buy 100-pack of ph-strips that resolve down to .1pH for $7. It'll be delivered within a week or less.
you don't even need a 100-pack. if your tap water is consistent, you'll get a consistent pH from your fertilizer if added at same concentrations. But, you'll want to know what that is to avoid easily avoidable problems. With hydroponics, you have less room for error with your plant compared to soil.
In general, you'll be able to fertlized every irrigation. In some cases you may want to add water only, but you'll want to ph that water to 5.8-6.3 (5.5-6.5). Unlike all the charts i read, i have no problems at 6.5 and tons of problems near 6 and expecially below in coco coir. So, clearly strain matters a bit too. Mileage will vary, clearly.
Here is one thing i learned back in October when i switched. Cheap coco coir, like mother earth 5kg bricks, require additional preparation before use, otherwise you will end up with cal/mg deficiencies by end of bloom period or earlier in longer grows. Not all coco is prepared equally. Thoroughly rinsing it is not enough, either.
I basically use my cal-nitrate with some epsom salt + vinegar to pH it down. Soak it 2x for 8 hours. I do this all in one day and the second soak i just let it sit overnight for good measure.
Cation exchange sites -- simply explained -- the molecules adhere to the coco. it comes loaded with Na+ and K+ ions. you need to get this to a new equilibrium so that it doesn't leach the Ca++ and Mg++ ions with a stonger affinity to those sites out of your irrigations. As you add it, it sucks it out and locks it away from your plant, while releasing all that extra Na+ and K+... really not good for the plant.. .double dosing with K+ and increasing salinity. LoL!
Anyway, if you didn't buy good stuff, go soak it 2x in some Calcium and magnesium solution without K specifically.
I let it sit for a bit to thoroughly drain. I run my normal fertilized irrigation through it with heavy runoff to "reset" the contents of the coco coir. It should be well-fertilized and good to go at a safe concentration. I'll only use ph-d irrigation the first week or 2 of a seedling/clone until i think it's used up what i've put in, or i irrigate with heavy run-off with fertilizer to avoid high concentrations early on.
Otherwise, some coco will cause insanely bad problems. I had a clone take 39 days before it grew vigorously. It had roots, grew a bit, but was ugly AF. Dark, twisted, crap growth. then, after it got through that, it was rootbound due to extreme age for pot size with cal/mg deficiencies late in bloom, lol. It'll ikely survive, but you'll still run into problems later.
i use jacks - 1 part is cal-nitrate. So, i should never see a calcium deficiecny, lol. (or rarely). If it's prepared well, i never do since that first bad experience. Actually, took 2 grows. I throroughly rinsed it without a soak the second grow.. thought i was smart...