where can i get a not so expensive EC/TDS tester?

[hatecable]

Ive been looking around and trying to find one that isnt $100+.

Im just doing a small 1 plant W/F grow so do I even need one that bad? I see stuff in here that indicates just following instructions for the GH 3 part or Latewood's recipe with R/O water, calmag+ and LK and it should be fine. Then I see others expressing the dire necessity for a ec/tds/ppm meter. This is my first hydro set up so theres a huge learning curve that im trying to accomplish without asking too many questions. Your advice is much appreciated.

[elskeetro]

i got mine off of ebay. I have a pH pen and a TDS pen, not a combo deal. The pH Pen was $30 and the TDS was like $15. here's what i have and they work great:

pH: NEW DIGITAL PH METER FISH MARINE AQUARIUM, HYDROPONICS - eBay (item 380039909803 end time Jun-29-08 18:38:08 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-DIGITAL-PH-METER-FISH-MARINE-AQUARIUM-HYDROPONICS_W0QQitemZ380039909803QQihZ025QQcategor yZ117435QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

TDS:
HANNA Primo TDS Meter, PPM Tester, Conductivity - eBay (item 270248851582 end time Jun-29-08 13:25:30 PDT) (http://cgi.ebay.com/HANNA-Primo-TDS-Meter-PPM-Tester-Conductivity_W0QQitemZ270248851582QQihZ017QQcatego ryZ20546QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

good luck
Skeet

[hatecable]

Sweet!
Thank you so much. My wallet was starting to get cry when I saw how much all those other ones are.

[herbie the love bud]

I'm a fan of HM Digital meters and they can be found brand new for as little as $35 (EC). pH pens are more expensive of course and you need to shop around.

My opinion about EC pens is not the most popular, because I usually say its mis-understood and not used effectively by beginning growers.

EC is just a measurement of conductivity in the water. It will give you NO clue as to which elements are actually in the water and what ratios. So it is not all that helpful for diagnostic. You should follow the manufacturer recipe for mixing nutrients (or other recipe). Then use your EC pen to measure the EC daily and watch if it is moving up or down. If it is moving up, then your nutrient concentration is a little high and the plant is transpiring more water than nutrients. Add water. If it is moving down, then you could add a little of the whole recipe proportionately at the next feeding, or just leave it alone. Thats about all the pen can tell you. If you get plant problems, it can't tell you due to what nutrient, etc...

Right now for instance, I am battling a heat problem. My nutrient recipe is usually about 2.6 EC. But in this heat the next day it will be close to 4.0. That is toxic and will lock out absorbsion of certain nutes (like mg). So I water my nutes down to about 1.0 EC! They still in the course of the week get the same about of nutrients as a stronger mix in the winter.

Good luck!

[hatecable]

Im glad to learn all this stuff and get so much help. Im gonna have to teach my wife how to do it as well since I have to work out of town most of the week. As intimidated as I was..i cant wait to try and win her over. heh

[SAP420]

Just use ph drops with a tester tube. Much cheaper and will last quite a while plus you can buy replacement fluid for 10 bucks. Not worth purchasing a pen since the probes go bad after a while.

[hatecable]

I already have a hanna ph pen i bought a few years ago for my first grow and it was worth every penny. I've already used the crap out of it and I have barely gotten started with hydro. I haven't used the Tds pen much yet but I definately can see the need to help insure a healthy grow

[Treetops]

I'm a frugal retired guy....this is my tester...after going from the drops...made things much easier and better results were achieved...

Peace,
Treetops :jointsmile:

HM Digital Pocket TDS Tester, TDS-4 for sale. Buy from The Science Company. (http://secure.sciencecompany.com/HM-Digital-Pocket-TDS-Tester-TDS-4-P16346C679.aspx)