# How To Adjust EC? **URL:** \ **Category:** Autoflowers\ **Created:** [September 28, 2022, 3:24am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760 "2022-09-28T03:24:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RobS1973](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/robs1973/32/736693_2.png) [@RobS1973](https://ilgmforum.com/u/RobS1973)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 3:24am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/1 "2022-09-28T03:24:42Z")
All righty, got my new Hanna EC meter and it’s looking like my numbers are way off. EC is about 3.0. From watching a video with that Dr. Bugby, it should be around 1-1.5 What are the general guidelines for adjusting EC? I’m going a little nuts trying to get the pH, ppm, and EC all in line. Soil is FFOF, changed nutes from the FF Tripo to a simple 20-9-20 with CalMag. pH of the nute mix is around 6.5, ppm around 1300. Now the EC is way off in my runoff at 3.0. What’s the general strategy for maintaining pH, ppm, EC? Is the FFOF soil making this more difficult? ---
**Author:** ![dbrn32](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/dbrn32/32/533801_2.png) [@dbrn32](https://ilgmforum.com/u/dbrn32)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 3:39am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/2 "2022-09-28T03:39:37Z")
Are you talking about your runoff or when mixing nutrients? ---
**Author:** ![RobS1973](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/robs1973/32/736693_2.png) [@RobS1973](https://ilgmforum.com/u/RobS1973)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 4:23am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/3 "2022-09-28T04:23:18Z")
The runoff. I’m going a little crazy as the plants have been treated the same but now that I have a nice EC meter, I can see they are each wildly different for EC and ppm. I’ve also had the pH drop to the mid 5’s on a plant while others are in the mid 6’s. All treated the same. This EC meter should take help me dial each plant in though. I can’t believe how different each one is ---
**Author:** ![beardless](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/beardless/32/275814_2.png) [@beardless](https://ilgmforum.com/u/beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 7:36am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/4 "2022-09-28T07:36:32Z")
> [@RobS1973](#): > > can’t believe how different each one is You may treat them the same but they respond individually. > [@RobS1973](#): > > nute mix is around 6.5, ppm around 1300. Now the EC is way off in my runoff at 3.0. ph going in of 6.5 is okay for soil. Feed ppm of 1300 is a little on the high side but not excessive. The occasional heavy feed during flower is ok as long as runoff ph & ppm are in line. And a runoff EC of 3.0 (PPM of 1500) is in line with feed ppm. I’m not sure why you think it is way off. If anything it is lower than I would expect for FFOF unless it is depleted. The problem number is runoff ph. 5.0 is way too low for soil. Does this plant also have much higher ppm than the others? I found this article useful in deciphering ph > **[Runoff pH: Explaining the Bro Science | Curious Cultivations](https://curiouscultivations.com/2019/01/11/runoff-ph-explaining-the-bro-science/)** > > Runoff pH is used to check the health of plants, but much misinformation exists about its proper use. Let's dive in to how to make the best of this tool. This one from growweedeasy DOT com/ph#soil-pH is also good. I put this conversion table together ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/5/5/6/55602c150008e892fcb985cc83012a1cae816b99.png) As long as I’m at it ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/4/b/8/4b8f482a8bdb4dccacd03f250ac7a5b83d4ea534.jpeg) The green target ppm is 500 scale ---
**Author:** ![JaneQP](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/janeqp/32/555131_2.png) [@JaneQP](https://ilgmforum.com/u/JaneQP)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 10:56am UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/5 "2022-09-28T10:56:57Z")
These tables are gems! ---
**Author:** ![RobS1973](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/robs1973/32/736693_2.png) [@RobS1973](https://ilgmforum.com/u/RobS1973)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 12:00pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/6 "2022-09-28T12:00:27Z")
That’s great! Thank you! ---
**Author:** ![Rashish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Rashish](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Rashish)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 1:26pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/7 "2022-09-28T13:26:17Z")
Question if I may, If my runoff PPM in week 6 is lower than 1000 and I am feeding at 1900-2000 PPM should I increase my nutes? She has only few leaves that the tips are painted. Thank you great info here ---
**Author:** ![beardless](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/beardless/32/275814_2.png) [@beardless](https://ilgmforum.com/u/beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 2:13pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/8 "2022-09-28T14:13:01Z")
> [@Rashish](#): > > lower than 1000 and I am feeding at 1900-2000 PPM I can say I have never had that much of a spread. Personally I would not push the feed ppm higher. The plant is apparently taking in what you give it. The painted tips indicate she is on the edge though. Are the leaves getting glossy green? Don’t want to push to N toxicity. ---
**Author:** ![Rashish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Rashish](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Rashish)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 2:19pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/9 "2022-09-28T14:19:26Z")
No she has always been a little pale. ![www43](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/original/4X/2/3/e/23e3a4824c20cc85f279b8504f4e3deea1ce6118.jpeg) It’s a bag seed that auto-flowered.[Gelato and new growie](https://ilgmforum.com/t/gelato-and-new-growie/91614) my grow journal of sorts. I’m not going to change anything this late in her life. just trying to understand more. Went more organic on my Blue Dreams. Thank you ---
