PH or PPM which is more important

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version

   hi all

im considering buying a digital meter for my new grow.which of the above would be more valuable to a grower with only limited experience?is ppm more difficult to understand as opposed to using ph meter. have used ph meter on prev grows but am a little intimidated regarding the ppm side of things
can anyone shed some light on the subject for me?

cheers

Asder

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version
ASDER Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sensi Advanced Grower Joined: 30 July 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 133	Quote Reply Topic: PH or PPM which is more important Posted: 05 November 2009 at 17:31
	hi all im considering buying a digital meter for my new grow.which of the above would be more valuable to a grower with only limited experience?is ppm more difficult to understand as opposed to using ph meter. have used ph meter on prev grows but am a little intimidated regarding the ppm side of things can anyone shed some light on the subject for me? cheers Asder
	Live and Learn!

Ganja Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sensi Administrator Joined: 13 June 2003 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4123	Quote Reply Posted: 05 November 2009 at 18:00
	A nutrient meter measuring in PPM will give you a number, same as a pH meter. The main difference is that pH is a universal scale, while soluble nutrient is measured in a number of different scales, PPM (parts per million) being one of them. The nutrient meters we always used at the Museum measured in the EC (electrical conductivity) scale. This is the basic scale of nutrient meters, and meters which give results in a different scale basically convert the EC result into something else. The other nutrient measuring scales are TDS (total dissolved solids) and CF (can't remember, but very similar to EC, IIRC). Many new meters can give results in a number of scales. Whether to buy a PPM meter depends on what scale most of your information (grow-books, bottles of nutrient) refers to. Stick to the scale you're most familiar with. It also depends on whether you're growing with hydro or not, of course. For soil grows, nutrient meters aren't really necessary, even if using a soluble organic formula. Just follow the directions on the bottle. If faced with a choice of a meter that only reads PPM vs one that only reads EC, I'd be inclined to get the EC.
	No grow questions to me by PM, please. Check the FAQ & try searching. It's likely your question has been answered. If it hasn't, please post your question on the forums, where everyone can answer.

KRS5150 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sensi Seedling Joined: 18 August 2009 Location: USA Online Status: Offline Posts: 68	Quote Reply Posted: 05 November 2009 at 19:42
	well to me it depends on if your hydro or soil....i grow in soil so dnt really need a PPM meter but i do need a PH meter to balance the water i give my plants....if you're doing hydro you really need both.or a EC meter.. but thats just my input....happy growing!