GnuBee
420 Member
First grow: DWC using tap water, 5-gal buckets, 4x4 grow tent, 900w LED, etc, etc.. For nutrition Im using General Hydroponic's FloraMicro and FloraBloom following the Lucas Formula.
It appears that PPMs and pH are the most widely used methods for tracking nutes/needs. PH is easy enough to monitor and correct. Looks like I should maintain a level from about 5.5-6.0 with 5.8 being optimal. My question is this; Between EC, TDS, PPMs (500) and PPMs (700), which is the easier (newbie proof) way to track nutrition absorption/intake?
Second question - If I'm using tap water (after chlorine has evaporated and pH corrected), do I take a TDS reading of MY water prior to adding nutrients? If I understand things correctly, I take that baseline tap water reading and then add my recommended TDS range..
Example: Tap water = TDS of 200, plus recommended TDS range of 800-1200, gives me a "goal" of 1000-1400....
Is E.C. an easier way to go?
Thanks in advance. I didn't see this covered in any other threads.
It appears that PPMs and pH are the most widely used methods for tracking nutes/needs. PH is easy enough to monitor and correct. Looks like I should maintain a level from about 5.5-6.0 with 5.8 being optimal. My question is this; Between EC, TDS, PPMs (500) and PPMs (700), which is the easier (newbie proof) way to track nutrition absorption/intake?
Second question - If I'm using tap water (after chlorine has evaporated and pH corrected), do I take a TDS reading of MY water prior to adding nutrients? If I understand things correctly, I take that baseline tap water reading and then add my recommended TDS range..
Example: Tap water = TDS of 200, plus recommended TDS range of 800-1200, gives me a "goal" of 1000-1400....
Is E.C. an easier way to go?
Thanks in advance. I didn't see this covered in any other threads.