I'v lost control,can't figure out issues and need assistance please

Pungent one said:

is there a particular way i should be using these 3 way ph,light,moister meters that im unaware of?

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The pH reading is useless, I have seen them show the exact opposite of the real pH.

Renfro said:

The pH reading is useless, I have seen them show the exact opposite of the real pH.

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A few questions come to mind. Not to derail the thread or anything I'm just curious because I have a few of them laying around and I'm high on speed right now. The readings of those types of meters tend to become inaccurate if they aren't properly cleaned after each and every use. I let one sit in soil for an hour once and it no longer worked for moisture or ph. Was yours properly maintained up to the time of the test? Also did you perform a slurry test with both a real pH meter and the 3 way? Pinning down the limits of these was a struggle for me as a newbie and most newbies have one. Therefore figuring out the best way to use it and get consistant results might benefit others who are new.

Dannydavito said:

A few questions come to mind. Not to detail the thread or anything I'm just curious because I have a few of them laying around. The readings of those types of meters tend to become inaccurate if they aren't properly cleaned after each and every use. I let one sit in soil for an hour once and it no longer worked for moisture or ph. Was yours properly maintained up to the time of the test? Also did you perform a slurry test with both a real pH meter and the 3 way? Pinning down the limits of these was a struggle for me as a newbie and most newbies have one. Therefore figuring out the best way to use it and get consistant results might benefit others who are new.

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Dump the 3 way. They are junk. You can buy a decent PPM pen and a PH pen for about $6 online. Calibrate the PH pen with baking soda in distilled water. It is 9.0 ALWAYS. Keep both in a cup of distilled water when using. Afterwards, rinse well in said cup. Shake off excess water and blow dry manually. Store upright uncapped. Meters stay accurate and clean far longer than expensive manfacturers directions.

MICHI-CAN said:

Dump the 3 way. They are junk. You can buy a decent PPM pen and a PH pen for about $6 online. Calibrate the PH pen with baking soda in distilled water. It is 9.0 ALWAYS. Keep both in a cup of distilled water when using. Afterwards, rinse well in said cup. Shake off excess water and blow dry manually. Store upright uncapped. Meters stay accurate and clean far longer than expensive manfacturers directions.

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Storing a pH pen dry is bad for the probe. should be stored in the KCl solution. The probe has a reference solution of KCl inside it, when thats depleted the probe is useless. Don't sit the meter in distilled or RO water, this is bad for the KCl reference.

Dannydavito said:

Btw I'm pretty sure you ARE using the 3 way pH meter incorrectly. If you read the instructions it says to perform what's called a slurry test. I guess you take a small soil sample, mix it with water until it becomes mud, then use the tester. I dont think they can measure pH unless you use them this way. Not that they are incredibly accurate but it's worth a try.
Also most hydro stores carry a kit which comes with pH up, pH down, a liquid test reagent, and a vial to test in. It's most likely more accurate than the 3 way meters and it'll only run you about 20 bucks.

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Cheap litmus paper is more than adequate for our purposes. I have totally given up on electronics for pH.

hotrodharley said:

I have totally given up on electronics for pH.

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Hmm. I have several pH pens, the good ones (blue lab and apera) are very reliable. I store them with the KCl solution and they have stayed very accurate for me. I let them sit for about 4 months while I took a break from growing, went to calibrate them when I restarted and they were spot on. So you do get what you pay for with pH pens and you must take care of them but they will reward you with reliable readings.

Renfro said:

Storing a pH pen dry is bad for the probe. should be stored in the KCl solution. The probe has a reference solution of KCl inside it, when thats depleted the probe is useless. Don't sit the meter in distilled or RO water, this is bad for the KCl reference.

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Storing the probe wet "in solution" is how they sell you solution and replacement pens after they scale over the electrodes. Sorry. You have no argument. My pens are over 5 years old and dead on. How many pens come from the store in solution? None. Longer shelf life.

hotrodharley said:

Cheap litmus paper is more than adequate for our purposes. I have totally given up on electronics for pH.

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PH is a broad range. PPM matters though when pushing your plants.

I apologise to the original poster I derailed the thread.

MICHI-CAN said:

PH is a broad range. PPM matters though when pushing your plants.

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pH and EC/PPM are totally different. I’m well fixed with quality EC meters. Litmus paper is sufficient. We used it in medicine in dialysis for testing at the source. They use it in swimming pools. It works fine for cannabis.

I live 50 miles from town. Amazon wants 3 weeks to ship anything and I’ve used litmus paper the last 3 years without a single issue. Hydro res included.

Listen to Renfro guys. I'm always glad when I do.

I'm really new and learning so my ideas might not be worth much but could he flush the soil to offer the plant some temporary relief? Most tap water is near to neutral right?
And then get a cheap liquid pH test kit asap. I think I got mine for $12 and as long as you compare the color results in natural daylight they're reliable and accurate enough to work with.

hotrodharley said:

pH and EC/PPM are totally different. I’m well fixed with quality EC meters. Litmus paper is sufficient. We used it in medicine in dialysis for testing at the source. They use it in swimming pools. It works fine for cannabis.

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Easy. I have a firm grasp of the basic tools and their uses. Don't know where this thread went. I'm out. Heed the test pen advice. Buy batteries. Not pens or chemicals. Peace prosperity to all.

I have well water, so not quite the same, but I was using litmus paper and estimating my PH around 6.5-7, turns out it was closer to 7.8-8.0!

I think most of the problems I've been seeing have been due to ph, and overwatering.

Dannydavito said:

I apologise to the original poster I derailed the thread.

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All good mate,learning is what i need.

RolledUhhp said:

I have well water, so not quite the same, but I was using litmus paper and estimating my PH around 6.5-7, turns out it was closer to 7.8-8.0!

I think most of the problems I've been seeing have been due to ph, and overwatering.

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Exactly. Litmus paper isn't very reliable.

MICHI-CAN said:

How many pens come from the store in solution?

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All of mine.

FWIW - to everyone out there, take care of your pH pens and they will take care of you.

Renfro said:

All of mine.

FWIW - to everyone out there, take care of your pH pens and they will take care of you.

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Cheapest pens I ever bought even had some chewed up wet cotton in the storage cap. I’m not sure about other guys but I can’t guess my ph so I consider my ph equip about as important as my light.