Build a ph doser/controller - under $100 - tutorial

ok, good. keep checking in. I went to milwaukee website. They wouldn't accept my credit card online. I ended up sending them a check to the wrong address. I'm waiting to hear back from them if they get my check at all. I'm stuck.

I just started using co2 to bring down my ph. It's amazing, but I think it helps to stabilize it. I only had to ajust once in two days. I'm not sure what is going on. Interesting. I didn't like putting chemicals or vinegar in with the roots of my plants. Even though I dumped alot of vinegar in the reservoir and it still didn't seem to hurt them. crazy

Vinegar, eh? Anyone know if that's ok to use? I mean, it's a weak acid, but it seems kinda silly to use that. But, it is cheaper than the acid you buy at the hydro store.

I am totally abandoning vinegar if this experiment works out and I can't think why it shouldn't.

I assume people have been using vinegar for ages to change ph. In dyeing, vinegar is used to help strike the color on a wool fiber. I try to be as organic as possible. I am not comfortable with sulfuric acid and muriatic acid. I used to work with sulfuric acid and it ate holes in a my clothing. I worked with a rubber apron on and thick rubber gloves. Big ones. I was very careful not to splash.

I use ascorbic acid, which of course is merely vitamin C. Very safe, I dunk my hands in the stuff on occasion when working on my acid reservoir and no problems whatsoever. But sulfuric acid, I would highly discourage anyone from ever using that for hydroponics. Wayyyyy to strong. I had to neutralize a half liter of it at my lab once and it took me something like 7 or 8 pounds of baking soda and when I tested the ph to check my progress, it just at the litmus paper! Maybe I'll start using vinegar after the current stuff is gone to save money, anyone else use vinegar?

I would think ascorbic acid vitamin C is pretty cheap. I got my bottle of vit c in powder form at Trader Joe's. Cheaper than vinegar. I tried ascorbic acid and got particulate matter precipitating out. I was using organic nutes (my own design). Now, I'm using GH lucas formula for hydro and plants are much happier. I might try it again if CO2 does not work. I'm just tired of lugging gallons of vinegar home to make natural CO2.

Now one guy wants to put a guinea pig in with his grow to generate CO2. That's great! I love all this spontaneous ingenuity.

Gen

How's it been working out for you? I assume you've had it for at least a week or two now. Mine's been great, totally worth the $100.

Just got it yesterday and don't know what to do???? I'll have to read your excellent post again. Yawn. It's late, have to be tomorrow.

I'm using CO2 to adjust my ph now. Before I used vinegar. I like the CO2 much better. Easier to control ph this way.

Well, you can definitely use it with CO2 if you want too. I'm still just using some GH acid that I'm mixing from powder. Keep me updated on how it works out. I'm eager to hear good reports :)

Well, since I've been busy with stuff, tell me (I'm really lazy about reading directions) do I need a big CO2 tank to use it with the meter. I've got the small tank used to make soda pop. I'ts from the soda club and it says it will make 110 liters of soda. I am exlusively using CO2 and couldn't be happier. It's great and the plants are loving it. Lush, white roots. I really need to look at the meter tomorrow. The only problem is I have two separate containers for hydro. I would probably need two controllers. One for each. I'm still working out the bugs on my grow. Just moved them outside to natural sunlight and they couldn't be happier. I'll probably need to get a bigger container for hydro or connect them.

Thanks for posting this great idea mountain.

yoohoo, mountain where are you?

I'm going to try this. I guess I need to mix up the co2 in water and put it in container like what you did. I'll try it. Neat and very cool idea mountain.