Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Buy a meter from ebay. Then collect run off and test it. Here Boom, $14.
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Digital-Ph-Meter-TDS-Tester-Aquarium-Pool-Hydroponic-Water-Monitor-0-9999-PPM-/272037042287?nav=SEARCH
Northern Grow Lights Photon 180 Citizen 1825 90 CRI
- Thread starter Aruanda
- Start date
http://m.ebay.com/itm/Digital-Ph-Meter-TDS-Tester-Aquarium-Pool-Hydroponic-Water-Monitor-0-9999-PPM-/272037042287?nav=SEARCH
Aruanda
Well-Known Member
In speaking with Robin privately, he hypothesized that it could be a fluctuation in humidity. This week there were a few days of really dry weather, hot and dry (40-50% RH). I had a lot of fluctuations yesterday as I had set my exhaust to come on intermittently. The humidity would climb then when it kicked on for 15m every half hour it would drop back down. Thankfully today the humidity is back up and I switched the exhaust to stay on. I'm still working with dialing in the climatic elements...
I will do a pH test though. Thanks everyone!
I will do a pH test though. Thanks everyone!
PSUAGRO.
Well-Known Member
runoff is a very inaccurate way to measure soil ph............that meter combo for less than $14 is guaranteed garbage
Aruanda
Well-Known Member
Hey PSUAGRO, could you perhaps leave a more constructive feedback? Like, okay if you don't agree that that is an accurate way to test soil pH, great. But why not suggest a better solution instead of leaving it at that? Thanks.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
I've used mine for a year now and it still works perfectly to this day ; )
The Dawg
Well-Known Member
Here's The pH Meter You Want. Its Expensive But Well Worth The Price 
https://www.bluelab.com/ph-pen
Now I Use A Cheaper Ppm Pen. I Found The Hana Primo To Be Very Accurate And Reliable As Long As You Don't Drop It In A Res
http://hannainst.com/products/testers/primo-tds-tester.html
And Here's A Pic Of My Setup
https://www.bluelab.com/ph-pen
Now I Use A Cheaper Ppm Pen. I Found The Hana Primo To Be Very Accurate And Reliable As Long As You Don't Drop It In A Res
http://hannainst.com/products/testers/primo-tds-tester.html
And Here's A Pic Of My Setup
PSUAGRO.
Well-Known Member
Sorry, I hate google tooHey PSUAGRO, could you perhaps leave a more constructive feedback? Like, okay if you don't agree that that is an accurate way to test soil pH, great. But why not suggest a better solution instead of leaving it at that? Thanks.
https://forum.grasscity.com/threads/guide-how-to-properly-test-your-soil-ph-ec.643083/
local university/ag dept can also test it for you ................OR go LOS and never worry about it
Aruanda
Well-Known Member
Go LOS? What is that?
Aruanda
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I use disconnect.me or Ecosia to search. One doesn't store your searches and the other plants trees through their ad space every time you make a search (https://disconnect.me) (https://www.ecosia.org).Sorry, I hate google too
Aruanda
Well-Known Member
So I have started preparations to mix together my soil and amendments this weekend. I wanted to draw attention to a particular substance that has been talked about in the ROLS thread, Biochar.
To just give a recap of what I am mixing together. I got slightly smaller 2gal. (roughly 8L) smart pots that are taller with a smaller diameter for better spacing. The ingredients are as follows:
25% Perlite = 10.5L
10% Vermiculite = 4.2L
30% Inert (nutrient deficient) soil medium = 12.6L
10% coconut medium = 4.2L
21.4% Vermicompost = 9L
3.6% Biochar (inoculated) = 1.5L
>1% silica
>1% calcium (shells)
I am brewing some experimental compost tea with the following:
(8L) of filtered and de-chlorinated water
(1L) of worm castings
(8mL) Kelp solution (BioBizz)
(2.75 oz.) organic unrefined brown sugar
(1.5L) Biochar
(2tbs) Stump tea mycorrhizal blend (This does contain Bacillus subtilis which they recommend only adding at the end of a compost tea brew cycle right before adding to soil or as a foliar spray. However, this blend contains many other beneficial bacterium and mycorrhizae)
(1.5tbs) Roots Organics Uprising
(6-8 drops) of ConcenTrace - Trace Mineral drops
Tomorrow I will remove the biochar and strain off the solids and mix that with the rest of the soil blend and prepare the pots (however, will not transplant at this point). I will also be diluting this (1:2) with water and give to my seedlings.
For anyone who is unfamiliar with what biochar is, it is woody biomass that has gone through the process of pyrolysis and has turned to pure carbon. It stays in this stable form of carbon for about 1000 years. It has been considered an important ingredient in the formation of 'Terra Preta,' a form of very nutrient dense black tilth soil that has been found accumulated in various places in South America. Biochar is extremely porous and has a massive surface area. One gram of the substance has the same surface area as a football field. This is useful knowledge as that is a great amount of surface for beneficial bacterium and soil organisms to colonize, adding biochar to a compost tea brew will inoculate the char.
