Hydroponic nutrients guide - How to Check pH Level

 starter-gardeners are those made in the form of pens,
Checking and adjusting pH level is a common practicewhich are very easy to use. Just dip the pen into the
when using hydroponic nutrients . In fact, in case withsolution for a few seconds and read the pH value on
hydroponics, it is not that difficult to do this job, as it canthe display.
be with organic or dirt gardens. In general, there are 
several methods to check the pH level of the nutrientDigital pH meters provide very accurate information on
solution in the hydroponic system.pH level of the solution. However, these devices are
 pretty fragile and should be handled with care. It is
Special paper stripes, saturated with pH sensitivenecessary to keep the glass bulb electrode clean and
substance, change their color when submerged intowet all the time. It is recommended to keep the
the nutrient solution and thus show its pH level (toelectrode in special storage or buffer solution. The
define the exact level of pH the color of the stripe ismain thing is not to let electrode dry out. Since this
compared with a color chart). This method of checkingelectrode is the most sensitive element of pH meter,
pH level is widely spread for its cost-effectiveness;the whole device may go out of use when the
however, sometimes it may be challenging to defineelectrode is damaged.
the exact pH level, since the color shades can differ 
slightly and be difficult to read.Besides, pH meters can be sensitive to temperature,
 which may influence the accuracy of the displayed pH
Another popular method to check pH level of thevalues. To prevent mistakes modern pH meters are
nutrient solution is to use liquid pH test kits. They workequipped with ATC or Automatic Temperature
similarly to paper stripes, with the only difference thatCompensation systems. If your pH meter does not
these are in liquid form. A few drops of pH sensitivehave the ATC feature, try to check pH levels at the
dye is added to a small amount of nutrient solution, andsame time of day to minimize errors, related to
then its color is compared with the provided colortemperature changes. Another recommendation about
chart. Liquid pH tests are easier to use than stripes,pH meters is to calibrate them regularly to ensure
because they give more definite color, which is easieraccuracy of the displayed pH levels.
to read and define the exact pH level. 
 Because pH meters may sometimes go out of use in
Digital pH meters are the most modern and technicalthe most inappropriate time, it is recommended to have
way of checking pH level. There is a great variety ofsome back-up option to check pH level, for example, a
such devices on the market, ranging in size and price.paper stripe or a liquid pH test kit.
The most popular pH digital meters for