You can if you want do it the way Stinky suggested, most gardeners do. However, you should try doing it in reverse (almost) order.

RO your water (don't worry about ppm) and add your base nutrients, your micro and your calmag. THEN check your water's pH. Without touching your pH up or down you should be right on. If you are off then use a little up or down. Try using as little as possible, its not good for your water.
herbie the love bud Reviewed by herbie the love bud 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