The Ph range is going to be too high for the plant, it won't be able to absorb nutrients in that range. Ideally with soil, you want it around 6.3. Adjusting that will be important.
Some people will buy a special meter to measure the Ph, anywhere from $100 to $30 or other people will use a special drop / color system which cost around $10.
General Hydroponics makes that kit and they also sell Ph UP or Ph DOWN adjusters, usually $10 a bottle.
PPM stands for part per million and what that is measuring is the TDS (total dissolved solids) in your water / nutrients. Basically it tells you too much food or not enough food in there.