Wondering if there is a general PPM schedule for hydro? 5 days ago I put my plants in buckets of Hydroton and then into ebb and flow table. I am using tap water that I let sit for a day to let chlorine dissipate. It measures 405 PPM just that way. I added 1/4 strength General Hydroponic Maxi and it went to 860 PPM. After a few days of running air stones and flooding tables 4 times a day it has risen to 1115 PPM. Where should my measurement be for plants just under 3 weeks from popping from seed?
Grow Mediums PPM question
- Thread starter Beggy
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The only thing i have ppm related is a picture of a typed paper list that i currently cant attach at the moment, but i will tell you what it says verbatim: PPM These numbers are based on EC readings, .500 readings, TDS readings converted from EM or the common Hannah chart: Seedlings, Early sprouts 100 to 250 Early Vegging 300 to 400 Full Vegetation 450 to 700 Early Blooming 750 to 950 Full Mature Blooms 1000 to 1600 (This excludes the PPM of your water) Dont remember where i found the picture, or if it refers to photos, autos, or either. Hope i helped in any way.
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Those readings look high for plants that young but the starting pH of your tap water is very high, by about 250 - 300 ppm, so your base readings will be higher. When the pH rises that quickly it's usually a sign of overfeeding. If you're growing autos, even 1/4 strength may be too strong for plants that young.
Muddy, I have got the PPM down to 1010. Plants seem to be responding well to the environment, but that could just be my Noob enthusiasm. I'll try to get it down a little more. Thought my tap water at 405 PPM was close to the average for the US. I have read on another site of people using water from their dehumidifier to get a lower PPM water. Unfortunately its winter and quite dry in the house, I'm was having a time trying to keep humidity near 60%.
TxOld Dude
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'Sup Beggy!
I've got the same problem with high ppm water, but mine is well water and is high in calcium (395 ppm). I'm assuming with the chlorine your on city water. For you, filtration may do the job without having to resort to "store-bought" water. Depending on where you live as to what minerals are in your water.
What pH is your tap water straight up? Mine was 7.5 right off the tap and I had the same problem with bouncing pH every day. If the pH is moderate but high ppm, a filter should do you. If the pH is high, I'd advise a different water source or RO treatment. My plant couldn't get her feet wet til I put her on store-bought water (5 gallon res DWC). Near 3 weeks with minimal root growth until I changed the res water over. But now, BOOM! Huge difference within days!
JMHO
Fish
I've got the same problem with high ppm water, but mine is well water and is high in calcium (395 ppm). I'm assuming with the chlorine your on city water. For you, filtration may do the job without having to resort to "store-bought" water. Depending on where you live as to what minerals are in your water.
What pH is your tap water straight up? Mine was 7.5 right off the tap and I had the same problem with bouncing pH every day. If the pH is moderate but high ppm, a filter should do you. If the pH is high, I'd advise a different water source or RO treatment. My plant couldn't get her feet wet til I put her on store-bought water (5 gallon res DWC). Near 3 weeks with minimal root growth until I changed the res water over. But now, BOOM! Huge difference within days!
JMHO
Fish
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Thanks for the input TxOld Dude. Was just looking at a way to filter the water this afternoon. My ebb & flow reservoir holds about 40 gal. Would really hate to do store bought. My water out of the tap has an 8.0 PH. Will be checking things in a bit when lights come back on and definitely look at a way to filter from the faucet. I really want this first grow to come through. It doesn't have to be fantastic as I'm sure I'll get better with time and the help of people like you on this site.
Went to check things and had a little problem. Seems that when I was working on adjusting things before I left this morning I accedentally knocked one of my drain hose onto the floor and the reservoir tanks were way down. Probably the best thing that could happen as it made me just clean up and start anew. Calibrated instruments and refilled. PH from the tap is 7.3 and I have a PPM of 845 and it was 410 from the tap. I expect the 845 to change after it bubbles some and floods the table, but not drastically. I will adjust according to that reading. Do you guys think a PPM around 850-900 will be ok. Hope to post some picks again tomorrow night. Also a question about nute burn. Does it progress up the plant as it grows, affecting the older leaves first then going to the younger ones?
TxOld Dude
Dazed and confused
Holy shite! And I thought my water was bad! Yikes! They must be chlorinating the hell out of your water to get that pH. That being said it's not UNUSUAL as chlorinated (calcium chloride or sodium hypochlorite) pool water is pH'd around 7.5, so it makes sense.
Unless someone else has a better idea, I would suggest you get a container (or several) that would equal to the res volume and fill it with water. Add air to oxygenate and agitate the water but do not cover. Chlorine evaporation may take a few days to dissipate all of it unless the container is in sunlight (which causes faster evaporation). Each time you fill the res refill the "prep" container for the next change.
To test that process, place a one gallon container of tap water out and take daily ppm and pH readings and see how long it takes and (mainly this) how far the water's numbers will settle out. You might still need some filtration or another source if you can't clean up this one. If it comes down enough, go with it! The "clearing time" will not be linear. In other words, if one gallon takes one day it doesn't mean 5 gallons will take 5 days. Watch your readings from a one gallon test and you can use them as reference numbers from there. Agitation by air pump & stone will make things go faster.
JMHO
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Fish
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I agree with Tx, try to see if you can offgas the chlorine and see if that helps the PH But I will chime in with that "Better Idea"
. For a reservoir that size, it would be much more feasable to take a chemical approach. Avoid sodium thiosulfate, which is used for pools and hot tubs. It acts as an oxygen scavenger which is obviously bad news in hydroponic applications.
Pick up some pure ascorbic acid, aka vitamin C. It will offgas the chlorine easily, with a dosage of around 10mg / Gallo, for highly chlorinated water (around 1 ppm. Add more if your chlorine levels are higher). The chemical reaction only has a 4 minute half life, as opposed to bubbling for days. It also offgassing chloramine, which bubbling cannot do (in a reasonable amount of time, atleast.
Also judging based purely on PPM s is tricky, because it is not indicative whatsoever of what those lppms actually consist of. Start out light, and listen to the plants. They will tell you what they need. Take reading an, and if they are eating alot the ppms will drop, and you can increase their dosage. Pay attention to any and all changes, and you will find that she will tell you what she wants
. For a reservoir that size, it would be much more feasable to take a chemical approach. Avoid sodium thiosulfate, which is used for pools and hot tubs. It acts as an oxygen scavenger which is obviously bad news in hydroponic applications.
Pick up some pure ascorbic acid, aka vitamin C. It will offgas the chlorine easily, with a dosage of around 10mg / Gallo, for highly chlorinated water (around 1 ppm. Add more if your chlorine levels are higher). The chemical reaction only has a 4 minute half life, as opposed to bubbling for days. It also offgassing chloramine, which bubbling cannot do (in a reasonable amount of time, atleast.
Also judging based purely on PPM s is tricky, because it is not indicative whatsoever of what those lppms actually consist of. Start out light, and listen to the plants. They will tell you what they need. Take reading an, and if they are eating alot the ppms will drop, and you can increase their dosage. Pay attention to any and all changes, and you will find that she will tell you what she wants
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