Simple PPM question

[platypusmann]

My tap water at a ph of 5.5 has a PPM of 183. Am I right to assume I use this as a baseline for adding nutrients......i.e if I need 200 PPM...I would add until I reached 383 PPM? Thanks for the answer...I have read this in one place, but want to confirm.

 

[edux10]

I would like to get some info on this. I am tring to learn how to get the TDS perfect.

 

[platypusmann]

my freaking ph in my water is so high I have to use 600 mL of ph down to 2 gal water...I am buying an RO filter I think.....better for drinking and for my babies
but I still needs to know for now, and so does edux....so anyones?

 

[AverageJoe21]

Yes, that is correct

 

[Earl]

Man that is some bad water.

5.5 pH is really not good and 180 tds is high also.

If your tapwater has calcium the pH will be above 7.

Since your tapwater is below 7,
I would be really scared of that water.
You don't drink it do you?

Is it well water?
I would have it analyzed by a lab.

.

 

[edux10]

I always use distilled bottle water an that has like 5 ppm at most. I have been adding calcium and mg to bring that to 200 ppm then add my additives. After that I bring the solution to the desired ppm with the nutrients. For example bring it to 800 after everything for the first week of veg. Is this proper procedure or am I doing something wrong?

 

[edux10]

What if I didn't have additives would I bring the water to 200 with cal and mg then just add nutes till it is at 800 ppm?

 

[Mr Green Man]

I'm a little confused by those replies, So I will try to answer your question.
Now I think I am right, but I’m also new to this game so I could be wrong.

You start at 0ppm if your Tap water is 100PPM it doesn't make any difference. if your aiming for 200PPM and you Water is 100PPM you can only add 100PPM of nutes. That is why RO/Distilled water is so much better, you have complete control over what is in your Mix.

 

[shenagen]

Thats the formula I was told to go by too.

 

[platypusmann]

My tap water comes from the tap at ph 8.7!! I tested the ppm of the tap water after I ph'd it to 5.5.....sorry for the confusion. What to do...it says nutes at 200 ppm for sirst feed...and my water is at 183 PPM...that is like no room for nutes then?? I am buying an RO machine.

 

[edux10]

Yeah you should either get a RO or get a couple 5 gallon jugs and fill them up for 10cents a gallon at those water machines if this is available. Or I get the 2.5 gallon disposable jugs at Vons (the store). Don't overfeed. When you use that ppm tester make sure to swirl it around and break any air bubbles that may be in the water. Also you should let the water stand for a bit and test it. I don't know for sure but you may want to add 200 ppm to your water. Just try it on one plant not all in case it has any ill effects. 200 ppm is not very much at all so you should be fine. that 183 ppm is still stuff that you don't know what it is, bottom line: get some good water to start.

 

[AverageJoe21]

My tap water comes from the tap at ph 8.7!! I tested the ppm of the tap water after I ph'd it to 5.5.....sorry for the confusion. What to do...it says nutes at 200 ppm for sirst feed...and my water is at 183 PPM...that is like no room for nutes then?? I am buying an RO machine.

Do not adjust the ph until you have added your nutes to the water

 

[platypusmann]

I just hung up with my amigo at the dro store and he is putting a 100/gal a day RO machine on a truck for me tomorrow.....should have it for the weekend when my repaired resi gets in..... it is all good!

 

[potroast]

Well, I've always thought that your nute soup ppm is added to your base water ppm. My city tap water is 500ppm, so I add nutes to that of 800-1200 ppm, and my meter always reads 1300-1700 ppm.

And platypussman, did you really add over a half a liter of pH Down to 2 gallons of water? Something's wrong, for me that would take about 10 ml.

HTH

 

[BSIv2.0]

Calibrate those meters.

 

[platypusmann]

Yes I did add 600 ML......literally two drops from a bubble syringe at a time. I added 50 at once at one point....then let it set for like an hour.....it dropped .4. My meter was just calibrated, so WTF??? Oh well....RO coming! Anyway.....I won't have to worry about this water anymore. I swear that we have to clean lime buildup off our water dispenser on our fridge once a week, as the water here is so high, and there is a filter on our fridge water. So I think I just have bad fucking water.

 

[email468]

I also switched to RO but in the meanwhile and to answer your question.
Never pH your water before adding nutrients.

Your final PPM is the sum of the tap water PPM PLUS the nutrients so if you want your water to be 300 PPM and your tap water is 280 - you can only add 20 PPM worth of nutrients.

Then adjust your pH AFTER adding nutrients.

If you really want schooled about this read Earl's post here:
CC Hydro 101 by Earl - Cannabis Culture Forums

 

[platypusmann]

Thanks 468...rep to you...and I have that Earl link...it is a good one, especially the add back. I already knew not to ph water until nutes added...in this case I was ph'ing water that never will have nutes in it for soaking my rockwool.

 

[email468]

Thanks 468...rep to you...and I have that Earl link...it is a good one, especially the add back. I already knew not to ph water until nutes added...in this case I was ph'ing water that never will have nutes in it for soaking my rockwool.

Cool and thanks - not sure if you know this or not but don't bother trying to pH RO water without adding nutrients.

 

[platypusmann]

Isn't RO water usually at a decent ph by itself?? Certainly less than 9! But, no I did not know that about the RO water...so thanks again, my friend.