if your using the ocean forrest soil pcduck talked about, you just need to add water thru veg period. soon as the seed pops thru the soil, put them under the t5 light. i would get to reading some of the stickies at the top of each page here, and you will be better prepared in 4-6 weeks when you'll want to flower, which is 12 light hours, 12 dark hours. set the 12's to your schedule, but once you set them say at 8am lights on, then at 8pm lights off, you want to do it the same daily. but this is in the flower period, so we dont want to put the horse ahead of the cart.
start your babies in a smaller pot, and the norm is beer/keg plastic cups for soil farmers mostly. you can write with black marker right on cup what strain, date started, etc...you can feel the weight of your cups and know when to water. water only when the soil dries between watering. just starting, it is important not to overwater, where your plants are constantly wet. yeah, let em dry, then water again. prolly every other day. you'll learn by the weight of the pot thier in.
ph meter? depends what your looking to spend? i use a cheap ph pen from milwaukee. cost me 30 bones. i've had same one going on five years.
they are built to last only if properly taken care of as to sellers instructions. mine has to be stored in plain clean tap water. so its just what you got to spend i guess, cause they get pricey for top of the line meters. i'd check on ebay first. then you can compare at your shop.
in veg, you run that t5 light right down close to the plant about 4 inches off top, and run that 24/7. do not interupt that light period. some run thier veg on a 18on/6off, but most run them 24/7, and with you just starting out, i'd keep it uncomplicated, and run them 24/7 imo.
btw, what strains did you order? were here to help...peace...
