Awake204

Hey everyone,
Discount Hydro sells a liquid PH test kit for $6.00. Are these accurate enough to use for a hydro grow? My electronic PH meter is on the fritz, and next time I spend money on one I want it to be the big constant monitoring PH/EC/TDS/Temp ones and I just dont have the funds right now. Im hoping the cheap liquid tester will get me through my next flower. (starting tomorrow!!)

Thanks
Awake

Crapon

Awake,

Those liquid testers are good for soil because you have like a
-1.0 to +1.0 degree of accuracy. For hydro we need exact numbers like 5.4 to 6.1. It kinda hard to hit that range with a liquid ph tester. I thought I had the perfect color result, then my ph tester (electronic) came in and I was at 6.5. Now my plants are doing much better

You can get a cheap $30 one from Hanna for this flower, or you can grab their water proof one which I have from $70-90. Or go ahead and spend the bills on the constant reading thing. Its up to you, but it is pretty essential, if you want your flowering to go without a hitch..

Anyone backing me up on this?

good luck

trudawg

The liquid PH tester works great. I'm on my 2nd grow (bubbler method), and thats what I'm using. The guy at the hydro store, said you always want the your soln. to look like beer, when Your testing your PH. I have followed that advice, and I don't see myself ever getting another PH testing method, unless I spend the big bucks on the TDS/PH monitor

-somtimes cheap is just as good!!

__________________
to all of those who stand in the DAWG's way

Awake204

Thanks for the input guys...I do have an electronic PH tester now, a Technika that I bought off Ebay for like $20. It works OK, but I have to calibrate it all of the time, and with the manual calibration screw in the back, it sure is a pain. I use distilled water to calibrate, and Im sure that's not the best Idea...for the longest time I thought it was dead 7 - but when I tested with PH paper it looks closer to 6.6 or 6.8.
Plus, something is up with my tap-water - it makes the PH meter go straight up to 12, even though this is obviously not the case. Lithmus paper measures it at around 6.5. (and this is using a PUR filter)

So now, after saving my six clones from near disaster with a resivoir change using distilled water - Im looking for a cheap 'stable' method to get a second opinion and help calibrate my cheapo electronic meter.

Looks like Im buyin' me some liquid

Thanks again
Awake