Indoor how do you keep you ph on check??

[dank0r]

Wondering what everyone uses to keep there ph stable? Do you test the soil and the water w/ nutes? Do you guys use test strips? Need some info as I am planning my grow on what I need to get and to keep my ladies stable.. thanks

 

[KindredSpirit]

Hey dank :smokebuds:

Congrats on planning your grow! Keeping your soil pH stable is essential. If possible, I would invest in two things: a good water pH pen and a good soil pH gauge.

I would look into Hanna pH pens. Here's the one that I use: http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=hanna+ph+meter&hl=en&client=safari&rls=en&prmd=imvns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1339&bih=784&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=3356689160366113643&sa=X&ei=QuY3UJiaH6Tr0gH0nYHYDg&ved=0CG4Q8wIwBw#ps-sellers It's a good meter and holds its calibration very steadily. The downside: it takes a while for the pH reading to settle in. Hanna makes better pH pens that also take the water temp and give you an instant reading, but you'll pay some extra pesos for it.

For a soil pH probe, I would highly recommend AGAINST getting one of the $5 - $20 probes. I've gone through four lower end ones after finding they all tended to read right around 7 when it was obvious the soil pH was way off. At the recommendation of Muddy, I'm using an Accurate 8 Control Wizard pH and Moisture meter and it's the bee's knees. http://www.hidhut.com/catalog/control-wizard-accurate-ph-p-1799.html?cvsfa=3273&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=31373939

Keeping your pH stable is so important because if your soil pH strays from the ideal range, you'll start to get nutrient lockout and your plants won't be able to uptake all of the goodies available to it in the soil.

Hope this helps, and a belated welcome to AFN :smokebuds:

 

[KindredSpirit]

Forgot to mention that yes, you do want to test your water after you've added your nutes because the majority of nutes will shift your pH in one direction or the other. You want to make sure the pH of your nute solution is on point right before you give it to your ladies.

 

[dank0r]

Hey kindred and thanks for the welcome and for your reply and recommendations, I plan on getting those ph meters you mentioned .. by any chance did you check out my grow box construction? Your input would be great.. Also what is generally used to balance out ph if its let's say high in my nutes mix? How do I control it in the sense on raising the ph or lowering the ph???

Link to my construction in progress..

http://www.autoflower.org/f5/new-guy-here-planning-my-first-grow-suggestions-11438.html

 

[JM]

yes... I'd reccomend the Hannah pen... this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Hanna-Instrum...F8&qid=1345845793&sr=8-1&keywords=hanna+98129

when ordering a ph pen... dont forget to get claibration solution, and cleaning solution.... essential for keeping calibrated... which is essential for obvious reasons... bad readings dont fix problems...

I'll second the advice ... or third actually on the Accurate 8... a real primo tool... the cheap ones will eff up your grow ultimately.


on ph:

https://www.autoflower.org/f7/ph-explanation-9705.html

https://www.autoflower.org/f7/what-ph-29.html

https://www.autoflower.org/f7/auto-life-span-effect-ph-lockouts-other-stress-issues-708.html

and there are many ways to lower / raise ph...

vinegar and baking soda are easy ones... but there are better ones ... have a read... then see what questions you have left for us on that stuff and we'll be glad to walk you through...

 

[dank0r]

JM thanks for chiming in.. thanks for the provided links. Will get the reading done and if anything I will ask. I couldn't come to a better place.. glad to be here. Thanks again everyone. ::toke to that::

 

[Muddy]

Here's a better price on the Accurate 8. http://www.horticulturesource.com/control-wizard-control-wizard-accurate-ph-8-p3015/

And another good one on pH. https://www.autoflower.org/f42/ph-information-1956.html

 

[dank0r]

Wow now I am getting spoiled lol :: kush cough cough:: thanks Muddy.. by any chance did you guys have a chance to check out my grow box that I am constructing? Your inputs will be great as I will finish putting it together tomorrow. Thanks again.

 

[JM]

I havent had the time today... perhaps tomorrow I will have the time... sorry mate... wayyy behind on a bunch o' shite ATM.


btw.... welcome to AFN! :smokebuds:

 

[npd]

At the recommendation of Muddy, I'm using an Accurate 8 Control Wizard pH
and Moisture meter and it's the bee's knees. http://www.hidhut.com/catalog/contro...vsfhu=31373939:clap:




I agree with Kindred, the Accurate 8 is definitely the bees knees and elbows too.