What Tools are Essential for DWC?

I am confused as to the most basic of tools I need to test water and ph. I hear the term PPM and PH meter. These are separate tools right? please tell me exactly what I need for hydro. And I mean the most needed for everyday maintenance. Also where can I get these cheapest?

Yes you need a PH meter to test the water PH and PPM/EC meter to test total dissolved solids (nutrients etc) in the water.

There are combo meters which do both, or you can buy separate meters. You also have the constant probe meters, dip meters etc.

I use blue labs after using Hannah, Milwaukee and some others. I will never use another brand for my meters.

I have a Bluelab truncheon thats 4 years old, works great. Just bought a Bluelab ph pen, so far so good.

Dont buy cheap measuring tools. You'll regret it

if you need to start cheap thats fine, and much better than a lot of people that have started their grow without them and regretted it. i got a cheap ppm pen and a ph pen off ebay when i started and they did what i needed.

Ph test kit or ph meter ,tds/ppm meter and lots of air for the roots by using airstones with airpump . And reccomend synthetic nutrients only for dwc.. also keep tempature of water cool by shading the buckets or adding a chiller for large setups. General hydroponic new 2 part gro/bloom duo should be a good nutrient to start with as it only requires you to add two seperate nutirents together to maintain a desired ppm and or ratio and its based off a marijuana grow formula.lol. For dwc keep ph at 5.5-6.5 optimal 5.8 and start with a ppm below 500 and work your way up to around 800-1200 ppm . I usally run my large mothers at 1000-1200 and my smaller blooms at the middle to end of there cycle at 800-1000 ppm

FreeRangeZombie said:

Ph test kit or ph meter ,tds/ppm meter and lots of air for the roots by using airstones with airpump . And reccomend synthetic nutrients only for dwc.. also keep tempature of water cool by shading the buckets or adding a chiller for large setups. General hydroponic new 2 part gro/bloom duo should be a good nutrient to start with as it only requires you to add two seperate nutirents together to maintain a desired ppm and or ratio and its based off a marijuana grow formula.lol. For dwc keep ph at 5.5-6.5 optimal 5.8 and start with a ppm below 500 and work your way up to around 800-1200 ppm . I usally run my large mothers at 1000-1200 and my smaller blooms at the middle to end of there cycle at 800-1000 ppm

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Make sure you know you're ppm meter conversion as it can make a big difference when reading ppm values from people.

Sorry I use .5 conversion

I never used a ph pen or a ppm/tds meter.Just use this kit,and work nute strength up slowly and learn to read your plants.
http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-General-Hydroponics-pH-Control-Kit.asp

might help with those burnt leaves.

superstoner1 said:

might help with those burnt leaves.

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I have read that Blueberry is easy to grow,and hard to grow according to differing journals.So I decided to try a Blueberry crossed with NL#5.I then realised as I grew them out that certain Blueberry leaning phenos will go thru a hiccup per say,while the NL#5 leaners were fine.I can only surmise that this is an internal osmotic trait of Blueberry that would freak out the new grower.The Calyx's will still pack on as normal,and will continue to tip burn here and there even when I go half strength as I do during mid to late flower for my plants.I am glad calm prevailed because this is the most euphoric,tastey,and highest yielding plant in my garden as for now.

Tell me Superstoner is there any burnt tips on this trimmed,and dryed nug shot that I liberaly partaken of prepic?
Will burnt tips effect taste on a 4 week cure?If I entered my nugs in a contest,would the judges be able to tell that they came from a burnt tipped plant if they never seen the plant it came from?

For new growers on a budget,and especially for those that are financially depleted due to illness.Cannabis can be grown very economically,and in a tight space to boot.My friends (that do not know I grow) say that the weed I get is the best they ever had.My nutrient chem grown plants without the aid of beneficial bacteria's under floros
is extremely antisuperstoner,but I do not get any complaints when I show up at the party.

Research,ph kit,knowing your plants is all that is needed starting out,and you can beat your chest at the end result because that is what really matters.

Happy growing everyone.

BTW...the previous plant pic is going thru a preharvest flush aswell,but the most important part of the plant looks good to me.

superstoner1 said:

might help with those burnt leaves.

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I was thinking same thing plant could be so much nicer with pens.

BigBuddahCheese said:

I was thinking same thing plant could be so much nicer with pens.

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Hey BBC lova....

I was going to ask you if my first time run with flowering Spacequeens would be a contender for the MJ beauty contest,but I noticed some burnt tips so scratch that idea.Then I was going to ask you if there was a vegetative category of the MJ beauty contest but noticed burnt tips on my first run Jillybeans.I suck so bad without a pen,even though my camera shy Bonsai mums look pretty.

