Did a firmware update on the ACI controller without issue. Was thinking again about Ph and totally forgot to check the soil ph in this new coco mixture. Not sure what I was thinking…. Pulled out the Hanna tester and my pots were at 6.95 to 7.22. Really like this meter. I’m dropping the water tank ph to 5.8 to help ease the soil ph down over the next week.
I also figured out the Blumat to ACI sensor readings. Two really different methods of measurement.
1. The AC Infinity Probe Measures Volume (VWC)
Most digital probes (like the AC Infinity) measure Volumetric Water Content (VWC). This is the percentage of the total volume of your pot that is taken up by water.
• Soil is mostly solid: Even in a pot full of soil, about 40–50% of the space is solid material (dirt, rock, organic matter).
• The Porosity Limit: The remaining space (pores) can hold water or air. In a typical potting mix, the maximum amount of water the soil can physically hold (saturation) is usually between 50% and 60%.
• The Reading: Therefore, a reading of 58% effectively means the soil is "full" of water. It cannot go much higher than 60% because the solids take up the rest of the space.
2. The Comparison
• Blumat (32 mbar): This measures suction. A reading of 32 mbar means there is almost zero suction required to move water; the soil is nearly saturated.
• AC Infinity (58%): This measures volume. A reading of 58% means the pore space is nearly filled with water (typical saturation for peat/soil mixes is ~60%).
I put this chart together to map it out.
I’m going to continue using both probes to monitor.
In the mean time I’m changed the water schedule to every 24hrs x 30mins to see if I can ease into a little dryback or at least see how long this soil will retain moisture during veg.
