making a TDS / PPM tester

first post here but as most , I have trolled for quite some time. Attempting first indoor grow. very modest, very discrete. I have been reading that it may be possible to make a TDS / PPM tester using a digital volt meter, like the ones used for electrical work. I have a NICE vom meter and was wondering if anyone has heard of doing this or has done it themselves. what was envolved? more trouble than it is worth ? if anyone has a link to a rundown of doing this I would be most appreciative. i will continue to scour the net to see what i can find. I will post back as well.

thanks,
B

Why not just buy them, I've seen em for $30.00

GrowTech said:

Why not just buy them, I've seen em for $30.00

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the confusing thing is that some are 150.00 the others are like 25.00 . what are the differences ? what should you look out for when buying a cheaper one?

for your first grow, i wouldnt waste money on buying one. growing MJ can all be done by eye. Do yourself a favor and just buy good lights and decent nutes and get the environment on lock. I only have a water and air thermometer and drip pH tester, thats all you need, all of that costed me under $25.00. Check out my grow journal in my signature

right on . good call. sometimes i get ahead of myself

motif said:

for your first grow, i wouldnt waste money on buying one. growing MJ can all be done by eye. Do yourself a favor and just buy good lights and decent nutes and get the environment on lock. I only have a water and air thermometer and drip pH tester, thats all you need, all of that costed me under $25.00. Check out my grow journal in my signature

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You have just been lucky is all. I guarantee you you will end up running into problems and possibly lose your entire crop flying blind. You just gave very bad advice to someone who doesn't know what they are doing.

To the original poster, get one of the cheaper models if that is all you can afford. It is much easier to keep things stable and consistent with the proper meters. Since you have no experience growing cannabis, you will fail if you try to "grow by eye" like this guy tried to tell you. While you're at it, pick up a cheap Ph meter too. Proper Ph is key to maximizing your nutrient uptake, and a good TDS meter will help you keep the optimum amount of nutrients your plant can effectively use.

Maybe another hobby if 25.00 is expensive

everything i have read says a v.o.m. won't work. here's one that i've been looking at.

http://www.filtersfast.com/HM-Digital-TDS-EZ-Filter-Tester.asp

kevin said:

everything i have read says a v.o.m. won't work. here's one that i've been looking at.

http://www.filtersfast.com/HM-Digital-TDS-EZ-Filter-Tester.asp

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cool, ya i already have a halfway decent ph tester from some previous outdoor projects. never looked into TDS before. i suppose that with 100% artificial medium it is needed or at least when you need it it is a must. I'll pick up a 30-45 dollar one to see how it goes.
thanks again

JohnnyPotSeed1969 said:

You have just been lucky is all. I guarantee you you will end up running into problems and possibly lose your entire crop flying blind. You just gave very bad advice to someone who doesn't know what they are doing.

To the original poster, get one of the cheaper models if that is all you can afford. It is much easier to keep things stable and consistent with the proper meters. Since you have no experience growing cannabis, you will fail if you try to "grow by eye" like this guy tried to tell you. While you're at it, pick up a cheap Ph meter too. Proper Ph is key to maximizing your nutrient uptake, and a good TDS meter will help you keep the optimum amount of nutrients your plant can effectively use.

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for your first grow, i believe it would be fucking dumb as shit to go out and buy all the best of everything when you have NEVER DONE IT BEFORE. tds/ppm meters are good to have, im not contradicting that, what im tryng to say is, dont go out and buy a buncha shit when you dont know wtf it means, either research more and buy it so you have a better understanding or learn the basics before leaping into it.

...unless you just flat out have MONEY, go for it.

EDIT*
an e z way to grow without tds/ppm, use a 1/4 of recommended, then gradually increase each week. but watch them closely whenever you increase nutes, if they like it, they will look happy, if not, they will droop. In this case just flush your water and go back to the last amount that was good for it and stick with that for another week before UPPING it again.