work especially in freshwater habitats. Ideally she's looking for something fairly robust, waterproof, easy to calibrate/set up, and with an integrated temperature gauge/thermometer setting as well.

This isn't something I know much about - anyone got any ideas as to what I should be looking for, or recommendations as to makes/models? The budget I have is about £ 80.00 but I can go up a bit for the right piece of kit.

Thanks. I appreciate the help!

Derek

[The Woodman]

This is just above your budget and from a tried and trusted supplier - Alana Ecology.

Alana Ecology pHep5 pH Meter

[Siskin]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

This is just above your budget and from a tried and trusted supplier - Alana Ecology.

Alana Ecology pHep5 pH Meter

Was just about to recommend Alana, I have bought stuff from here before and they sell a lot of good stuff

[tom00_uk]

go for a pH probe you can calibrate, then get some buffer solution to do the task, id normally use 5 and 7 or 7 and 9 depending on what's to hand and also what range of pH the solution im testing is likely to be in.

Take note of when opened as buffer solution has a shelf life, if your not going to need much then go for smaller bottles as your less likely to waste it.

wash the probe using deionized or better still reverse osmosis water, the first is often found in shops for topping up car batteries or for filling irons. The RO is available from good aquatic shops.

Never let the probe dry out, it should remain covered in ro/deionized water when in storage.

the better devises often can accept multiple probes (not at same time), like salinity and oxygen or can be left to run as a data logger.

paper strip or tablet kits are very inaccurate and i wound not recommend them other to say if its a acid or a base your testing

could well be cheaper to shop for it via a dedicated scientific instrument/supply retailer and for buffer either a aquatic retailer (used when making RO water suitable for the type of livestock) or the well know online auction site

[Matt Smith]

Originally Posted by Siskin

Was just about to recommend Alana, I have bought stuff from here before and they sell a lot of good stuff

Go to Alana Ecology, find what you want, then look up the product on the original manufactureres website and buy it from there - Alana typically put a large markup on all their equipment. As an example, Alana will sell you a "standard" pond net from GB Nets for £64.28 plus shipping, the same net direct from GB nets will cost you about £42 - thats a fair old difference.