EC-3 reading confusion!

[trippy321]

Hi,
I just took a reading on one of these EC-3: Handheld Conductivity Tester with Case - HM Digital (http://www.tdsmeter.com/products/ec3.html) (EC-3 meter) and the reading was 146 - and when I did a reading on my tap water it was 701 ... just wondering if I'm doing this wrong, as it is really confusing for me. The 146 reading is in my aero setup and they are 2 week old seedlings (which look like they arn't doing to well - the 1st true leaves curling under - any help would be really great. Thank you for your help! :)

[LOC NAR on probation]

If your tap water is 701 do not drink it. That would be extreme. And if your tap water is that high then the 146 might be 1460 depending on how the meter reads. Do you have any calibration solution to check the meter with ?

Looking at the info on the meter. Did you see a blinking 10x light ?

Checking the meter is number one. Then you can go from there.

For now I would get some R/O water or distilled water and put in your areo system untill you figure out the meter. Either one should show next to nothing on the meter. If thats the case you got some hella water coming out of that tap.

[trippy321]

ahh Loc-nar you are a champion! yes it does have x10.

Today's reading was 135x10 = 1350 . Is this OK for seedlings?

how does 1350 EC3 translate to PPM if you could answer you will be a God in my eyes :P

Thanks again :)

[LOC NAR on probation]

It is telling you PPM's. EC is expressed in 0.1 measures and must be converted on dif scales. Some meters will tell you both and give conversions for dif apps.That's 1350 and it is way high for seedling. For small seedling it should be around 300 or 400. Like 1/4 strength. You can just remove some water and add fresh to bring it down.

What kind of water are you using ? Hope it is not the tap water at 701

[trippy321]

Thank you Loc-Nar - great help! :)

Yeah the water at 700 is full on eh? I just measured some water I buy that I drink for myself (not the 700 tap water) - and that came out at 10! I now feel as though anyone drinking tap water around here may have some side effects? Or water doesn't effect us like our baby greens?

I'm thinking it could be the fluoride poison they put in the water?

It is just too expensive to buy water - so I'll stick with the tap for now...or is there an additive I can use to bring the water back to prime condition?

The seedlings actually are starting to look OK now - the curl has gone and they are widening and starting to go (the tiny 3 leaf is just starting to show)...

I'll keep you posted - and thanks for your advice :)

[LOC NAR on probation]

Some manufactures make hard water nutes that would help. if you can't get an R/O filter and water is too much, you could try mixing half and half. That would bring you ppm's down to 350.

It's not just the flouride or the chlorine. They are using chloromine. This is a solid chlorine that does not eveporate. This is to keep it clean in very long runs of water pipes.

I wonder what the health problems are for the people drinking this water. Like clogging veins and hard mineral build ups in your liver and kidney's.

Hope you can get a filter soon.

[trippy321]

Well some people around here do have 2 heads! maybe that's what the water does :P

I will try to do as you suggest, thanks once agin you have helped me greatly! :)

[tinytoon]

Even something as simple as a filter mounted to faucet (Brita) would be better than nothing