when you talk about TDS / ppm / ec
 

Ron hello, I have 2 questions. 1: when you talk about T.D.S./p.p.m./e.c., or other references to nutrient levels in the water, do you ignore the amount that is already in the fresh water, and add the amount of nutes? say you want a 400 ppm, and your fresh water has 150 (without nutes) do you add the 400to the 150, for a total of 550? being as one doesn't know what is in the water that you are starting with this has confused me. 2: I see you are using and selling a commercial nute, how did your tests with miracle gro, or the generic equivalent with epsom salts and calcium nitrate work out? did you grow tomatoes to completion with it? Thanks for the great site.Montana Mogy

Yes you include the ppm of your water. It is really to small to worry about.
I just don't seam to have a problem growing anything no matter what kind of nutrient mix I use. Sometimes I use strait water when I get to busy to add solution and my plants still grow like crazy.
I will be setting up test gardens in the near future, now that the last frost has past, to test different solutions mixes and different mediums.