Well I couldn't find a nice image that I've seen on this forum before, so I have this text right up the kind of explains things.
What you want to do, is measure your EC and pH in your res at least daily. Then you want to watch and see if your water level Falls and your EC or TDS Falls and you're pH Falls or Rises or stays the same. That will actually clue you in as to whether or not your plant is getting fed enough to little it's actually a very good system. So based upon your readings you use the following chart.
Water level
EC
PH
Solution
Static
Static
Static
Plant not feeding/drinking, change EC, check meters. Usually, lowering the EC a little should get the plant feeding again
Static
Static
Rising
Ph buffers probably raising ph. This is usual. Having a static water level is not though, so again, a slight reduction in EC or a res change should resolve this.
Static
Static
Falling
Usual cause of this is when media has been rinsed at a lower ph than you require.
The other possibility is that too much CO2 has been pumped into the water. See Note 1.
Change your res and look at the volume of air pumped plus look at your air source.
Static
Rising
Static
Plant is leeching nutrition, raise EC. Note 2
Static
Rising
Rising
Plant leeching nutrition, Raise EC. An unusual state. The rising ph is probably caused by what nutrient leeching back.
If these are alkaline, it will lead to the rise in ph. Could also be ph buffers.
Static
Rising
Falling
As above but be aware of the acid rain effect mentioned in note 1. Res change, plus increase in EC.
Static
Falling
Static
Plant eating but not drinking. Not ideal. Lower EC or res change
Static
Falling
Rising
As above but rising ph is a better sign. Lower EC slightly or res change.
Static
Falling
Falling
Falling ph along with falling EC but no drop in water level suggests a res change. Could also be an acid rain effect as per note 1. Depending on other symptoms, lowering EC after res change.
Falling
Static
Static
Perfect conditions. EC and ph are at the correct level.
Falling
Static
Rising
Normal state most people encounter. Nothing to worry about, carry on doing what you are doing unless other plant symptoms.
Falling
Static
Falling
Res change plus a change of EC. Lower EC if over 1.4, raise EC if lower than 1.0
Falling
Rising
Static
Plant is drinking more than eating, lower EC.
Falling
Rising
Rising
Plant is drinking more than eating, lower EC
Falling
Rising
Falling
Plant is drinking more than eating, lower EC. Also, res change due to possible acid rain problem.
Falling
Falling
Static
Hungry plant, raise EC. Very good situation to be in. Nute buffers are working and plant is taking a balance of nutrients.
Falling
Falling
Rising
Almost as above, usually considered almost perfect, raise EC slightly.
Falling
Falling
Falling
Res change. Potential acid rain issue but plant is still eating & drinking. Raise EC on new res
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What you want to do, is measure your EC and pH in your res at least daily. Then you want to watch and see if your water level Falls and your EC or TDS Falls and you're pH Falls or Rises or stays the same. That will actually clue you in as to whether or not your plant is getting fed enough to little it's actually a very good system. So based upon your readings you use the following chart.
Water level
EC
PH
Solution
Static
Static
Static
Plant not feeding/drinking, change EC, check meters. Usually, lowering the EC a little should get the plant feeding again
Static
Static
Rising
Ph buffers probably raising ph. This is usual. Having a static water level is not though, so again, a slight reduction in EC or a res change should resolve this.
Static
Static
Falling
Usual cause of this is when media has been rinsed at a lower ph than you require.
The other possibility is that too much CO2 has been pumped into the water. See Note 1.
Change your res and look at the volume of air pumped plus look at your air source.
Static
Rising
Static
Plant is leeching nutrition, raise EC. Note 2
Static
Rising
Rising
Plant leeching nutrition, Raise EC. An unusual state. The rising ph is probably caused by what nutrient leeching back.
If these are alkaline, it will lead to the rise in ph. Could also be ph buffers.
Static
Rising
Falling
As above but be aware of the acid rain effect mentioned in note 1. Res change, plus increase in EC.
Static
Falling
Static
Plant eating but not drinking. Not ideal. Lower EC or res change
Static
Falling
Rising
As above but rising ph is a better sign. Lower EC slightly or res change.
Static
Falling
Falling
Falling ph along with falling EC but no drop in water level suggests a res change. Could also be an acid rain effect as per note 1. Depending on other symptoms, lowering EC after res change.
Falling
Static
Static
Perfect conditions. EC and ph are at the correct level.
Falling
Static
Rising
Normal state most people encounter. Nothing to worry about, carry on doing what you are doing unless other plant symptoms.
Falling
Static
Falling
Res change plus a change of EC. Lower EC if over 1.4, raise EC if lower than 1.0
Falling
Rising
Static
Plant is drinking more than eating, lower EC.
Falling
Rising
Rising
Plant is drinking more than eating, lower EC
Falling
Rising
Falling
Plant is drinking more than eating, lower EC. Also, res change due to possible acid rain problem.
Falling
Falling
Static
Hungry plant, raise EC. Very good situation to be in. Nute buffers are working and plant is taking a balance of nutrients.
Falling
Falling
Rising
Almost as above, usually considered almost perfect, raise EC slightly.
Falling
Falling
Falling
Res change. Potential acid rain issue but plant is still eating & drinking. Raise EC on new res
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
