Proper way to check ec run off?
- Thread starter OSBC
- Start date
Y
YosemiteSam
imo checking runoff is less than useless. the info you get means nothing...but when you think it does and base decisions on it there is going to be zero correlation to anything.
google the pour through method or sme, 1:2...all by North Carolina State University.
google the pour through method or sme, 1:2...all by North Carolina State University.
.... dont even know where to start with that one....
poor enough water through your pots and check the runoff until it stabalizes once it does thats where your pots are at. Keep pouring if its high and needs to be lowered.
Y
YosemiteSam
did you google the ncstate info...that might be a good place to start if actual science means anything to you.
OGShush
Member
I did this once for shits and gigs, I ran the runoff through a coffee filter before I checked the ppm. I suppose my logic at the time being, "well I don't want to know how many PPM of peat and dirt particles are in my runoff." I have only bothered doing this one time, usually I just shopvac it up immediately. The single time I bothered it was shortly after the plants first heavy feeding following flower. Came out around 800 PPM if I recall, what I don't remember what the pH was.
The method I made up at the time sounds similar to theirs, except I used normal, pH corrected water after the soil had dried completely from the previous watering where nutrients were given. I was thinking I would get an idea of how much she had eaten.
The method I made up at the time sounds similar to theirs, except I used normal, pH corrected water after the soil had dried completely from the previous watering where nutrients were given. I was thinking I would get an idea of how much she had eaten.
Well the way I know of is:
Water the pot until light runoff, check your PH going in, let pot sit soaked for 30+ min. Now add more of the same PH water to the top slowly, as the pot begins to runoff, catch that and test it, the water is supposed to have adjusted its PH based on your mediums. Not perfect but gives you an idea, I never had any issues with testing it and verifying my ph was jacked up.
Running a shit ton of ph'ed water with your desired nute level through the medium should get it on track.
Water the pot until light runoff, check your PH going in, let pot sit soaked for 30+ min. Now add more of the same PH water to the top slowly, as the pot begins to runoff, catch that and test it, the water is supposed to have adjusted its PH based on your mediums. Not perfect but gives you an idea, I never had any issues with testing it and verifying my ph was jacked up.
Running a shit ton of ph'ed water with your desired nute level through the medium should get it on track.
They r in 5 gal roots pots..Today was a feed day but I chose to do a pour thru of h20 instead cuz they have a slight tip burn and some edge burn aswell on the sunleaves.. 2wks in flower. My water is 6.0 100ppm. I adjust all irritations to 6.2 nutes are at 1000 ppm. Gh 1-2-3 at half strength. I collected the run off and tested it ph was 5.9@ 3000 ppm I feed 2 foods and one h20 w no run off.. I used to feed full strength 1-2-3 every other.so I figured at half 2 feeds was ok.. I think ill go back to every other instead of 2 feeds cuz the plats dont seem to need all that food.Correct me if I'm wrong.. It seems I need to achieve some runoff atleast on my watering to keep the salts from building up in the root zone say maintain 1000 ppm in the soil. Or what ever ppm I'm feeding with.. Should I achieve runoff on both feed and water to do this?
I would, I like runoff. ppm's are a tad high!
Y
YosemiteSam
Y
YosemiteSam
Depends on what method you use to test it.
Mind you that is root zone EC. Your nute EC will depend on how much runoff you use (leaching). A low runoff grow will need a lower EC than a high runoff grow.
For what it is worth I use no runoff and N ppm of 100-125 to get in the proper range. For most formulas that is going to be in the 1.5-2 EC range.
Mind you that is root zone EC. Your nute EC will depend on how much runoff you use (leaching). A low runoff grow will need a lower EC than a high runoff grow.
For what it is worth I use no runoff and N ppm of 100-125 to get in the proper range. For most formulas that is going to be in the 1.5-2 EC range.
So ur saying that u feed at 100-125 ppm of nutes I assume everytime u irrigate? This is the first time checking runoff and it was after two feeds, I poured 6.2 ph h20 thru until the tray was 1/2 in deep. Let it it for half hour and tested it which was 5.9@ 3000ppm.. From now on I'll do the same but drain it after an pour a small amout thru and test that..as suggested on the link u recommended.
Y
YosemiteSam
I feed N at that level every watering. With the other elements my nute EC is in the 1.5-1.8 range. That allows EC in the root zone to slowly rise to around 3 by the time I start feeding water only (flush).
