You need a PH meter. You test the water that goes in and the run off. Also you can buy PH down. And baking soda is good to raise PH.
You don't tell a new grower about tail chasing.
Ignore the testing your run off pH. Chasing your tail is for advanced growing and only if you're monitoring the soil capacity to hold nutrition.
You could benefit from a pH meter or pH test kit from Amazon.
...also.... ceiling light?
As for nutrient brands, it's really all about preference. I like organic nutrients and many people like synthetic. It really does come down to what is your goal.
My goal is a balance between plant health, bud size, taste and ease of use. I have to use a multipart nutrient mix and veg longer to achieve similar results to people who use synthetic nutrients.
That's the bonus of synthetic over organic. Faster, bigger growth at the cost of taste.
I haven't mentioned any brands because you need to decide what your goals are. Do you want production buds or craft buds. Big whomping beautiful herb or medium buds like nothing you've had before.
Organic nutrients do not directly feed the plant, they feed the soil and the soil feeds the plant. If you have shitty soil, no amount of organic nutrition will help.
Synthetic nutrients are in a form the plant can eat directly. They do not feed the soil but are absorbed by the roots. Kind of like snorting coke vs mainlining heroin.
Sure both routes will get you high but one is a hell of a drug.
