EC/ppm question

So im using fox farms nutrients on my coco coir/perlite grow, and when looking at the feeding schedule it i notice that it has the terms ppm and EC.


Now i know ( or at least i think i know) what ppm is, part per million, taking with a TDS meter, but i dont under stand what exactly its telling me here. Is it telling me that my water should have a ppm range of 350-420 BEFORE i add their product? And if thats the case why would i want my water to be impure, containing everything from heavy metals to chloramines?

Then for E.C, im a little less knowledgeable. okay so after a quick google search ( yeah i tried finding this info before posting, yall should be proud ) i found that this stands for electrical conductivity... Again are they saying my water prior to adding the products should be 0.5-0.6?

OR does no one actually monitor this?

Can no one answer this ? if not i guess ill have to email fox farms...

Thanks for acknowledging my question thanks guys.. lol

I figured it out on my own by referring to the ultimate grow guide

It was talking about the strength of the nutes you should use at that week of growing.

However if you're growing in coco using SOIL nutrients you need to watch out for calmag issues.



EC is just a more universal measurement.




J

Thanks j, yeah i realize that now, its not really a guide for me to use or adjust but instead its telling me around what my ppm and ec will be if i add that amount of fertilizer, correct?

Nodgman said:

Thanks j, yeah i realize that now, its not really a guide for me to use or adjust but instead its telling me around what my ppm and ec will be if i add that amount of fertilizer, correct?

Click to expand...

Yeah exactly.

So many ml's of this that and the other in plain water should give xPPM or xEC


J

Nodgman,
Here is the info I found from Gen Hydrpncs.
A little late, I know, but I hope it helps.
I didn't see your post until this morning.
TDS stands for Total Dissolved Solids.


TDS, EC, PPM, Millisiemens - Nutrient Strength And Measurement
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What is the best way to calibrate a TDS or EC meter?

Answer: Standard reference solutions are used. The bottles are marked with the conductivity (EC) value in milliSiemens/cm and the corresponding ppm values for sodium chloride (NaCl) and potassium chloride (KCl) solutions, and sometimes for a "442" reference mixture. The conductivity of sodium chloride solutions is close to that of hydroponic mineral nutrients, so a "1000-ppm NaCl" standard is most frequently used when calibrating the meter for hydroponic solutions. You should follow the calibration instructions in the manual, which the manufacturer of your meter provided.

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What does a TDS or EC meter measure?

Answer: The electrical conductivity (EC) of your nutrient results from motion of mineral ions when the meter applies an electrical voltage. The ppM value of a sodium chloride solution happens to be very close to half of its conductivity value (in milliSiemens/cm), so many meters display the conductivity as an equivalent NaCl amount

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What does the term Parts Per Million (PPM) mean?

Answer: It is a common unit for measuring the concentration of elements in the nutrient solution. One ppm is one part by weight of the mineral in one million parts of solution.

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How do I convert between TDS and EC readings?

Answer: To obtain an approximate sodium chloride TDS value, multiply the EC reading (in milliSiemens/cm) by 1000 and divide by 2.

To get an EC value, multiply the ppm reading by 2 and divide by 1000.

Thus, if your EC is 1:

1*1000/2= 500 ppm.

And if your ppm is 500:

500*2/1000= 1 EC

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Is it better to use an EC or a TDS meter?

Answer: If you have plant nutrient recommendations in EC units, an EC meter is convenient. If your plant nutrient recommendations are in ppm values, a sodium chloride TDS calibration is easier to use.

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Using the 3-2-1 Flora Series mixture, approximately what TDS or EC readings should I expect?

Nutrient EC (milliSiemens/cm) TDS meter (NaCl standard)
3:2:1 2.3-2.5 1350-1450
2:2:2 2.2-2.4 1300-1400
1:2:3 2.1-2.3 1250-1350


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Why is conductivity of the nutrient important?

Answer: Conductivity is a measure of the strength of the nutrient solution. The higher the conductivity, the more dissolved solids there are in the solution. Delicate plants, cuttings, and seedlings can experience fertilizer burn if the conductivity is too high. Once the plants begin growing, they need a stronger nutrient solution, so conductivity must be increased by adding concentrated nutrient. Some plants prefer a milder nutrient strength, while others grow better and produce better quality fruit with a higher concentration.

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How does conductivity affect plant growth?

Answer: Conductivity is really a measure of the nutrients in the solution. Low conductivity implies a low nutrient concentration, which usually results in nutritional deficiencies and slow growth rates of your plants. One can look at the situation, as a higher conductivity is more food for your plants. However, be careful of very high levels as this can burn and or kill the plant.

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What about fresh air?

Answer: Ventilation is often overlooked as a problem. Plants absorb nutrients when the water molecules in the leaves respire (i.e. evaporate). Better ventilation aids a high transpiration rate, which translates into a greater rate of nutrient uptake. Remember that ventilation means changing the air, not just blowing it around the room (circulation).