Reddit mentions of Bluelab PENPH pH Pen Fully Waterproof Pocket Tester, Easy Calibration, Double Junction Probe for Improved Accuracy and Durability

The "never buy another one" option is Blue Labs. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005POOJHG/ref=asc_df_B005POOJHG5099993/?tag=hyprod-20&creative=394997&creativeASIN=B005POOJHG&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167118301188&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=14084295331685499952&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9028321&hvtargid=pla-311195096389

going shopping? Here is a list

but seriously now, do you have fertilizer dedicated to veg and flower? If you don't already, maybe a pH pen to make sure you water is properly pH'ed. If you're worried about smell, maybe a carbon filter?

You have most of the essentials right now. The light, the timer, the grow tent environment (mylar). All I could really think of I added above. Good luck with the grow!

I second the bluelab or the Hanna

so i would suggest a 1000w MH/HPS setup with a 6 inch inline fan and carbon filter (for the smell). you'll probably need to spend 30$ on nutrients you'll need something to adjust the pH of your feed get a good pH meter blue labs is one of the best brands for this tech, you will also need a 24h timer and then to choose a medium: soil, dwc, soilless, coco, rockwool, etc. that should bring you under budget.

https://www.amazon.com/Bluelab-pH-Pen-Measuring-Temperature/dp/B005POOJHG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1480919988&sr=8-1&keywords=bluelabs+ph+pen

Probably the best pen you can get :P

https://www.amazon.com/Bluelab-PENPH-Pen-Plant-Germination/dp/B005POOJHG/ref=asc_df_B005POOJHG/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167118301188&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15543687523906767160&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9030904&hvtargid=pla-311195096389&psc=1

We use these on a commercial grow. 1000+ plants, 65 resi’s.
only have 4 of these meters and only have to replace one about every year. Kinda pricey, but accurate, dependable, and very well built.
Just try not to drop it into hard surfaces, that seems to do them in pretty quickly lol.
If your grow is set up somewhat permanently, I’d go with the Bluelab guardian. Forget ph’ing every again

Here's what I use.

Bluelab PENPH pH Pen for Plant Germination https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005POOJHG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_h09TCbCTSEYSD

pH Tester

i went through 2 cheap ones before just buying this one and it has been perfect for almost two years. we only really calibrate maybe once/round and it's usually not even 0.1 off. it's also waterproof which can be handy depending on how you grow and how clumsy you are :)

I'm a big fan of this:

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/aw/d/B005POOJHG/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1498767108&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=bluelab+ph+pen&dpPl=1&dpID=41k7gjUUstL&ref=plSrch

I've used one myself for 2 years and it is quick and stable, temperature compensating up to 50C. After using mine for 6 months, the brewery at wich I work bought one too! Bluelab has a good reputation for high quality, durable products and that has been my experience with this pH Pen.

Thank you, there aren't many post here with people that have used MC so it's great to get some recent info. I will flush them tonight and give them only pHd water for one feeding and then go to 0.75x of MC and a lesser frequency for Recharge. I also decided to finally splurge a little bit on a Bluelabs pH meter and hopefully not have it break on me like the cheap one I first got; it just arrived, actually.

Bluelab Ph Pen is one of the best pen style digital Ph meters available. Do a Google search and see what others say. I loved mine when I had it. I had to sell it when I moved.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005POOJHG?pc_redir=1413174374&robot_redir=1

As long as you don't get lazy and start cutting corners, or experimenting too much before you're ready, you'll see steady improvement.

IMO, stick to the directions and LST for a couple grows until you've got it down to where you really aren't having to look up each step and you aren't making any little mistakes causing the plants stress. Then try some HST like Super Cropping to increase your yield even more.

If you plan on continuing to grow, my best advice is to invest in a good pH meter like this one. and measure the pH of your runoff so you know if your soil pH is drifting and compensate on your next watering by going up or down by .2 or so. Keep it between 6.3 and 6.8. Beware of cheap pH meters, they need to be recalibrated constantly to be even remotely reliable.

Its as simple as dip a piece of the strip in the water and compare the color it turns to the little chart. (Under white light) its not instant or as dead accurate as a good meter but its still not hard by any means.

