Those that all look the same are pretty much the same. Not bad, but not great. Apera makes quality products for not much more. The “kit” may or may not be the best price option, but you will need to get a calibration solution, and a storage solution to go with it if you don’t. You can get by with just the 7.0 test solution and a single-point calibration.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01ENFOHN8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&th=1
Thanks, I bought a Jellas pH pen and is accurate with the calibration solution. I meant to ask do you know of any good ph meters for soil? Thanks again, Whodat66.
No worries - and you don’t need a second one. Once they are old enough that you soak the pots, you use the same tester on the run-off. As long as your soil is good and your in-put is on point, you just have to trust that it stays that way for now. Unless you see issues then you can do a slurry test on the soil, but you would use the same tester for that. Don’t waste $12.99 or whatever on the ‘3-way thing with the probes’.
Okay, sounds good. Thanks again for all your help!
So, my General Hydroponics calibration liquids arrived today. One is 4.01 and the other is 7.0. I rinsed the meter with distilled water, shook off any excess water and inserted into the 7.0 solution and let sit for one minute. I slowly adjusted the calibration screw until it read 7.0. I let it set for a few minutes to see if any fluctuations would occur. They didn’t. I rinsed again and shook off excess water. I put into 4.01 solution and it read 3.5 after a minute of waiting. I adjusted the screw slowly until it read 4.0. I then rinse and repeated. I put back in the 7.0 solution and it read 7.4. Not sure if the meter is just off by .3 or the solution. Should I dial it in based on the 4.01 or 7.0? If I can’t get it exact should I go for say 4.2 over 4.3?
Not ignoring you, but there is no adjustment screw on any meter I have.
Hmmm. Do you just check it’s accuracy by placing it in a known pH solution?
Precision is cool, but if I stick it in a 7.0 solution and it reads 6.9-7.1, I’m good. I’ll adjust my nutes accordingly because I check right after I mix them. If it’s past that I’ll re-calibrate.
Mine has an auto-calibration setting. If it needs calibrating you press a different button, put it in “x” solution, and press go. Like setting the clock on a coffee maker 
Nice. Mine will read read within .3 whether I choose to set it to 7.0 or 4.01. I can live with that. Thanks for your help.
Hello. I received my bag of FFHF. I transplanted them into straight HF and will use OF once they get a bit bigger. I also ordered more seeds. Would it be okay to put the seed with the tap root out into HF or should I just keep using Jiffy peat moss discs?
Going directly into happy frog would be fine. That’s how I start my seeds and I haven’t had any bad luck since I went with this method. I usually watch them pretty close for any issues for the first couple weeks and transplant out of the happy frog once they have a few good nodes on them.
Another question. I’m looking for a nice light (full spectrum led if possible) to replace my 400 watt mh. I want high lumens and spectrum without using so much electricity. I see several on the market. Since I’m doing this as recreational I only want to spend 150-200. Any recommendations?
What size is the space you’re lighting? There’s a few good options on the market. Also do you feel comfortable assembling a kit? It would really only be a few connections and screws to get a quantum board kit up and running. I’ll tag in the guru, because I’m sure he can help you as well @dbrn32.
I’m looking to light a 4’ wide x 5’ high x 24" deep. I would like it to be as simple as possible. I’ve heard good things about Mars Hydro and others. I was looking at a 600 watt thar only draws 135 or 185 true watts.Thanks.
Horticulture lighting group xl 260 kit. It will give you all of those things you’re looking for, plus be ideal for your space. It’s more than you wanted to spend, but will be a long time before you need or want to do anything else with lights for that space. Growerslights will even assemble and test for a small fee. But it’s not difficult at all to save a few bucks and assemble yourself.
I whole heartedly agree; it’s a bit more than you want to spend, but hopefully not enough to scare you away. Because I’m sure you will not regret the extra money spent. I have 2 320xl’s for a 5x5 flower tent and just built another fixture using 4 of their 120 boards for a 2x4 veg tent. They’re glorious…
What is your opinion on T5 lights? I can run a four bulb, 4 foot fixture with 6500k HO. It would put out about 20k lumens and I could add my 150 watt led full spec.
Where I live it’ll cost me $37/month to run my 400 mh on a 18/6 schedule
Unfortunately, unless you spend hundreds of dollars, those soil probes tend to be very inaccurate.
You can use your handy, dandy pH pen to test the run-off or to do a slurry test. Your pen is your friend!
I tossed the soil ph meter. I bought a recommended ph pen. Apera I think is the brand. Thanks