PPM meters matter with larger Hydro grows. There is a LOT more water flowing, and many many more plants drinking up all your nutes. With a small personal grow, don't buy the meter, just change your res water once every week or so and you should be good. Also, if you use the fox farm nute trio and its feeding schedule (http://www.4hydroponics.com/nutrients/Mnl/foxFarmHydro.pdf) your ppm and ph will stay within desireable levels.