Re: luxx's 2nd grow perpetual closet and cab setup.
I always use distilled water as it gives me a constant pH to work with and I know exactly what's in it (nothing)...but then again I'm only messing with one plant for the time being. But heck, at under $1/gallon it's not really gonna break the bank and it won't raise any eyebrows if you ask someone if you can bum a dollar off them for some water! lol
luxx said:
how do i calibrate the pen?
Very simple
Take your packet of calibration solution that is pH'd to 7 (+/- a few hundredths depending on the temp, nothing to worry about) and pour it in to as narrow a container as you can find that will also fit the entire end of your pen. Reason being is that the fluid needs to be a certain depth to get an accurate reading.
Now the "hard" part, you may recall me bitching about mine when I first got it, you need to use one hand to slide the "on" switch to the "on" position to get a reading while you hold the little flathead screwdriver in the other. Stick the end down in the container of the calibration solution and let it steady out. Then while continuing to hold the switch on watch the display use the screwdriver to
S-L-O-W-L-Y turn the calibration screw on the back of the pen towards the top. It's the only other part of the pen you can mess with on the back side, hard to miss. It doesn't take but an almost imperceptible turn to change the output reading a few tenths so again, go slow.
Anyway, just adjust the screw on the back until the pH is dialed in to whatever you're calibrating it in...in this case their calibration solution. You can use distilled water in a pinch if you run out but distilled water can still vary a little bit in it's actual pH ime. I went ahead and ordered the bottle of calibration fluid...I think it'll last me a few years, easily, as I always pour the calibration fluid back in to the container so long as it's clean. I also put a few drops in the cap of the pen sometimes to help keep it hydrated but I haven't noticed any ill effects from it drying out.