**Author:** ![beardless](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/beardless/32/275814_2.png) [@beardless](https://ilgmforum.com/u/beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 2:26pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/10 "2022-09-28T14:26:34Z")
Hard to say. What nutrients are you using? Using flowering based mix? Maybe it is lighter on N than necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Rashish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Rashish](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Rashish)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 2:34pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/11 "2022-09-28T14:34:35Z")
Using Grotek solo-tek bloom 3-8-8. Friend recommended. Not sure I would or wouldn’t recommend. Next plants are in COM Stonington blend and earth dust and considering what they have been through ED is way better than Happy Acid Frog and Grotek. Dog ate 1/2 of a blue dream 2 weeks ago and you could only tell by the FIM she did. 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![Newt](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/newt/32/688722_2.png) [@Newt](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Newt)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 3:32pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/12 "2022-09-28T15:32:23Z")
Remember this… Measuring EC is simply another way to measure the PPM of the TDS. Pick one, EC, or PPM, and if you pick PPM, then you need to know which scale. ---
**Author:** ![Rashish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Rashish](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Rashish)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 6:00pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/13 "2022-09-28T18:00:17Z")
Thank you @Newt That I understood. Was just thinking I wasn’t feeding her enough. Did 1.9-2.1k in a few times and was getting 400-450 out 2 days later. Seen charts saying 1000 ppm out in flower and mine never gets there. Trying to learn all I can, next two are in living soil(so far). ---
**Author:** ![beardless](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/beardless/32/275814_2.png) [@beardless](https://ilgmforum.com/u/beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 6:52pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/14 "2022-09-28T18:52:53Z")
Those numbers are nuts. I use coco and Jacks. I have to really work at it to get runoff numbers that low and I only feed at 900 - 1100. That is daily of course. Growers here have good results with Earth Dust. I’m considering giving it a try myself. Maybe a side by side with clones. It has been a while since I used soil. ---
**Author:** ![Rashish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Rashish](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Rashish)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 7:28pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/15 "2022-09-28T19:28:09Z")
Just fed her this morning. first run off before nutes was 650 ppm including the 200 from my tap. This is a slight increase that I took as she was slowing down. The grotek schedule says 3/4 teaspoon to 1.25 quarts water. Which reads 1900-2000pm also drops ph to 6. It’s happy frog that went acidic, added dolomite and ots of ph’d water. There’s no extra perlite in it so it’s dense as a brick. I topped my gelato with ED and it is really doing well after trying my best to kill her. Reading this thread I realized my run off numbers were low. Hey thanks for trying to help me ---
**Author:** ![DarhkGrows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c4cdca/32.png) [@DarhkGrows](https://ilgmforum.com/u/DarhkGrows)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 8:17pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/16 "2022-09-28T20:17:17Z")
Is grotek organic? Or salt based? If organic f\*\*\* the numbers. If salt based switch to organic 😂🤷‍♂️ ---
**Author:** ![RobS1973](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/robs1973/32/736693_2.png) [@RobS1973](https://ilgmforum.com/u/RobS1973)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2022, 9:04pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/17 "2022-09-28T21:04:55Z")
There are some good notes in this thread. I’m thinking of making my own soil as pH has been an issue for me with the FFOF. I get that nutes lower pH but I’m seeing low pH AND low ppm in a number of my plants. There isn’t a nice linear relationship between plants with low pH and plants with high ppm. I’m sure it’s never a perfect relationship but my numbers have left me completely frustrated. I’m thinking there has to be a better way while growing in soil as I don’t think I’m ready to make the jump to hydro. Any considerations when selecting peat to use as a medium? Thinking of buying peat, vermiculite, maybe a couple other ingredients and just doing it myself and wonder what I should look for when I see a rack of peat products at the garden center. Suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Runzamuk](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/runzamuk/32/345217_2.png) [@Runzamuk](https://ilgmforum.com/u/Runzamuk)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 2:23pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/18 "2025-06-13T14:23:31Z")
Could someone explain what the 500 & 700 ppm scales mean, and how do i know which to go by? … Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![StonedCold13](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/stonedcold13/32/1094279_2.png) [@StonedCold13](https://ilgmforum.com/u/StonedCold13)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 2:27pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/19 "2025-06-13T14:27:18Z")
If you can use EC then it doesn’t matter. 500 I believe is the US scale and 700 everyone else 💚🤘🏻 Ppm is a rough equation of EC ---
**Author:** ![dbrn32](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/growingmarijuana/user_avatar/ilgmforum.com/dbrn32/32/533801_2.png) [@dbrn32](https://ilgmforum.com/u/dbrn32)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2025, 2:40pm UTC](https://ilgmforum.com/t/how-to-adjust-ec/93760/20 "2025-06-13T14:40:33Z")
They basically just have different reference points. Long as you know which your meter/tester uses you can always cross reference to any other scale.