Get pH test strips. I got like 200 strips for about $7 on Amazon, with delivery. They work great. You dont get SUPER exact measurements, but within .1. And that's been good enough for me. Testers get within .01. Then just use the right amount of pH Down and retest.
Also, try making a bunch of water at the same time(6-7 days worth). That will save strips for the budget farmer. imp:
nickkap Reviewed by nickkap on . im done jacking around with ph problems i've got several grows under my belt some turned out fantastic and others kinda suffered a little. my biggest problem has been with ph (im a dirt farmer)my tap water changes so much it is hard to keep up with. i have used the drop test kits with varied success over the years and have tried a few different ways to adjust the ph of my water. im at the point of disgust with this round. tap water has been jumping around from 7.5 to 8.5 all summer. i do let my water stand for a day or 2 before using Rating: 5