Do burnt tips effect yield,taste,and potency?Considering I am the only person that sees them physically (besides internet strangers),I am worried to death over the loss of the big 3 from ugly plants.I have to run out and get a pen now.

a little sensitive this week, big guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuUJfYcn3V4

There are people that have loved ones going thru chemo,or some other illness that want to self med,and skip big Pharma.These same people may barely afford living expenses let alone a meter.I know people here are proud of there gardens but I run into peeps here (even ones that are rarely even around) that have a vested interest (I am talking on many levels) that want to keep the mystique up on something insanely simple with a tight budget to boot.

Burnt tips because of no meter? LOLZ!
http://bubbleponics.com/forum/showthread.php?2266-Got-cripsy-leaf-tips

Dalek Supreme said:

Hey BBC lova....

I was going to ask you if my first time run with flowering Spacequeens would be a contender for the MJ beauty contest,but I noticed some burnt tips so scratch that idea.Then I was going to ask you if there was a vegetative category of the MJ beauty contest but noticed burnt tips on my first run Jillybeans.I suck so bad without a pen,even though my camera shy Bonsai mums look pretty.

Do burnt tips effect yield,taste,and potency?Considering I am the only person that sees them physically (besides internet strangers),I am worried to death over the loss of the big 3 from ugly plants.I have to run out and get a pen now.

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LOL when I start to brag and take offence to my plants, then I guess I need to smoke more or give up this hobby.

I am sure your a non PPM PH using genius and won numerous nugs of beauty awards and everyone loves you at the party. No offence but the product I have seen and sample around here atleast, most my nugs swept off my floor would be prize winners, so keep think you are doing your plants a favor by NOT KNOWING that was the whole point behind the post, not a beauty contest.

BigBuddahCheese said:

LOL when I start to brag and take offence to my plants, then I guess I need to smoke more or give up this hobby.

I am sure your a non PPM PH using genius and won numerous nugs of beauty awards and everyone loves you at the party. No offence but the product I have seen and sample around here atleast, most my nugs swept off my floor would be prize winners, so keep think you are doing your plants a favor by NOT KNOWING that was the whole point behind the post, not a beauty contest.

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Hey again BBC lova.I see you dabble in 2 gal (if memory serves me) Hempy's.I like to run micro sog in 12 and 24 oz Hempy cups.I am wondering if nutrient burned tips will have any noticeable effects on yield,taste,or potency considering if one backs off on nute strength when nutrient burned tips are observed (either in veg or flower)?Also I am wondering what is the biggest gap in PPM's you have seen in different strains on what they can handle in side by side setups wether in veg or flower?
Also if one took notes on at what measured strength of nutes caused trouble,if they can apply the knowledge to the next grow of same strain with backed off strength (considering if it was the same phenotype),and have less trouble (considering enviroment,ph being in healthy parameters,and worked up the strength slowly instead of full strength from the start)?

If you can answer these questions for me I will be most greatfull,and +reps for you,and thks.


http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sugexp=les;cesh&gs_nf=1&gs_mss=self medicating grow o&pq=illness budget cannabis grow&cp=13&gs_id=as&xhr=t&q=compassion+club&pf=p&biw=1024&bih=607&sclient=psy-ab&oq=compassion+cl&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=1868d924740104b

Dalek Supreme said:

Hey again BBC lova.I see you dabble in 2 gal (if memory serves me) Hempy's.I like to run micro sog in 12 and 24 oz Hempy cups.I am wondering if nutrient burned tips will have any noticeable effects on yield,taste,or potency considering if one backs off on nute strength when nutrient burned tips are observed (either in veg or flower)?Also I am wondering what is the biggest gap in PPM's you have seen in different strains on what they can handle in side by side setups wether in veg or flower?
Also if one took notes on at what measured strength of nutes caused trouble,if they can apply the knowledge to the next grow of same strain with backed off strength (considering if it was the same phenotype),and have less trouble (considering enviroment,ph being in healthy parameters,and worked up the strength slowly instead of full strength from the start)?

If you can answer these questions for me I will be most greatfull,and +reps for you,and thks.


http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sugexp=les;cesh&gs_nf=1&gs_mss=self medicating grow o&pq=illness budget cannabis grow&cp=13&gs_id=as&xhr=t&q=compassion+club&pf=p&biw=1024&bih=607&sclient=psy-ab&oq=compassion+cl&gs_l=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&fp=1868d924740104b

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Yawn.

You need to contact my people so they can contact your crazy people and we can come to a conclusion on your burnt tips. Let's all sit around and smoke a bowl and create random troll responses to try to save face, yet act cool in the same reply.

Son, I do not grow in hempy, yet I did try it and was very successful.

Not sure what you are trying to accomplish with the idiotic random manure you are spreading, maybe to fertilize your garden for your next "award winning" "stupendous" "burnatlious tips" harvest. I am not hear to judge you son, we just stated a scientific fact that if a plant is "burnt" there are problems, deficiences, or what have you I am no botanist.

What I am though... is a grower who wants the BEST for their plants no matter what, and KNOWING that burnt tips is a sign of "stress" I rather keep them GREEN.

