Probe Calibration

Proper probe calibration is necessary before using your control for the first time. You should also recalibrate your probes every month they are in use, before starting a new grow, after a probe has been stored for longer than a month, or when you replace a probe. Failure to calibrate your probes before use will cause imbalanced water and damage to plants.

Calibration Tips

  • The EC probe also features a temperature sensor. Both probes and the calibration solutions should be at room temperature before calibration.

  • Do not calibrate your probe directly in the container of calibration solution, as this will change the chemistry and reliability of the solution. Instead, pour just enough solution into a small container, such as a shot glass or small water glass.

  • Always dispose of used calibration solutions.

What You’ll Need

  • A glass of room-temperature tap water for rinsing probes

  • 1000ppm EC probe calibration solution

  • 4.00 and 7.00 pH calibration solution

  • Small containers for the calibration solutions (a 1oz container such as a shot glass or medicine cup is ideal)

pH Probe Calibration

The pH probe is blue and has a fragile glass bulb protruding from the tip.

  1. Fill a glass with tap water, let it come to room temperature, then place both probes into it. Ensure the pH probe and the EC probe are connected to the FLORATek control box.

  2. Make sure your pH solution is at room temperature and not expired.

  3. Open the calibration menu by navigating to the “Probes and Sensors” menu then selecting “pH Probe Maintenance.” If you are installing a new probe, select “New pH Probe” to reset the “Days since new” counter.

  4. Gently rinse the tip of the probe with room-temperature tap water, then shake off excess water.

  5. Place the pH probe into the 4.00pH calibration solution. The solution should cover the entire tip of the probe.

  6. Wait about 30 seconds until the pH reading has stabilized. The FLORATek 4 will not allow you to calibrate the probe until the reading is sufficiently stable.

  7. Select the “Calibrate pH 4.00” option to calibrate the probe.

  8. Gently rinse the tip of the probe with room-temperature tap water, then shake off excess water.

  9. Place the probe into the 7.00pH calibration solution. The solution should cover the entire tip of the probe.

  10. Wait about 30 seconds until the pH reading has stabilized.

  11. Select the “Calibrate pH 7.00” option to calibrate the probe.

  12. Place the pH probe back into the glass with tap water.

  13. Press STATUS to return to the main screen, or press CAL to continue to EC probe calibration.

EC Probe Calibration

The EC probe is black and the tip has 2 metal electrodes protruding from the tip.

  1. Fill a glass with tap water, let it come to room temperature, then place both probes into it. Ensure the pH probe and the EC probe are connected to the FLORATek control box.

  2. Make sure your EC calibration solution is at room temperature and not expired.

  3. Open the calibration menu by navigating to the “Probes and Sensors” menu then selecting “EC Probe Maintenance.” If you are installing a new probe, select “New EC Probe” to reset the “Days since new” counter.

  4. Press CAL to navigate to the EC calibration screen.

  5. Gently rinse the tip of the probe with room-temperature tap water, then shake off excess water.

  6. Place the probe tip into the EC calibration solution. The solution should cover the entire tip of the probe.

  7. Wait about 30 seconds for the reading to stabilize. The FLORATek 4 will not allow you to calibrate the probe until the reading is sufficiently stable.

  8. Select the “Calibrate EC 1000ppm” option to calibrate the probe.

  9. Place the EC probe back into the glass with tap water.