DWC pH question

[tgpfarm]

Ok alot of my stuff came in the mail today.


First off my setup:
I am going to be using just FloraNova Bloom for nutes.
21 gallons of tap water in the res.
400 watt HPS.
Tap water pH: around 6.5 I think.
Tap water ppm: less than 100


ok now, as far as the ppm for the tap water, it doesn't even register on my truncheon meter so its less than 100 which I am pretty sure is good.

Now my question:

I only have a fish tank dropper pH tester which only goes down to 6.0
No where else can I get a digital pH tester locally. With using 8ml of FNB per gallon of water, this should take me into the correct range for hydro.
Should I order a digital pH meter? Or should I be able to just go by the ppm meter?

 

[Bogey]

TF....You would greatly served by ordering a digital PH meter...Proper PH is one of the most important aspects of proper uptake of nutrients and thus having healthy plants

 

[trademanny]

If I could only have one or the other, I'd go for the pH meter.

 

[tgpfarm]

Well I was thinking that as long as the pH is under 6, which I can measure, I would be in the clear.

 

[pezoholic]

Ok first off a couple things.

"just under 6 is in the clear".....dont believe that...yes setting it to 5.6-5.8 is good as let as you let it drift up to the low 6s.....mS and PPM are JUST as important as ph....get the combo meter and be done with the guessing....I adjust ph down once every 36hrs

100ppm tap water is pretty darm good man...I would stay away from the Floranove series, or you will be having a lot of fun cleaning mucky resis....not fun....Dont get me wrong is a great 1part but the new Botanicare CNS17 is where its at for a clean one part.

 

[FreezerBoy]

pH pens are a crapshoot at best. The test drop kit is all you need.

Measure pH of a gallon of water. Add 0.2ml pH Down and measure again. Rinse, lather, repeat. Do the same with a gallon of nute solution. Now you know what it takes to drop your water or nutes X number of points.

I feed barely rich and alkaline. Over two weeks, EC climbs, pH drops, and 4 gallons of tap water returns numbers and res levels to previous readings.

 

[rusty_shacklfor]

i use the drops but i use the gh test kit it is wide spectrum ph
it shows like 5-8. the pool or aquarium ones are crap

 

[trademanny]

pH pens are a crapshoot at best. The test drop kit is all you need.

I agree with most of what you say FB.. and I understand you've have bad luck with the meters, but I must respectfully disagree. I can tell you that I've never had an issue with them. Even the cheapy red-$15-Hanna meters.

As long as you double-check and re-calibrate every few weeks with calibration solution you'll be fine.. There are too many industries (aquarium, pools, etc) that use and rely on these meters every single day for me to completely write them off as all being crap. My pool guy doesn't sit there playing with little drops and vials..

 

[Mickymouse]

I bought a good meter but double check with drops.

 

[FreezerBoy]

I understand you've have bad luck with the meters

I've never had one and can't imagine I ever will. I blew $300 in a fan debacle by not doing my homework. This time I did. I stand by the pH pen statement. They are a crapshoot at best. I test maybe once a month. With a pen I'd have to calibrate every time and test before every use. How? With a test drop kit.

30% of the work, 10% of the money, no calibration, no batteries, no probes. Drops kept my marine tank alive and happy. There's nothing about weed that comes close to a marine tank's sensitivity.

 

[Guest 18340]

Get the ppm meter. Dropper tests for ph is all you'll ever need. A little $5 kit lasts me 6 months minimum

 

[cygnus]

I concur with the wal-mart test kit for aquariums. I did pools for years and they work fine . I believe what product you use to adjust PH is much more important .

 

[pezoholic]

I also disagree with freezerboy...I am all for doing things on the CHEAP and that seems to be Freezerboy's M.O. however it is AT LEAST essential to get a PPM/EC/TDS pen. The ph you can do with the dropper kit (talk about a pain in the ass measuring it up, adding the ph, retaking adding drops ect) its just so much easier to stick a pen in the water and get the Ph on the fly.

Also if you on a budget like I said I would suggest getting you food dialed in more accurately...the ph shaker kit can get you "in the range" but for me I want me food to be MAXED and highly accurate so that I have the strongest, healthiest and most robust plant possible. Very important cause everyone's water is different so everyone has a different ferting point

BTW calibration is done one a month with special soultions. If you take care of you pen it will REWARD YOU WELL and last a long time (just like a car or possibly a gf lol)

 

[tgpfarm]

I have the bluelab truncheon meter. From what I read it seems to be the most reliable meter on the market.

I am going to try with only the walmart dropper ph kit. I am only running bagseed as it is anyways.

I think as long as I can stay under 6 I should be good.

 

[FreezerBoy]

I also disagree with freezerboy...I am all for doing things on the CHEAP and that seems to be Freezerboy's M.O. however it is AT LEAST essential to get a PPM/EC/TDS pen.

I have the Bluelab EC Truncheon. I'm perfectly willing to pay top dollar for worthwhile equipment. That's why I pay $3.89 for test drops. Any more than that is a rip-off.

 

[stevewinthrop]

my hanna pH pen has never failed me, neither has my continuous pH/EC meter. Calibrate at res change, takes about a minute to calibrate all 3.

no idea why people slam quality instruments... if you're going to put a lot of work into growing weed, might as well put a lot of money into it as well... I consider them very good, and necessary investments.

Then again, DWC is a very forgiving style of growing, and many people do it without the use of any test equipment at all, but for aero, or drip, or nft, I wouldn't go without one... get a pH/EC combo tester and be done with it... If not now, then after you sell a few dime bags.

-- steve

Although with