CF Truncheon, Essential??? Options

[The Reefer Man]

Hi I've just been readin the previous posts and it seems that everyone regards a cf meteras an essential item.

What exactly does it do? I have harvested one grow with excellent results but did not have a cf truncheon and my current grow seems to be doing ok too without it.

Basically I was jsut wondering whether it's worth forking out for one. Will it help me get my plants onto full strength nutes quicker cos presently I have them vegging in the tank for 4weeks to gradually build up the stregnth and would preferably like to cut this down to 2 weeks on my next grow.

Is it right that you should not flower b4 full stregnth is reached?

Cheers,

R.M.

[OMH]

The CF pen or Truncheon measures the conductivity of your nutrient solution.
Depending on your nutrient temperature, the hardness of your water, and several other factors, you can find that the recommended nutrient amounts on the sides of the containers can be way out, and you can end up over fertilising your plants quite badly, and if you are using an active hydroponic system, where the nutrients are being recirculated, it helps you to keep track of the nutrient uptake within the tank.

You can get away without one, but I never take the risk, and have used one for every crop I have ever done

[JollyGoodSmoke]

hi rm

yeah i think they're very essential if your using an active system, because you'll have to see how much nutes the plants have taken when ur topping up the tank so you can make the right adjustments
i don't think one of these will speed up the process of strengthening the nute mix though
all the best jgs

[Glowy]

Hi,

Seems like a good plan, keeping a track of the nute level is important, but I was thinking, does it make too much difference if you are changing the water/nutes every two weeks or weekly if need be. I wasn't going to top up the nutes, just do a complete flush.

Cheers
G

[OMH]

Yeah, but without a CF pen, you have no idea (other than when it shows on the leaves as either nutrient burn or as a deficiency) whether you have the nutrient levels set correctly in the first place.
If you put the recommended amounts of nutrient into a tank, its easy to end up with a CF of 2.8 - 3, instead of the recommended 1.8 - 2.
Also, you will have no idea if you need to change the nutrients weekly, fortnightly or what.

The little digital pens are about 35 quid, so its not exactly expensive. Its better to have these things under control from the start, rather than your plant getting sick first before you realise your nutrients were way off.

Its also worthwhile getting a resevoir heater in there. Not only will your plants prefer the warmer water, but if the temp is constant, then your CF and PH will remain constant, and any change in CF will be down to the plants nutrient uptake

[Glowy]

I have got a water heater, the plants are not in there yet, but have just moved 2 of them to the larger cubes so it won't be long now. I may have to look at one of those things then as it seems a better idea.

Cheers
G

[Glowy]

Do you know where I can get one of those pens on the cheap as my budget has now run out?

G

[midnite toker]

The Cf truncheon is about £75 abit pricey but an outstanding piece of kit, definitely worth saving up for.
Also there's a truncheon called the salTester which gives out a digital reading, & thats about a tenner less.

The only pens i know of which coat about £30 are hobby ph pens that growell do & they only test the ph in your nutrient solution & not the Cf of your actual nutrients.

Like everyone thats been saying on here the Cf truncheon is the way to go if you want to monitor & maintain proper nutrient Cf levels in your system, & also to add from a problem that happened to me was, using inferior ph fluid indicator & getting the wrong ph reading, so i was adding to much ph down, which slowed the plants down created yellow spotting & yellowing of the leaves & nigh on killed 'em.
Someone with years more exp. than me put them right for me & luckely there thriveing now & i'm also using a better class of ph indicator.So another lesson learned is, unfortunately trying to cut the cost in cheaper products aint allways the way to go

All the best & happy growing MT

[OMH]

You can get Hanna CF pens from most growshops for 30 - 35 quid, although growell do not seem to do them for some strange reason, nor does Tayside Hydroponics according to their website.

I got my last one from Growth Technology in Taunton.
Their website's online ordering system is not working at the mo, but if you phone them up on 01823 325 291 and tell them what you are after, they can sort it out over the phone.

They are a common bit of kit, and although the growshops seem to be stocking the truncheons more than the pens these days, you should be able to source one easily enough

[Glowy]

I found a pen at Hydrogrowth for £40, and the PH pen at £36. They do seem like worth while investments. What is the difference between the pen and the truncheon, durabiltiy and accurancy I suppose.

Cheers
G

[midnite toker]

I stand most humbley corrected, i honestly didn't know that these cf pens exsisted let alone b £40 a very nice find indeed.

I myself use a Cf truncheon only because my m8 who supplied me the cuttings(Big Bud Afghan) has been growing 4 a number of years & said that the truncheon although pricey was the most accurate bit of kit about.

All the best MT