So.. if you "were" that smart and an "astute award winning burnt tip crunchy supreme" that you claim to be... and you DID monitor your plants you might... be world famous prize winning, life of the party, I am a funny witty poster type of guy.

You see son, at the end of the day you are just another misinformed mislead guided soul, its not your fault man you are just part of the system. We don't know what solar system you are from or claim to be nor do we really care.

Love ya. (sorry no crazy sigs with silly robots and dumb sayings just truthful words that sometimes hurt. Wear it like a shield you misguided troll of a son of someone who probably gave up caring long ago.)

BigBuddahCheese said:

Yawn.

You need to contact my people so they can contact your crazy people and we can come to a conclusion on your burnt tips. Let's all sit around and smoke a bowl and create random troll responses to try to save face, yet act cool in the same reply.

Son, I do not grow in hempy, yet I did try it and was very successful.

Not sure what you are trying to accomplish with the idiotic random manure you are spreading, maybe to fertilize your garden for your next "award winning" "stupendous" "burnatlious tips" harvest. I am not hear to judge you son, we just stated a scientific fact that if a plant is "burnt" there are problems, deficiences, or what have you I am no botanist.

What I am though... is a grower who wants the BEST for their plants no matter what, and KNOWING that burnt tips is a sign of "stress" I rather keep them GREEN.

So.. if you "were" that smart and an "astute award winning burnt tip crunchy supreme" that you claim to be... and you DID monitor your plants you might... be world famous prize winning, life of the party, I am a funny witty poster type of guy.

You see son, at the end of the day you are just another misinformed mislead guided soul, its not your fault man you are just part of the system. We don't know what solar system you are from or claim to be nor do we really care.

Love ya. (sorry no crazy sigs with silly robots and dumb sayings just truthful words that sometimes hurt. Wear it like a shield you misguided troll of a son of someone who probably gave up caring long ago.)

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well said. bravo, bravo.

BigBuddahCheese said:

Yawn.

You need to contact my people so they can contact your crazy people and we can come to a conclusion on your burnt tips. Let's all sit around and smoke a bowl and create random troll responses to try to save face, yet act cool in the same reply.

Son, I do not grow in hempy, yet I did try it and was very successful.

Not sure what you are trying to accomplish with the idiotic random manure you are spreading, maybe to fertilize your garden for your next "award winning" "stupendous" "burnatlious tips" harvest. I am not hear to judge you son, we just stated a scientific fact that if a plant is "burnt" there are problems, deficiences, or what have you I am no botanist.

What I am though... is a grower who wants the BEST for their plants no matter what, and KNOWING that burnt tips is a sign of "stress" I rather keep them GREEN.

So.. if you "were" that smart and an "astute award winning burnt tip crunchy supreme" that you claim to be... and you DID monitor your plants you might... be world famous prize winning, life of the party, I am a funny witty poster type of guy.

You see son, at the end of the day you are just another misinformed mislead guided soul, its not your fault man you are just part of the system. We don't know what solar system you are from or claim to be nor do we really care.

Love ya. (sorry no crazy sigs with silly robots and dumb sayings just truthful words that sometimes hurt. Wear it like a shield you misguided troll of a son of someone who probably gave up caring long ago.)

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Thks Dad....My point to the OP was made in the 1st reply post.The Crastination I received makes me think that you would be lost,and freak out if your meter broke,but I know you will do fine as a plant with burnt tips even in late flower.The poster asked for most basic,and essential tools for DWC.Those are my tools that I started with,and continue to use.I am nearing the end of dialing in
a entirely new setup,with mom selections goin on.Glad I am not bothered with calibration solutions,probe storage solutions, conversion calculations (for certain models?).Do not get me wrong on one thing.They are great scientific instruments/toys but not necessarily needed for a weed.

p.s. come on!!! club 600 bulb dude is kinda silly.

Dalek Supreme said:

Thks Dad....My point to the OP was made in the 1st reply post.The Crastination I received makes me think that you would be lost,and freak out if your meter broke,but I know you will do fine as a plant with burnt tips even in late flower.The poster asked for most basic,and essential tools for DWC.Those are my tools that I started with,and continue to use.I am nearing the end of dialing in
a entirely new setup,with mom selections goin on.Glad I am not bothered with calibration solutions,probe storage solutions, conversion calculations (for certain models?).Do not get me wrong on one thing.They are great scientific instruments/toys but not necessarily needed for a weed.

p.s. come on!!! club 600 bulb dude is kinda silly.

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Please don't think of me as dad as your real one screwed you up enough, if you really even have one.

This will be my last reply to your already tweaked out mind. I wish you well and hopefully someday you can find what you desperately need, maybe a hug will suffice as your really uneducated mind is desperately trying to sound like you actually can convey a point of something tangible here.

Feel free to continue to reply even if it's to appease the voices in your head.

Buddah (insert childish dig on your signature here)