Hydroponic Nutrient Measurements. EC, PPM and TDS: Explained

Hydroponic Nutrient Measurements. EC, PPM and TDS: Explained

Which measurement should you use to check your nutrient solution. EC, PPM, TDS… What do they mean and why should I care? Hoocho navigates us through the inconsistencies in PPM measurements and how you can safeguard yourself against miscommunication of values.

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50 Comments

  1. @thetktrooper on December 2, 2023 at 2:48 am

    where are you based? looks like QLD, being on tank water do have to use a big filter system for drinking an shower water?



  2. @dgrows on December 2, 2023 at 2:48 am

    I know old vid but just saw and ya when I found out about the difference in ppm and it based off ec I switched and got an update bluelab truncheon. 👍 nice info



  3. @cosmoeximp on December 2, 2023 at 2:51 am

    I just boughr Blulab combo meter ….5.5 ph…..7.2 ec…..



  4. @zoixdark on December 2, 2023 at 2:52 am

    Fun enough my well water is 550ppm but the stream that runs through my property is only 14. Think that’ll work?



  5. @michaelmac8938 on December 2, 2023 at 2:53 am

    I’m now addicted lol. Hoocho are you changing over to aquaponics? However keep up the great work and your dry humor!!



  6. @barbarastefani254 on December 2, 2023 at 2:55 am

    It makes it all worthwhile



  7. @RopeAccesspainter7 on December 2, 2023 at 2:55 am

    Hi Hoocho, new here, great channel, great work, what meter are you using please.



  8. @mattchannells6274 on December 2, 2023 at 2:55 am

    Cheers mate. Good content, not boring, explained well.



  9. @paulp6386 on December 2, 2023 at 2:57 am

    They are sold out already 🙁



  10. @Aviator168 on December 2, 2023 at 2:57 am

    I looked up the PPM requirement for some fruits (http://www.homehydrosystems.com/ph_tds_ppm/ph_fruit_page.html) , some of them need more than 1500ppm. That’s a lot of fertilizers.



  11. @levantan2010 on December 2, 2023 at 2:59 am

    Hi.
    I have 1 liter of nutrient with 1000ppm. How can I reduce that nutrient to 300-350ppm? Should I add more water?



  12. @accidentallyfasting5768 on December 2, 2023 at 2:59 am

    Not boring at all. I’m just getting started and really appreciate these kinds of quick, informative videos!



  13. @raynabelle9397 on December 2, 2023 at 3:00 am

    Please do a time-lapse of clearing out the system!



  14. @ahmethakanozguven4642 on December 2, 2023 at 3:01 am

    hello hoocho, i need some info. I’m using the cheap tds meter you used. Are you sure it has a coefficient of 0.5? Is 100 ppm equivalent to 0.5 ec on the right device?



  15. @ramoneoliveira5851 on December 2, 2023 at 3:02 am

    Like



  16. @MsSAinyourFace on December 2, 2023 at 3:03 am

    You should have way more subs. Love your vids. You explain things so well. Please never stop making videos!



  17. @Jardin-de-invierno on December 2, 2023 at 3:03 am

    Loved it… thank you… trying some of the stuff you’ve been talking about here in Kansas City…



  18. @RJ-gu3wp on December 2, 2023 at 3:05 am

    Can you post a link for the Excel conversion sheet you showed?



  19. @matthewblankowski2265 on December 2, 2023 at 3:07 am

    Milisiemens 🤭



  20. @x7SiNz-- on December 2, 2023 at 3:07 am

    Will start my kratky journey this year, I found some organic liquid fertiliser but it has a pH 7. How do I make it more acidic naturally?



  21. @crawford323 on December 2, 2023 at 3:07 am

    In my area, the EC result for our drinking water is nearing 1000 ( odd looking U)/S per CM which is high sodium and other minerals not necessary nutrients. If the water has a known and lower reading and control of what is added the EC can give hints of what is the working solution. As time progresses and the plant begin to utilize the solutions, the plants do so at different rates. Notably the water will be taken up more than the nutrients will and the EC reading will begin to climb. At this point it is a guessing game and then you watch closely for signs of your plants screaming for this, that or another. You can add RO water to get the EC rating back to the correct numbers but who knows what the balance is at that point. We do our best to collect rain water, purchase R/O, or water from dehumidifiers, which by the way has the lowest EC reading next to rainwater. So my hat is off to those who are connected enough to their plants to know what to do. Also some plants, I find are not suitable for hydroponics or if compatible cannot be grown together in the same system. We have accepted the challenge and we get lots of pleasure from growing plants in this manner and the mental stimulation of just trying something different is fun also. We are learning. At the moment our system is outside. We have extend the growing season by moving the system inside and using grow lights. Yipes but this is adding yet another variable making the whole project more complex.



  22. @assog5737 on December 2, 2023 at 3:10 am

    Nice video.
    I understand everything about ec and its effects.

    I’ve been growing with aeroponics for 10 years.
    And I’ve never checked my ec.
    I always check my ppm and pH.
    And make my adjustments from there.

    One important thing people must understand is don’t go by what the nute manufacturer states.
    I have found that all their suggestions are WAY to high.
    I tried one manufacturers product and they suggested a 2500 ppm.
    I through that stuff away.

