I own 2 of that exact one, but I wont say it is the best. You can get a way better price in the $75 range too. Here’s “the tip of the day” they don’t tell you on all of the meters, BL included - your gonna spend another $50 on storage solution and calibration solutions if you wanna keep em in tip top.
Over the years I’ve had Hanna, Milwaukee, and that same Apera20
I had one live to be 7 yrs old, only supposed to last 12-18 months. So now I use one to make sure the other is in check, and swap using them randomly.
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Thanks…but I’m holding my breath…what’s the $75 unit that betters the Bluelab I asked about? I’m okay spending some coin to keep them running okay - but this Apera20 that reads like 3 year old child reading a book isn’t gonna work. 
I was saying the Bluelab can be had $75 range, that what I paid for my recent replacement of the one I accidently contaminated. I was just on a hydro site they have it on sale $86 right now, often times I see it there for $75 and free shipping. Just saying amazon isnt always the best price, but you can have it at 4am so there is that.
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Ah, thanks!!! I see what you mean. Again, sorry, I assumed. I was thinking you had some other product for $75, when you were just saying I could find the Bluelab cheaper somewhere else.
As Chris Farley said, “I’m such an idiot!”
Thanks so much for your help - I appreciate the advice. As I mentioned above, I like to have my ducks in a row. ~smile~
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No sweat, I hope it works out for you. And if you do go Bluelab(its actually most)…its a 24hr KCL soak before calibration…so be forewarned if you need this asap.
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Thanks! I’m not needing it soon, I’m still using my fish aquarium liquid tests to adjust the PH for my city water. Like I mentioned, it’s currently at 7.2.
Just to be clear, I should be around 6.5PH going in (during early veg)?
In a peat base mix yes 6.3 - 6.5. and then adjust/tweek based on runoff #'s. Low ppms 700-900ish depending on size, if hungry aggressive growers creep it up slowly.
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Thanks so much. I’m running the FFOF (look at me using acronyms that you all use)! Fox Farms Ocean Forest. So I’m guessing I’ll be okay with just water for the next 4 weeks (as I just planted them in their forever home last Sunday).
According to the movie Idiocracy, the soil has got what plants crave. It’s got electrolytes.
(Sorry, a few beers in on a Thursday evening, I get a little bucky and my humor gets weird).
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yes your good for a few weeks at least …get it on a calendar, keep notes and when getting close(week out) start at least supplementing with the minimum calcium and mag, that and N likely be your first depletes. When watering to runoff, watch those ppms and pH…when something doesn’t look right or deviates widely, come ask…lots of good folks here can help ya.
Enjoy the beers I’m on bourbon and bong hits, I’m celebrating tomorrow is Friday too.
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I returned the Apera20 and picked up a BlueLab. I’m currently soaking it in the KCI solution.
First impression? So much easier to use (functionally). The unit is higher quality (as expected, it’s more expensive). Apera 20 is like using a windows 3.1 PC, BlueLab is like using a windows 10 PC (or a mac, if you swing that way).
My girls are growing like weeds (so to speak). Tomorrow is insulation and testing (heating, humidifying, and exhaust day). It’s actually my version two, as my version one setup would’ve worked, but it was bush league.
My work space (office) smells like a stoner garden right now, and the wife is wanting them to move (although she understands my needs with my not-my-fault illness).
I might be over-engineering, but I’m an engineer by trade.
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Insulation is done. It raised the well room temp by 5 degrees F just from the insulation. I also added an oil heater in the corner (much safer than the cheap ceramic amazon heater). Payed $40 for it on Craigslist…it’s brand new. The temp issue has been solved. I’m also running an Inkbird Temperature and Humidity Controller. I have two humidifiers, one is a heater humidifier (that’s connected to a duct fan) blowing into the tent. The other one is a cool mist just sitting in the well room…as the blower fan in the tent sucks in the heat and humidity.
I’ll grab some pictures tomorrow…I need a few more things (like a smoke detector, a few more power strips, etc). These girls are growing fast!
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One question though…I’m growing in fabric pots. Should I drill some drainage holes in the bottom? I feel that the fabric might withhold some nutrients and not give me a true runoff reading.
The tent is sitting around 75-76 F and 55% humidity. I’m thinking the girls will love it! They’re currently growing (in my office) at 70 F and 30% humidity.
Thanks!
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That’s the point of fabric pots, makes it harder to overwater and doesn’t allow too fast of evap. SO no holes required. Yes they will get some buildup of salts, but if you don’t overfeed like a foie gras farm, it will be minimal and mostly washed out with hot water. If you are unhappy with the runoff amount, run a little more generally rule is 20% runoff. Temps and humidity look excellent 1.08kPA, plug those into a vpd calculator looks l, since your engineer you’ll prob wanna chase numbers for optimal. VPD Slide Rule
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Hi @Friend,
I’m curious, what are the ppms of your tap water? If your water is very clean, I wonder if that’s why you were having an issue getting a good reading for your pH.
The pH of your water comes from the charge of the dissolved ions it contains. If it’s very clean, thats why your meter might have been “sliding” around on its reading. In that case it doesn’t really “have” a pH of its own, per se.
Now once your nutrients have been added to the solution, and the level of dissolved solids is higher, then I think you would have found more stable readings, because the pH would be more “stable” and it becomes easier for your meter to read it.
I hope that’s makes sense, it’s a topic I think a lot of folks misunderstand, myself included.
I’ve also got the blue lab.
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Thanks! That makes me more comfortable with the fabric pots.
My plan is to keep the grow tent stable with temp and humidity 24/7. I think it’s achievable with my Inkbird…thus the vpd should be pretty stable. But, I don’t know what I don’t know, so your calculator will come in handy - thanks for sending me that link!
This was partly why I chose the well room, it’s 60" long, 55" wide, and 63" tall. And I have a foam like door to cover the access. I am leaving 6" of breathing room with the door, as the plants need CO2.
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I tested my water yesterday, and tested it just now. Yesterday it was 127 TDS (trump derangement syndrome units…sorry, couldn’t resist!). Today it was 87 TDS.
But, I understand what you’re getting at. That’s why I’m using my liquid aquarium tester to verify the results.
My blue lab is still soaking as I was busy getting the tent in order. Even if it acts like the returned unit (with the tap water), it was still worth it to upgrade, it’s SO much easier to use).
@Friend just used the water from the squatium its ph perfect and has real fish shit in it , yes !
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Thanks! My thoughts as well! I plan to use aquarium water when I change out 4 gallons every other week (sucking the bottom substrate with a vacuum hose). I’ll still need to bring the PH down a bit, but I’m guessing the plants will love the organic poo. Of course, I’ll test it first. But my aquarium water seems to stay pretty close to what I put in it (right around 7.0 PH).
Thanks @yoshi, I really appreciate your input!
