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What is conductivity and why is it important?

By Bluelab  

What is conductivity?

  • Conductivity (measured in ppm, EC, TDS, CF) is the total soluble salts contained within a liquid solution.
  • Pure water does not contain salts, so it has a conductivity measurement of zero. By adding soluble elements to the water, electricity is able to move through the solution giving it a conductivity rating.


So why is it important?

  • Using hydroponics as an example, different crops grow well at different levels of nutrient strength (Electrical Conductivity - EC). Controlling this nutrient strength is all important in providing the best conditions for your crop. Without proper measurement your crop could fail from root burn brought on by too high a nutrient level, or death by natural causes from not receiving the vital elements they need to grow.
  • Different crops grow well at different levels of nutrient strength. It is important to control the nutrient strength to provide the conditions in the root zone which provide maximum uptake of balanced nutrition into the plant, while minimising stress.
  • For each crop there is a range in which the nutrient strength is optimal, providing enough nutrient for growth, but not so strong that the concentration of salts in the plant gets too high. Electronic meters are available to measure the conductivity of the nutrient solution.

 

Measuring the conductivity of solution

You'll know the conductivity of your nutrient solution pretty quickly with an electronic ppm / EC meter. The Bluelab Truncheon Meter and EC or ppm Pens are perfect for new growers. 

 

Measurement conversion chart from EC

Bluelab products measure conductivity using EC (Electrical Conductivity) or CF (Conductivity Factor). We also provide measurements in ppm.

mS/cm2
(millisiemens per cm2)
EC
CF
ppm 500/ TDS
ppm 700
0.1
0.1
1
50
70
0.2
0.2
2
100
140
0.3
0.3
3
150
210
0.4
0.4
4
200
280
0.5
0.5
5
250
350
0.6
0.6
6
300
420
0.7
0.7
7
350
490
0.8
0.8
8
400
560
0.9
0.9
9
450
630
1.0
1.0
10
500
700
1.1
1.1
11
550
770
1.2
1.2
12
600
840
1.3
1.3
13
650
910
1.4
1.4
14
700
980
1.5
1.5
15
750
1050
1.6
1.6
16
800
1120
1.7
1.7
17
850
1190
1.8
1.8
18
900
1260
1.9
1.9
19
950
1330
2.0
2.0
20
1000
1400
2.1
2.1
21
1050
1470
2.2
2.2
22
1100
1540
2.3
2.3
23
1150
1610
2.4
2.4
24
1200
1680
2.5
2.5
25
1250
1750
2.6
2.6
26
1300
1820
2.7
2.7
27
1350
1890
2.8
2.8
28
1400
1960
2.9
2.9
29
1450
2030
3.0
3.0
30
1500
2100
3.1
3.1
31
1550
2170
3.2
3.2
32
1600
2240
3.3
3.3
33
1650
2310
3.4
3.4
34
1700
2380
3.5
3.5
35
1750
2450
3.6
3.6
36
1800
2520