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You are here: Home --> Forum Home --> Brewing Forum --> Gear/Equipment --> Places to buy pH calibration solution

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blur_yo_face
Houston, Tx
161 Posts


Hey all,

At the recommendation of Olan, I have purchased the Hanna pH meter.. I am not sure where I can purchase the storage solution and calibration solutions locally, would that be at a pool supply store? I'm not expecting it to be at a Home Depot or anything..




Posted 34 days ago.

zgreenside
Nowhere
34 Posts


Are you talking about the stuff you use to balance the pH out in your mash? If so, use this. It will bring your pH up or down to 5.2, regardless of whether your pH is low or high. 1Tbl per 5 gallon batch, I use it every batch and have never noticed off flavors or issues (which you aren't supposed to).

I personally bought pH sticks to test, but I don't even use them anymore, I just toss 1Tbl in every batch and call it good lol. Kind of lazy I guess, but meh, hasn't bit me in the butt yet :)




Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


I get mine from Amazon, OP.  You only need pH 7.0 and either 4.0 or 10.0.

Hey, zgreenside, have you checked your pH with a meter?  The reviews on 5.2 pH stabilizer are pretty poor from people who actually get into water chemistry.  you have to have an agreeable water profile to hit the desired pH, and it can add some negative mineral content to your water. 

Not saying it can't work, but that it's not the best thing out there.





Posted 34 days ago.

blur_yo_face
Houston, Tx
161 Posts


@zgreenside - I actually currently do use that 5.2 pH stabilizer. I haven't had too many issues, but I would like to start diving into water chemistry a little more so I am not just using some sort of quick fix.. I was really just thinking of the liquid solutions that are used in order to calibrate the pH meter itself..

Thanks Olan, I was thinking of brewing this weekend.. so either I'm hoping the solutions could be bought locally, or the shipping could be fast enough for this weekend..






Posted 34 days ago.

zgreenside
Nowhere
34 Posts


Ah ok, my bad, misread what you were looking for. I definitely need to do additional research on water profiles; ours here is extremely neutral and tends to not stray too far off 5.2. I haven't checked it with a meter, just test strips, and they've come out ok to this point, but I'm sure there are better options :)






Posted 34 days ago.

blur_yo_face
Houston, Tx
161 Posts


oh definitely.. trust me, we will be learning together.. I just now started researching it, I've been doing the same as you up until recently..



Posted 34 days ago.

BrewerBrad
Oklahoma City, OK
66 Posts


If you have any hydroponics supply store around you, which I'm sure you do, this is something they would keep in stock. Also maybe a swimming pool supply store might have it, but I have not looked at them before. 

I have this Hannah meter myself, but I have yet to use it in my brewing adventures. I guess I should get it out and calibrate it!


www.amazon.com/Hanna-Instruments-Wate...




Posted 34 days ago.

blur_yo_face
Houston, Tx
161 Posts


oh wow, thats a nice pH meter.. thanks for all your responses!



Posted 34 days ago.

BrewerBrad
Oklahoma City, OK
66 Posts


No problem! I just saw that you are in Houston. I know there are several hydroponic/indoor grow stores around there. You can buy enough calibration solution to last you a long time from them. Just make sure you use a clean shot glass or something of that nature to calibrate in. Never put anything into the bottle the solution is in. 



Posted 34 days ago.

blur_yo_face
Houston, Tx
161 Posts


thanks for the info! I actually just looked up a place thats just down the street from me, probably just stop by there today..

I was using this video as reference to calibrate, good to know though!





Posted 34 days ago.

BrewerBrad
Oklahoma City, OK
66 Posts


That does seem like a good video but in reality you will only need the 7.0 and 4.0 solutions to calibrate. Just have a shot glass of each solution and rinse off with good water before moving to the next step. Pretty much after every reading you will want to rinse it off. And you can use the 7.0 solution as storage solution to keep you from spending extra money on their special storage solutions. 



Posted 34 days ago.

blur_yo_face
Houston, Tx
161 Posts


So just to follow up.. I went to a hydroponic store very close to my house to buy the pH calibration buffers.. and I ended up walking out of the place with a used RO machine.. such an impulse buy, but I got a Hydro-Logic 31040 200-GPD Stealth-RO200 Reverse Osmosis Filter for $100.. no pun intended, but I feel like I'm diving into this water thing head first.. reading up on the manual now..





Posted 34 days ago.

BrewerBrad
Oklahoma City, OK
66 Posts


Oh man! You can get some good deals at those stores sometimes! Very good score man. Almost makes me want to find new filters for my RO system.... Hmnmmmm



Posted 34 days ago.

blur_yo_face
Houston, Tx
161 Posts


Oh yea, definitely! really cool guy, showed us his grow room.. I had my girlfriend in the car to watch my dog since I thought I was just going to be in and out.. turns out they were dog friendly (and girlfriend friendly) and had beer in his store! (actually doesn't sell beer, he gives it away if you buy a pint glass from him.. guess you have to do that if you don't have a liquor license) 

Really had no intention of purchasing that RO machine, but it was just a deal I couldn't pass up..

About to make another post in Gear/equipment to ask questions about it..




Posted 34 days ago.

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