So... I tested my pH and TDS of my water! (NEED HELP⚠️)

I got a kit that cost me $10 + tax.


Maybe I can calibrate with the powders just to make sure but these are brand new so I'm going to assume that these are accurate readings.

I have another TDS meter that stopped working that also took the same readings of the water as far as like TDS go as it was still about 80.

But definitely want some help about the pH... My plan is to grow organically or rather just naturally but I would consider it adding other things that could help the good thing about the pH meter is I can then test the runoff water... I also have a stool test kit and a few other testing devices that will help me along in the future,but I just wanted to put this out there.

Thanks.

So I experimented to myself a little!
I added one drop of lemon to one cup of Brita filtered water and did the appropriate pH test for 30 seconds... And lo and behold!!
6.35 pH!

I was going to try some limes too because I hear they are higher in citric acid but if lemon works and I only have to add a drop per cup then I can figure out the measurements from there.

Of course not all lemons have the same amount of citric acid so I'll have to use my meter every time I prepare about anywhere from 32 oz to half a gallon or maybe even a gallon.

But I have a 32 oz water spray bottle that I use, so I'll be making my measurements on that.


I see that people are using ph up and down but if I'm going to do this you know natural and organic then why not lemons or limes?



I'll come back in a minute with my lime test

Just be ready to replace it 100x this year. The cheapo ones never last. Essp without storage solution. It’s on Amazon I’m on my third vivosun tds pens. but I now use the storage solution. Haven had any issues.

I think "why not?" is because the adjustment is temporary.

Test the same sample tomorrow and the day after...

Cheers

So I just did a lime test... With the same ratio of one drop per cup.

And my test came out to 6.45!

So there is a difference between lemon and lime but not much.

I think that lemons might be the better choice but I could see that limes could help if I need to raise it up just a little bit more but I have seen that the ideal range for cannabis and soil is about 6.2 to 6.5 pH


So I'm looking pretty good either way.

Not sure about oranges though.

Would be interesting to see which fruits have a different effect but I think sticking with either lemon or lime or both would be very good.

What are your thoughts?

Citric acid is the ingredient in cheap ph down. Lemon juice, limes, even vinegar will lower ph but doesnt last very long, it'll rise up again pretty quick and not too good in a re circ hydro. Leaves some solids. Phosphoric acid is the best

thefullspectrum said:

Citric acid is the ingredient in cheap ph down. Lemon juice, limes, even vinegar will lower ph but doesnt last very long, it'll rise up again pretty quick and not too good in a re circ hydro. Leaves some solids. Phosphoric acid is the best

Click to expand...

Hmm ok.

Well I like the idea of getting my water to the pH it should be.

Very importantly will be to test the runoff water of course.

So what are some natural organic methods of phosphoric acid?

That isn't the same as phosphorus right?

Would I add a drop of something to the water as well?



Just curious.

DrOgkush said:

Just be ready to replace it 100x this year. The cheapo ones never last. Essp without storage solution. It’s on Amazon I’m on my third vivosun tds pens. but I now use the storage solution. Haven had any issues.

Click to expand...

Well they say to calibrate often and to keep it dry and clean and put the cover back on.

I'll see how well it does.

chuckeye said:

I think "why not?" is because the adjustment is temporary.

Test the same sample tomorrow and the day after...

Cheers

Click to expand...

A fair point but I'm going to be buying lots of lemons and limes anyways for my drinking water so I might as well keep going organic.

I want to try it anyways just because it's my first grow and I wanted to go totally natural.

ShawnSunshine said:

I got a kit that cost me $10 + tax.


Maybe I can calibrate with the powders just to make sure but these are brand new so I'm going to assume that these are accurate readings.

I have another TDS meter that stopped working that also took the same readings of the water as far as like TDS go as it was still about 80.

But definitely want some help about the pH... My plan is to grow organically or rather just naturally but I would consider it adding other things that could help the good thing about the pH meter is I can then test the runoff water... I also have a stool test kit and a few other testing devices that will help me along in the future,but I just wanted to put this out there.

Thanks.View attachment 5089328View attachment 5089329View attachment 5089330

Click to expand...

