I’ve been reading and people mention monitoring the EC. What tool do you use to measure this, and what is the reading telling me? Thank you!
2 Likes
EC stands for Electrical Conductivity, and it measures the total mineral and element content in your water or feeding solution. You would use it to mix nutrients to the proper strength for your plants.
I use an Apera EC 60, and I would definitely recommend that model, along with a pH pen as well, which is an Apera pH 60. They also make combo units that do it all, but for myself I prefer the separate devices.
5 Likes
I recommend a blu lab truncheon
I just use as a stir stick and tells me EC
Or get a TDS meter…
2 Likes
I spent 150 bucks on a good Blu Lab pH pen when I first started growing. A few months later, just after the Amazon return period ended, the probe went bad. The whole pen was garbage at that point.
Switched to the Apera pH 60 which has a replaceable probe. I bought an extra just to keep as a spare, but I haven’t needed it. Both the pH 60 and the EC 60 have now worked perfectly for me for over 5 years.
That’s why I recommend Apera over Blu Lab.
2 Likes
I’ve just had one of those cheap-o blue TDS pens for about 3 years now. Seems fines still.
I think it’s better to buy quality up front for a pH meter though.
2 Likes
I bought three of these. Still using the first one. It’s a five-in-1 very accurate very sturdy I love the light up back light.
I picked them up in China for $12 each they have the same ones on Amazon for $35
1 Like
Being very new to all this, is there somewhere I can get a chart and learn how to give the appropriate nutrients based on EC? And why use EC over PPM?
1 Like
Meters can only read EC. PPM can only be calculated by the meter off of the EC reading. There are a few different scales used across the globe for this conversion, making it a bit confusing sometimes with a global community forum. EC however, is universal.
3 Likes