is 1600 ppm too high ???

hello-i have a garden of ladies that are 4 weeks into flowering. i have steadily been raising the ppm over the weeks. i kept them around 6-700 during veg and around 900-1000 for the last month. this morning i wanted to step them up a little and raised it to 1680 ppm. i have one of those truncheon meters that measures EC, ppm and something else(can't remember-wake and bake:rasta: ) so i expect that my ppm reading isn't exactly precise but i was wondering if i should keep it around 16-1700 or if i should dilute. also i live by the coast and i think my water is pretty hard. i do let it sit out the night before-but not sure if that does the trick?? its my first grow, so of course any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.:thumbsup:

Maybe turn it down a little, if you plants start to show signs then turn it down
They may like that much

yeah, just to be on the safe side. that is a big jump, all of a sudden. The book does say up to 2000ppm which is 3.1 EC on the truncheon, but also states this is most likely too high and can dehydrate your plants...and recommended 800-1200, But I know you can run 1500-1600ppm all day long with mature healthy plants.

I'm running at EC 3.0
that is around 1500ppm,(this is full flower nutes, on the edge, so to speak) if it get's beyond that, I dilute...that is what top-off in hydro is for; To dilute the solution.
I run approximately:
1.4-EC/700-ppm in veg...2.2-EC/1100ppm 1st 2 weeks flower 3.0-/1500 thru heavy bulk flowering, then flush.

A note. I use milwaukee sm301...you have truncheon(I like these also), they convert different. Bear with me and I will try to explain the difference.

OK..Hanna, Milwaukee are converted:
1 MS/CM=500ppm
while the New Zealand Hydro, truncheon meter converts at ratio of,
1 MS/CM=700ppm
so, with your meter 2.15 EC = 1500ppm (approx.)


MS/CM defined is:Milli-siemens per centimeter or
US/CM:Micro siemens per centimeter

PPM testers actually measure EC and convert to PPM*
the 2 scales are not related though
EC equals the specific amount of nutrient solution.
ppm readings are not as accurate, but you can convert EC to ppm's.

Do us a favor; Would you? Measure your solution with your EC setting, note it. Then switch to ppm stting, measure, note it. Post it here. I would like to see if the conversion factors I have are the same as your meter readings.

*loosely from the Indoor bible.

One more Q for U...What set-up are you running? i.e., dwc drip, aero, nft?
I ask because some folks believe you can run higher concentrations of nutes in different systems. lw

Quote:

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Originally Posted by latewood

One more Q for U...What set-up are you running? i.e., dwc drip, aero, nft?
I ask because some folks believe you can run higher concentrations of nutes in different systems. lw

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That, is VERY interesting... hmmmm... interesting...

What kind of nutrients are your using.. what brand?

You should know by now..

If the tips are brown or if the leaves are SUPER dark green you are headed for trouble..

1600 seems very high unless you know your NUTRENTS very very well..

: )

Quote:

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Originally Posted by turtle420

That, is VERY interesting... hmmmm... interesting...

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Think about it for a second turtle it will come to you dude. We have talked about this before. :confused:

thanks for the input guys. the gals are responding well to the spike-up in ppm. my meter won't do different settings it gives one reading, considering all 3 elements(EC,ppm,CF) the girls are 5 wks into flower and responded well. i get a little confused w/ the inconsistency of my meter. i live near the coast and my water is hard-which i understand makes my EC high?? as the water sits out and somewhat evaporates i think my EC goes down while my ppm goes up. i am considering getting a seperate meter for each. my girls are happy and healthy-but always lookin to improve. i will post pics tonight when my cycle starts. thanks again!!!:thumbsup:

latewood- i am using a hydro-ebb and flow system and i use cutting-edge solutions(they are based in santa cruz). w/ green infuse bloom enhancer. i am growin afghxbbud(the queen). 6 plants per table,7 tables,7k watts air cooled. my exhaust is a lil overkill for my space but the temps stay right at 70-day and 60-night so its worth it. :rasta: any suggestions on a new ferts?

well, I wish you luck...the truncheon is a good meter, imho...the only reason I don't have one is the cost.
when I researched meters...blue labs truncheon was my 1st choice.

My sm301 cost the same. but I bought it off ebay for 50 bucks. I am not familiar with the nutes you use.

anyway, If you have problems, let us know. lw

[QUOTE=latewood]

A note. I use milwaukee sm301...you have truncheon(I like these also), they convert different. Bear with me and I will try to explain the difference.


Do us a favor; Would you? Measure your solution with your EC setting, note it. Then switch to ppm stting, measure, note it. Post it here. I would like to see if the conversion factors I have are the same as your meter readings./QUOTE]


HERES MY READINGS TODAY.

MILWAUKEE SM 802

PH: 6.3 6.5 7.1 6.2
PPM: 1030 820 760 1020
MS/CM: 1.51 1.21 1.11 1.49

NOT SURE HOW THIS ALL COMPUTES AND WHAT IT ALL MEANS,,, BUT IT WAS FUN TO WRITE IT ALL DOWN.