I like how it's spelled "Mater"

Like Mater' from "Cars"

DrOgkush said:

Just be ready to replace it 100x this year. The cheapo ones never last. Essp without storage solution. It’s on Amazon I’m on my third vivosun tds pens. but I now use the storage solution. Haven had any issues.

Click to expand...

Im using the bluelab pH pen. I think there was a storage solution inside when I bought it. I'm not using it. Do you think its better or necessary to use storage solution? I always put some clean water inside of the cap. Is that enough or should I get some? I'm replacing my stuff every other year or when it's broken of course.

changarian said:

Im using the bluelab pH pen. I think there was a storage solution inside when I bought it. I'm not using it. Do you think its better or necessary to use storage solution? I always put some clean water inside of the cap. Is that enough or should I get some? I'm replacing my stuff every other year or when it's broken of course.

Click to expand...

Why do you need to use a storage solution?
And what's considered a storage solution?

Mine come with caps to cover up the sensors.

Note - Every pH instrument has difficulty accurately measuring when there's almost no TDS in the water. That makes it difficult doesn't it? I use the solution in my bluelab just to be safe.

Storage solution is critical if you don’t use it it’s likely your pen is trash now. TDS Ec meters need occasional cleaning but the ph pens NEED storage solution. Also always calibrate new pens and about monthly thereafter.

Op, your water is fine, ph down to your target for your media I wouldn’t have issue watering soil with that as is except to let it sit out and gas off and come to room temp

bam0813 said:

Storage solution is critical if you don’t use it it’s likely your pen is trash now. TDS Ec meters need occasional cleaning but the ph pens NEED storage solution. Also always calibrate new pens and about monthly thereafter.

Click to expand...

I use my pen for almost a year now and never put storage solution inside the cap only purified water to keep it wet. All I can say it's still working and accurate. I calibrate every other week. Just wondering if the pen last longer with a storage solution?

ShawnSunshine said:

Greetings and Salutations from San Francisco!

I just got my pH and TDS
meters from Amazon and it was finally able to test my water in my home.


I have a Brita water filter attached to the faucet so I took separate readings of filtered water and tap water.

Here is what I discovered!
️
pH of Brita filtered water 7.75
Tds of Filtered Water 80 Ppm
️
pH of Tap water 8.35
Tds of Tap water 75 ppm

Any experts here that have experience with this, that can help me out?

It definitely affected my pH, so at least the Brita water filter is doing that and of course the water does taste better.

But interestingly enough the TDS didn't change very much and I'm wondering if people have had experiences with carbon filters on their faucets being just about that.

The included instructions that came with my TDS meter suggests that indeed carbon filters like Brita will range somewhere between 50 to 100 parts per million.

And that seems to be a pretty good drinking water as according to the chart the average water in the United States is somewhere between 120 and 420.

How is this going to work out for watering my plants?

Am I going to have to add something before I water them or is that a satisfactory pH?

And I'm going to assume based on other things that I see that the TDS is just fine.

Thanks for taking the time to read this thread!

Click to expand...

Those filters work on princip of exchange and they are mainly used to prevent scaling. They replace Ca and Mg (2+) for Na and K (+1), so it is good for equipment, maybe also for your kidneys, but it is not good for plants mostly because of Na being abundant. Brita filters are useless when it comes to growing weed… they are actually not welcome.

changarian said:

I use my pen for almost a year now and never put storage solution inside the cap only purified water to keep it wet. All I can say it's still working and accurate. I calibrate every other week. Just wondering if the pen last longer with a storage solution?

Click to expand...

That’s cool as long as it doesn’t sit dry

changarian said:

I use my pen for almost a year now and never put storage solution inside the cap only purified water to keep it wet. All I can say it's still working and accurate. I calibrate every other week. Just wondering if the pen last longer with a storage solution?

Click to expand...

What kind of calibration does it require ?
The storage solution keeps the electrodes accurate, there's 2 of them. Glass and platinum coated ceramic usually. Using water just causes them to need constant calibration, and takes forever for the readings to stabilize vs storage solution.

Storing dry is fine, just have to soak for 15 min before use, which is why we use storage solution for everyday use.

Purified water is not what you want to use in a PH meter, tap water would be better. Purified water is for TDS electrode storage.