This is the meter I've seen recommended most often and the guy at my local "gardening" store recommended: http://www.amazon.com/Bluelab-pH-Pen-Measuring-Temperature/dp/B005POOJHG/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1451480751&sr=8-4&keywords=ph+meter+blue

Also, to keep your meter working well, you need to do maintenance. This is that brands starter kit: http://www.amazon.com/Bluelab-Probe-Conductivity-Accurate-CAREKITPHCON/dp/B00GG9C16U/ref=pd_bxgy_86_img_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1BERVZZ3C2K3GR5MZ856

what IS a quality pH meter? One of my books recommends the bluelab multi reader but they are in the $200 range.
Is this a necessary item? Thanks for the response!

https://www.getbluelab.com/

EDIT: They also have this pen in the $70 range, but the reviews are mixed for whether it is accurate or not. What do most people use, disposable pH strips on the runoff water?
https://www.amazon.com/Bluelab-PENPH-Pen-Plant-Germination/dp/B005POOJHG/

I use blue lab ph meters and have never had a problem with it. http://www.amazon.com/Bluelab-pH-Pen-Measuring-Temperature/dp/B005POOJHG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1420673855&sr=8-1&keywords=bluelab+ph+meter

Had mine 3 years now no issues. Dont go cheap.

Buy a new one?
https://www.amazon.com/Bluelab-pH-Pen-Plant-Germination/dp/B005POOJHG

spend a lot now and never worry!

I've never used strips at all so can't comment on their effectiveness in DWC at all. I've only ever used a PH pen. I use a cheap yellow Chinese one from eBay for about £5 but I would not recommend it, i'm on my second. I'm planning on upgrading to this (this payday actually) as this is a good middle of the road pen.

If you can afford it i've been recommend a Bluelab pen time and time again, but I can't justify that cost just now.

I looked up the soil, not familiar with it. Yeah you don't really need to worry about what is in there, you'll just find some kinds that are friendlier to seedlings, and others better for full on veg stage (like transplanting solo cup to a larger pot). In the future, wherever you got that you could tell them it burnt some of your seedlings so you're looking for something a little more mild.

I'm not familiar with the RO process, never used it. I would definitely get a PH pen as one of your early investments into the grow :D. You can sit there wondering what the hell the issue is, trying to identify deficiencies from the leaves, and then add more of 'x' nutrient into the mix, only to see the problem worsen....all because PH being too high or low can 'lock it out', so even if it's present in the soil, the roots can't uptake any of it.

A cheap choice is the Hanna pen https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/hi98103-checker-ph-tester-with-0-1-ph-resolution-hanna-instruments/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAw5_fBRCSARIsAGodhk_YcmPTvhggiq3-aAIYcxhWBLPLL8HVepUW0QgXr7QHghSiTX1SOREaAoMyEALw_wcB

The ideal and quality choice would be the Bluelab pen https://www.amazon.com/Bluelab-PENPH-Pen-Plant-Germination/dp/B005POOJHG/ref=asc_df_B005POOJHG/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167118301188&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16523942976628365276&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033565&hvtargid=pla-311195096389&psc=1

Can't stress how important that is. Easily makes or breaks a grow. The people that don't use them usually have experience with their feeding regimen and are well familiar with associating subtle plant changes with any changes to their routine. Some people say the soil buffers the PH, but only to an extent. Plants drink fairly quickly when given water, within 5 minutes you can see a difference to wilted leaves which means it's well begun drinking if the leaves are being hydrated already, and that's not enough time for the water to mix into the soil and buffer before the plant starts chugging it.

Also you could definitely top now if you wanted to get an early start on creating a bush. If you only want 4-8 tops, you could leave them a while.

Probably my most enjoyed tool is my digital PH pens. 1 issue is you have to calibrate them so you will need solution I don't believe comes with this 1. I have both a soil and hydro PH pen from them constantly in use for over a year. You get about 30-50 reads then need to recalibrate. The hydro pen can do your nutes for dirt and hydro, the soil pen allows you to stab into your soil and see in the grow medium.

If you are doing hydro: https://www.amazon.com/Bluelab-pH-Pen-Measuring-Temperature/dp/B005POOJHG

Soil has some used 1s in your range, I paid $180 when I got mine:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CJIDFAS/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1484082345&sr=8-2&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=blue+lab+soil+ph&dpPl=1&dpID=314dYy7eMKL&ref=plSrch