EC Meter Confusion

[Fungineer]

I'm sure the answer is out there but doing a search for "ec" is tricky.

 

So I bought a $50 EC pen (Hydro Axis or something) because I'm getting ready for a noob DWC grow and I thought I needed it(?). I couldn't figure out how to get to the batteries so I used a screwdriver in a hole which I later realised is the calibration dial thing. Oops. I also think I broke the dial thing. Oops x 2. Anyhow, I put the end in a small bucket of tap water and the display stayed at 00. I mixed a splash of nutes in and it read 04. Another bigger splash and it read 18, Could it be the display doesn't have a decimal point, ie 04 = 0.4 and 18 = 1.8 EC?

 

Also, what is the EC of Melbourne tap water, particularly in the east? My meter says 00, but I possibly stuffed it.

[Fungineer]

I should also note the meter has virtually no manual and the manufacturer has no website. Bastards. Beware the El Cheapo.

[dr.argon]

Yeah mate if you snapped the manual trimmer its fucked . Get a blue labs ec pen mate $100 off ebay. If your going to do dwc youll want reliable ec and ph meters [emoji16]

 

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[Fungineer]

Yeah mate if you snapped the manual trimmer its fucked . Get a blue labs ec pen mate $100 off ebay. If your going to do dwc youll want reliable ec and ph meters [emoji16]

 

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Lordy. Airpots are looking better every day.

[dr.argon]

Lordy. Airpots are looking better every day.

[emoji4] no matter what medium you choose good ec and ph meters are very important tools for every grower imo [emoji16]

 

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[dr.argon]

Also cleaning and calibration solutions are useful to... no point using them if theyre not accurate 100% of the time [emoji4]

 

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[Raniformis]

You definitely need a meter to measure nutrients but a Ph meter is by no means a necessity. I've been using fish tank testers in hydro since the mid nineties, there's been a successful crop or two. Once you get used to your setup you can do it all by rote anyway.

 

Water quality changes from house to house let alone suburb to suburb. As far as I can tell the pipework in older houses has higher EC.

[Wi-Fi.]

Raniformis +1

Spot on

[itsjustme101]

[emoji817] % true.

 

When I first started I went and bought the el cheep-o crap. Works for a while but looses calibration quickly or just stops all together. [emoji12]

Edited January 6, 2019 by itsjustme101