PH Tester

[Dyranty]

So which should i buy if im going too? PH Strips or a PH meter ?

Ph Strips
Product Information Error Page (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100350164)

Ph Meter
Product Information Error Page (http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100325514)

?

[Rusty Trichome]

Neither are any good. Unreliable.

You'll want a water ph tester. (ph pen)
Something like this:
Discount Hydroponics - Waterproof Testing Pens (http://www.discount-hydro.com/productdisp.php?pid=405&navid=13)
It's the one I use, and works great.
If getting the calibrating solution for it too, get the 4.o1 ph stuff. Can also use this liquid to store the pen.
It's easier to use than it sounds, and worth every penny.

If this is out-of-reach for now, I used a freshwater aquarium ph kit for years. ($6.oo) Keeps you in the ballpark, but not very reliable for testing run-off ph.

[stinkyattic]

Between those 2, the strips are better. Cheap garden soil pH meters are nearly worthless.
Next step up as Rusty said is an aquarium liquid test kit.
Then into pens. Milwaukee, BlueLab, Orion, Beckman, and Oakton are all very reputable brands.

[Dyranty]

Thanks.

I just went out to this pool place by my house and got one of those test kits for 6 bucks heh.

I'm not sure if i trust the run off i did it and it looked at about 6.8 but the water was yellow to begin with so i question that. before i did the runoff it was too high - like 7.4/7.6

Lemon juice bring that baby down?

Thanks

[Rusty Trichome]

I'm not sure if i trust the run off i did it and it looked at about 6.8 but the water was yellow to begin with so i question that. before i did the runoff it was too high - like 7.4/7.6

Lemon juice bring that baby down?

Thanks

Lemon juice works in a pinch, as does white vinegar. Not good long-term tho.

There are many "quick and easy fixes" to a myriad of problems. (like the lemon juice or vinegar for bringing water ph down) Keep in mind that these should really be used like band aids, and not as the cure.

The flower nutes I use (Fox Farms Tiger Bloom - 3.1 ph out of the bottle) lower the water ph by .1 or so. My veg nutes don't even change it that much. (Fox Farms Big Bloom - 3.6 ph)
If you start off with water at about 6.8 to 6.9 ph, you should be fine.

I did mention the run-off problem, right...? When yellowish and bluish doesn't really mean 6.8ish...edjumicated guestimating comes into play.

This is the biggest problem with the aquarium test kits. Don't get me wrong, I used those kits for years. After the first time tho, I quit trying to determine the run-off ph. So, not knowing the run-off ph, I flushed every few weeks to alleviate any possible salt build-ups or ph problems. (peat based soil mix)
Now that I have a pen, I still havn't broken myself of doing the flushes, but at least now it's not as often, and not out of a panic wondering about ph fluctuations.

Making your grow easy to care for, and sustainable is the goal. You'll soon want to invest in the proper tools and supplies. Soil, nutes, ph down (agricultural grade phosphoric acid), a ph pen and calibrating solution are a few to look into.

[cannabisdude9]

Blue Lab carrys what you need. :thumbsup: