First time grower, need a little help

[beepboopboopbeepbop]

Tapwater is about 210 ppm, checked the TDS meter with a 1000ppm solution to verify that it works. Is this a nutrient deficiency? Have I been feeding too little?
I watered them with distilled water, but with added calmag 3 days ago. Soil feels dry enough to water again now.

 

[DCLXVI]

I think you have too much fertilizer causing nutrient imbalance which in turn causes an excess of one nute that locks out another one. Never just water in cal mag alone. That is very imbalanced, plus your tap water at 210ppm is probably loaded with calcium. See if you can find a local water report. Sometimes the water company will have a breakdown of what-all is in the water.

Moving forward, I would probably try and cut your tap water 50/50 with jugs of distilled water from the store. Alternately you could invest in an RO system. They run $65-150 for a decent one. I know that can seem like a big jump so mixing store bought can help.

I'd try just pH adjusted tap water mixed with distilled water until the end.

 

[kfigerm]

looks like my last round when i got ph out of balance in soil. EC 700/ppm 350 will do at this stage.
If you don't have the values of Ca,Mg and N in your water, its most likely that if you live in a big city, you'll have hard water and if you live in the mountains it may be very soft. Soft water you can start with 1:1 mit with ro/destilled with hard water I'd start at 3 (dest):1(tap) and work up.
I always add some epsom salt too, to get the balance of Ca/mg.
Ever since I do that, i never had a cal/mag problem and no waste of money. But I have to mention that there is N in the water of course, but not too much. I live where tap quality water is regulated and has controlled quality. There are only some countries where I would advise to drink water directly from the wall. And theres no chlorine in the water too - so many problems I don't have.

 

[beepboopboopbeepbop]

What does that mean for next grow? Less overall nutrients? Diluting my tap water? I dont have the Ca/ Mg/ N values for my water, not sure where to get that. I live in a suburb that gets its water from the city, I guess that makes it hard water. Never had an issue drinking from the tap, as the place I live at usually controls the quality for drinking. Gonna look at RO systems though. I'll keep diluting it for the rest of the grow.

 

[Bill.de.Cat]

Start with less, work up to a slight tip burn then back off some.....and Cal/Mag is not a cure all....don't use unless you actually need it.