shall i get an EC meter ?

iNFID3L

iNFID3L

Well-Known Member
im growing in soil , i check and adjust my ph as of last week to 6.5.

ive just bought a SOIL ph meter, and now im looking at an EC meter.

im a little unsure of how to use one , what the readings mean compared to what im putting in BUT i have a feeling i need to get one and master the art of using one ....

Any tips or advice would be fackin awesome ! lol
 
mc260377

mc260377

Active Member
I would personally say the most important one for you right now is a water ph meter. You say you have a soil ph meter but surely its more important to measure the ph of the food you are giving it before it becomes a problem in the soil?? Unless im getting confused and you have already got a water ph meter. You can get a EC meter aswell - mostly used for hydro but can still use for soil grows :)
 
max316420

max316420

Well-Known Member
Ive used both and it's a great tool to have along with a ph meter. I say ppm cause I'm half retarded and they are easier to figure out
 
Prefontaine

Prefontaine

Well-Known Member
These meters all measure only EC, everything else is calculated from that one reading, dont bother dude, just get some indicator solution and ph up and down, the EC/PPM meters are a waste of money, two meters from different companies use different equations to calculate PPM,
 
max316420

max316420

Well-Known Member
No I WOULD waste the money and your right the ppm meters just convert it for you. And imo those strips suck, not accurate at all
 
W

Wetdog

Well-Known Member
Myself, I can see no need for a EC/PPM meter for soil use. Of course, I do organics and the things won't even read organic stuff, only chemical salts.

If you're in hydro, they are essential, but like lipstick on a pig for soil.

If that 'soil' pH meter you have is one of those prong deals you stick in the dirt, throw it away and get a decent digital meter for reading liquids. Those prong meters are worse than useless because they are inaccurate and trying to correct a wrong pH is worse than doing nothing.

Better yet, add some lime to your soil and not worry about it at all.

Wet
 
iNFID3L

iNFID3L

Well-Known Member
Wetdog said:
Myself, I can see no need for a EC/PPM meter for soil use. Of course, I do organics and the things won't even read organic stuff, only chemical salts.

If you're in hydro, they are essential, but like lipstick on a pig for soil.

If that 'soil' pH meter you have is one of those prong deals you stick in the dirt, throw it away and get a decent digital meter for reading liquids. Those prong meters are worse than useless because they are inaccurate and trying to correct a wrong pH is worse than doing nothing.

Better yet, add some lime to your soil and not worry about it at all.

Wet
Click to expand...
why do certain brands of soil/organic noots use ec readings on thier grow guides ?

yeh ive binned the old soil ph meter, got a much better one coming, when i have the money ill get a digital one , but im sure the way they both take readings are the same, probe in soil.
 
max316420

max316420

Well-Known Member
I agree with "wet"... you add lime and you'll never have to worry about ph. I was having problems with ph in promix and after adding lime I haven't had a ph problem since.. Starting not to even bother checking my waters ph anymore.
 
Prefontaine

Prefontaine

Well-Known Member
max316420 said:
No I WOULD waste the money and your right the ppm meters just convert it for you. And imo those strips suck, not accurate at all
Click to expand...
why the hell would you use strips? I said get an indicator, as in solution, as in it changes color corresponding to the exact ph.
 
iNFID3L

iNFID3L

Well-Known Member
max316420 said:
I agree with "wet"... you add lime and you'll never have to worry about ph. I was having problems with ph in promix and after adding lime I haven't had a ph problem since.. Starting not to even bother checking my waters ph anymore.
Click to expand...
can i ask, how much did you use ? i just worked it out and it looks like i need 8 table spoons in a 20 litre pot of soil, sound right ?
 
Prefontaine

Prefontaine

Well-Known Member
iNFID3L said:
why do certain brands of soil/organic noots use ec readings on thier grow guides ?

yeh ive binned the old soil ph meter, got a much better one coming, when i have the money ill get a digital one , but im sure the way they both take readings are the same, probe in soil.
Click to expand...

because people who know how the electronic meters work, understand that they only actually read the electrical conductivity of the sollute, all other information is calculated from that, the two prong soil meters are great for determining if you are in the range for you plants, cause checking the ph of the runoff doesnt give you the ph of the actual soil, duh,

if you want accuracy get the general hydroponics test kit, its an indicator solution, and a vial to test in, plus ph up and down, chemical is the most accurate way,

for those of you who think you know what you are talking about just read the following article, TARDS:
http://www.marijuanagrowing.com/dhtml/knowledgebase.php?faqid=14
 
Prefontaine

Prefontaine

Well-Known Member
oh and usually gardeners add lime to outdoor soil and let it break down for several months before planting, just FYI
 
Prefontaine

Prefontaine

Well-Known Member
max316420 said:
No I WOULD waste the money and your right the ppm meters just convert it for you. And imo those strips suck, not accurate at all
Click to expand...
I would like to call your attention to an article where jorge cervantes explains how no two manufacturers calculate PPm etc the same way, which means they give completely different readings compared side to side, and the calculations couldnt be accurate if they where using the same numbers, because ph, PPM. EC, etc are not directly associated, the electronic meters, only give an approximation, whereas a chemical indicator, turns the shade of the ph, on the dot, every time,
 
iNFID3L

iNFID3L

Well-Known Member
i used to keep tropical fish so i can see both sides here, if i hadnt had problems id probably have nevr even considered an ec stick, lol

just want to be in the right ph zone, with my water and soil... nothing more.
 
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