New Grow

I'm starting my first Hydro grow but i need some help! I'm using bottle water for my hydro grow,the guy at the gardening center said I don't need a pH meter for a water hydro grow because bottled water pH is neutral. Is that true or should I buy a pH and PPM meter?

Well from what I've read hydro grows best with 5.6-5.9 PH. I would suggest getting something to check PH and some PH Down. Would not recommend the PH down for aquariums as they don't work well for hydro grows.

I have a pc grow box with the whole set-up I bought some fox farm Grow Big for Veg part guy who sold it to me said the pH will drop to gowth rate once nut is added but I'm wondering should I buy the pH meter and the ppm meter to follow the Fox Farm feeding schedule.

Buy a pH meter and find a new grow store.
Fred

Damon Jones said:

I'm starting my first Hydro grow but i need some help! I'm using bottle water for my hydro grow,the guy at the gardening center said I don't need a pH meter for a water hydro grow because bottled water pH is neutral. Is that true or should I buy a pH and PPM meter?

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The guy at the garden store is clueless. Ph will constantly change. Left unmonitored can ruin the whole grow.

Yeah i think he was giving me the run around b/c I wouldn't exactly tell him what I was growing. But he did recommend the Fox Farm Grow Big formula for seedling to Veg.

Yeah, your hydro guy is obviously a fucking tard and has never grown hydro, get yourself a meter. And I wouldn't take advice from him again.

Get the meter and don't be cheap! Also get an ec or ppm meter, when growing hydro these are your best friends. PH and ppm will change daily, and it is easy to lock up nutrients or over nute, if you don't want the hassle move to soil!

The meters can be difficult to get used to in the begining, but soon will become second nature. Nowing your water is the key to a great harvest.

Stick with the pros on this site and all will be well!

Ok got my pH and ppm meter temperture gauge everything but in my grow box the temp is 90 degrees. The grow box has an exuast and intake fan. Is this the right temp and if not how can i get it down. The box is only 24 inches tall any ideas?

More exhaust less intake, but thats just my opinion. I would rather have my exhaust fans bringing new air in through passive intake. My PC case has 0 intake fans, 3 x 92mm 43cfm exhaust fans, 1 x 140mm 60cfm fan inside case to move air around. Temps run approx. 9F-10F higher then room temp with lights on, I keep room temp at 71-73 so box stays 80F-83F with lights on.

Monko is right. No intake fan necessary on a small box. What size is it anyway?
More exhaust is always the answer to temp problems. To cool, you need to exchange the air 2-3 times per minute. The filter will reduce the fan's actual CFM by about 30%, so take that into account when sizing the fan. A 6in Vortex will usually cool any small box pretty well.
Fred

Okay are Jiffey pellets a bad choice to sprout seeds in? I germinated them before I put them in there been about 2-3 days.I hear they should be up by now!

fred flintstoned said:

Monko is right. No intake fan necessary on a small box. What size is it anyway?
More exhaust is always the answer to temp problems. To cool, you need to exchange the air 2-3 times per minute. The filter will reduce the fan's actual CFM by about 30%, so take that into account when sizing the fan. A 6in Vortex will usually cool any small box pretty well.
Fred

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I have my temp problem fixed I had the sensor right under the lights, my problem is not seeing any sprouts yet, I should have bought the rockwool and the hydroton but I used the jiffey products that came with my box. It's a hydro setup 24X10 box 3 cfls(blue light for veg) one exhuast and one intake 6 pod 1 1/2 gallon resevior,air pump with 4in air stone, using FF grow big for veg growing ak47 x LR#2 fem from Joint Doctor's seeds.