For anyone looking for more information on the topic a good resource I've read is The Biochar Solution: Carbon Farming and Climate Change by Albert Bates (https://amzn.com/0865716773)
The char seems to float on the top and is already producing many frothy bubbles as the air percolates up. So I dunked a micron screen bag in the tea and tried to collect a majority of it into the bag.
To just give a recap of what I am mixing together. I got slightly smaller 2gal. (roughly 8L) smart pots that are taller with a smaller diameter for better spacing. The ingredients are as follows:
25% Perlite = 10.5L
10% Vermiculite = 4.2L
30% Inert (nutrient deficient) soil medium = 12.6L
10% coconut medium = 4.2L
21.4% Vermicompost = 9L
3.6% Biochar (inoculated) = 1.5L
>1% silica
>1% calcium (shells)
I am brewing some experimental compost tea with the following:
(8L) of filtered and de-chlorinated water
(1L) of worm castings
(8mL) Kelp solution (BioBizz)
(2.75 oz.) organic unrefined brown sugar
(1.5L) Biochar
(2tbs) Stump tea mycorrhizal blend (This does contain Bacillus subtilis which they recommend only adding at the end of a compost tea brew cycle right before adding to soil or as a foliar spray. However, this blend contains many other beneficial bacterium and mycorrhizae)
(1.5tbs) Roots Organics Uprising
(6-8 drops) of ConcenTrace - Trace Mineral drops
Tomorrow I will remove the biochar and strain off the solids and mix that with the rest of the soil blend and prepare the pots (however, will not transplant at this point). I will also be diluting this (1:2) with water and give to my seedlings.
For anyone who is unfamiliar with what biochar is, it is woody biomass that has gone through the process of pyrolysis and has turned to pure carbon. It stays in this stable form of carbon for about 1000 years. It has been considered an important ingredient in the formation of 'Terra Preta,' a form of very nutrient dense black tilth soil that has been found accumulated in various places in South America. Biochar is extremely porous and has a massive surface area. One gram of the substance has the same surface area as a football field. This is useful knowledge as that is a great amount of surface for beneficial bacterium and soil organisms to colonize, adding biochar to a compost tea brew will inoculate the char.
For anyone looking for more information on the topic a good resource I've read is The Biochar Solution: Carbon Farming and Climate Change by Albert Bates (https://amzn.com/0865716773)
The char seems to float on the top and is already producing many frothy bubbles as the air percolates up. So I dunked a micron screen bag in the tea and tried to collect a majority of it into the bag.
Aruanda
Well-Known Member
[09/19] - 8 days after almost all germinated seeds have sprouted from soil (5 of 6) and they are pretty vigorous. Yesterday I took my AACT and diluted to 1:2 with water, added 1mL of BioBizz - BioHeaven and 1/3 tsp of Stump Tea -veg boost + more Stump Tea mycorrhizae blend and drenched all 6 seedlings. The inoculated biochar got mixed in with all my soil ingredients and after consolidating it to the transplant smart pots, they got drenched too. As it turns out, they are more like 9-10L pots so I will have to re-do the math on the ratios...
Anyway, just a few pics. I really do think my issue with the twisting of the leaves is from the erratic ups and downs of the humidity. My hydrometer says a low of 46% and a high of 86% in the past 24-48h. The exhaust now stays on all day and during the day the fluctuations aren't so great (59%-70%). I set my timer to kick in the exhaust every 15m for 15m after lights out. Hopefully I may see some more stabilization in the next 24h and get a different reading (hopefully). Some of the petioles are turning a bit purplish, but I am not too concerned for now. The brown spots on leaves are from the compost tea which I should have maybe diluted a bit more for foliar application, whoops...
Anyway, just a few pics. I really do think my issue with the twisting of the leaves is from the erratic ups and downs of the humidity. My hydrometer says a low of 46% and a high of 86% in the past 24-48h. The exhaust now stays on all day and during the day the fluctuations aren't so great (59%-70%). I set my timer to kick in the exhaust every 15m for 15m after lights out. Hopefully I may see some more stabilization in the next 24h and get a different reading (hopefully). Some of the petioles are turning a bit purplish, but I am not too concerned for now. The brown spots on leaves are from the compost tea which I should have maybe diluted a bit more for foliar application, whoops...
PSUAGRO.
Well-Known Member
LOS/ROLS====living organic soil/ recycled organic living soil
It's stupid easy with a healthy soil food web==maintained moisture level
Generally no ph/ec needed..... if your water's tds is decent&free of chlorine
Aruanda
Well-Known Member
PSUAGRO.
Well-Known Member
Yes I see that now.......... lolOh, well I mean, that is pretty much what I am doing here
If your water is alkaline careful with adding biochar
Also I cut allot out of my organic runs for the better imo........... got rid of my act/aact/sst and all the unnecessary amendments and just use plant based/ vegan ferts now following multipass micronized method...... simple and effective...... but I'm lazy
The Dawg
Well-Known Member
Aruanda
Well-Known Member
What is the precaution in the case of alkaline water?
What are 'vegan' fertilizers? Lol.
Aruanda
Well-Known Member
I'm curious to know why you believe that to be for the better?