    In my opinion it is best to start with half of what a manufacturer suggests.
    And then go from there.
    But what’s better than that is to find out what the suggested ppm and pH is is suppose to be on what you are growing.

    Another important subject is ppm and pH drift.
    One should always check their ppm and pH daily.
    Because depending on how much nutes or water your plants are using.
    Your ppm and pH will drift one way or the other.
    And depending on which way these drift. It will tell you if you should add more nutes or water.
    It’s very easy once you understand what the drifts are telling you.



  23. @sigmaticus on December 2, 2023 at 3:10 am

    Awesome video mate thank you



  24. @aogaobey on December 2, 2023 at 3:12 am

    Thanks for the video mate very good explanation



  25. @8ank3r on December 2, 2023 at 3:14 am

    thanks for sharing that info. I needed it



  26. @kenobetrader955 on December 2, 2023 at 3:17 am

    Very helpful! Thank you.



  27. @Arx9845 on December 2, 2023 at 3:19 am

    Hoocho, your explanations are concise and articulate, never boring. Thanks for documenting this important component of hydroponics. Congrats on the tomatoes! They are magnificent.



  28. @cacamal13 on December 2, 2023 at 3:19 am

    Spot on! Thank you for your time in providing these killer videos



  29. @derrickc8366 on December 2, 2023 at 3:23 am

    thanks!



  30. @quinnquinnflip1755 on December 2, 2023 at 3:23 am

    Amazing content, great delivery, good on to it informaation 🙂 nice 1



  31. @shirazvadia on December 2, 2023 at 3:24 am

    Just curios when it rains water doesnt get intoo your system and upsets your nutrient solution



  32. @RWC7575 on December 2, 2023 at 3:25 am

    Just starting out. I already purchased the Bluelab Truncheon, it is definitely worth every cent. Great explanation. Thank you.



  33. @brandonreidy6989 on December 2, 2023 at 3:27 am

    So coming from a saltwater reef hobby we use RODI water with O TDS. That is measured in PPM. I understand tap water can have TDS from 70-400+ ppm. I am having trouble understanding how TDS measurement is accurate. Simply measuring particles in the water, not what specific particles those are. If i measure my starting water at 0 TDS and add X solution that will tell me concentration of mixture. I use tapwater it will be starting ppm + X. Is it suggested to know your starting TDS then your final TDS? Also can RODI water be used, or is it too stripped of minerals?



  34. @cosmoeximp on December 2, 2023 at 3:27 am

    Hi and how much should be EC In the water I have 7.2 ec …..to much?😅



  35. @barbarastefani254 on December 2, 2023 at 3:28 am

    Thank you for showing us this really needed



  36. @matthewappling9049 on December 2, 2023 at 3:28 am

    I bought a bluelab truncheon and it is great, however I already had a Zero water filter that came with a ppm meter. I didn’t think it would measure high enough but it will the bluelab measured 1820 ppm. And the Zero water measured 182 x 10 ppm. And the water filter with 2 filters and a meter only cost $40 US.



  37. @jeremyharkness1574 on December 2, 2023 at 3:29 am

    I am just starting my hydroponic journey. I find your channel very informative and concise. I have been trying to look around everywhere and you seem to be the best channel for beginners. I truly appreciate you and cannot wait to dig in even more of your work!



  38. @barbarastefani254 on December 2, 2023 at 3:30 am

    Wasn’t boring at all I really needed to know



  39. @jonjingleheimerschmidt5153 on December 2, 2023 at 3:30 am

    What is "P-Haych?"



  40. @michellecolledge2355 on December 2, 2023 at 3:30 am

    I’m still confused. What’s the difference between EC and PPM? How do you know what these should be for what you are growing?



  41. @ME-kr7sm on December 2, 2023 at 3:32 am

    What’s even more interesting is that you can’t pronounce the letter H.
    Good show ya Ol Bloke



  42. @mihaiaragon on December 2, 2023 at 3:32 am

    Hi @Hoocho, how do you decide the size of the water tank? Thank you in advance!



  43. @mrleedeeth on December 2, 2023 at 3:32 am

    Quick question please why water is 350



  44. @mattnsim on December 2, 2023 at 3:33 am

    It hurts my head all this information



  45. @chris432t6 on December 2, 2023 at 3:33 am

    Thank you for that clarification.



  46. @AdamStranberg on December 2, 2023 at 3:34 am

    That’s helpful! But what numbers am I shooting for? And if it’s low then what nutrient(s) do i add in?



  47. @MrDozer120 on December 2, 2023 at 3:34 am

    Great info that I didn’t know until you explained it. Nice tomatoes!



  48. @eddieandjulieklysz458 on December 2, 2023 at 3:38 am

    Wow when I was growing 40 years ago it was all about PH and CF. We were growing 5500 rockmelons, 2000s of tomatoes and caps plus those. I have more to learn about this before I start again. Thank you for your video.



  49. @redned9881 on December 2, 2023 at 3:39 am

    Love Ya work bud thanks for the info, will be useful for when I next change my reservoir. Keep up the good work



  50. @cmoniz905 on December 2, 2023 at 3:43 am

    Never boring. I listened to it several times to learn. Keep the video coming.