Okay, if I am understanding you correctly, you were doing your TDS/EC reading AFTER adding your pH adjustment- right?
Here's a better order in which to do this:
Pour your water and measure the EC right outta the tap.
If it is significantly below 300 parts per million, add CalMag Plus up to 300ppm.
This gives you fake 'tap water', lol.
Then add your nutes to the desired level.
Then last, adjust the pH. Your pH up/down does in fact add ionic strength the the water, so check it last.
Good luck1!
stinkyattic Reviewed by stinkyattic on . Is my waters TDC too high?? So i just got my TDC pen and had some ph adjusted water that i put my TDC pen in and it reads 345 this seems really high for just water with no nutes? Is this number even relevant? When i do start putting nutes in my chart says 200-300 ppm for week 1 does that mean that i am adding 200-300 more nutes in? so essentially 545-645? Rating: 5