how to lower pH from tap water? - GreenPassion.org - Dedicated to Medicinal Cannabis Cultivation and Education

geegee2 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 09:15 AM

Hi all

Been grwing to autos (Snowryders) on soil. I always thought they were doing fine until it became time for blooming nutes. When I gave them those, they just went so alive and nice! It was incredible to see!

Thing is a day after the first blooming session, I received my PH pen and I measured the tap water, and it is on 8! about 7,7 if I let it rest for a day. I also measured the water with the bloom nutes, and the PH was around 7, so I think that they were thriving on the good PH and not the bloom nutes!!

So, how can I lower that PH if I weren't going to rely on the bloom nutes to lower the PH? Just add a tap of vinegar or something?

Thanks and peace!

SmokeToLive · #2 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 09:30 AM

I use PH Up/Down that I bought from a hydro store online, but there are other ways:

ph minus

Zigzagman · #3 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 09:50 AM

You're getting there... In soil you want to shoot for 6.2 to 6.8 ph. Decant the water for 24 hours and then check the ph before you adjust it. Your correct that the nutes tend to lower the ph also. Are they getting straight water every other feeding? If so, then you might need to use r/o water or a ph down to get to your number. Good luck...

SomeDude · #4 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 10:02 AM

vinegar or battery acid works good for lowering ph

geegee2 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 05:39 PM

Thank you all!

STL, thanks for the link! It's proven quite good. Didn't know that you could actually use lemons to reduce the PH!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zigzagman

You're getting there... In soil you want to shoot for 6.2 to 6.8 ph. Decant the water for 24 hours and then check the ph before you adjust it. Your correct that the nutes tend to lower the ph also. Are they getting straight water every other feeding? If so, then you might need to use r/o water or a ph down to get to your number. Good luck...

Zig, thanks for the info. For watering, I'm using the "feel the weight of the pot" method. That way I'm watering about every 3 days. So, I've used the bloom nutes twice in a row; is this ok? mean, should I let them go without nutes for a watering or should I just keep on with the nutes every single time I water? The concentration is on the light side, since I don't want to overdo it..

Some dude, I think I'll go for the vinegar option. just add and monitor until I reach around 6.5??

Thanks again to you all!

sabasi · #6 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 06:15 PM

Great tips for this lil problem! I only have the strips that you pull of and dunk for a sec. Not very accurate but with time i'm getting it closer I think. I let my tap water sit out for a couple day and I use Fox Farm Bloom which tends to lower it a tad. If I ever get around to getting a fancy accurate ph meter one day, all this info will make more sense I'm sure lol Lemon juice...taking notes lol Thanks!

tokecrazy · #7 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 06:21 PM

Watering in soil ,they water with plain water dry out, plain water dry out,water with nutr.Every 3rd watering with nutr. Peace

geegee2 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 06:44 PM

Hi Sabasi! Yeap those little strips will get the job done; only if you fancy getting a little bit more high tech then the pen actually does give you more control over the whole process..

Thanks toke.. So I am definitely overdoping them with the bloom.. huummmm... I'll see to it!

sabasi · #9 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tokecrazy

Watering in soil ,they water with plain water dry out, plain water dry out,water with nutr.Every 3rd watering with nutr. Peace

Oh geeze, once again I been doing it all wrong! LMAO I feed every 2 days, just a lil tho! When am I ever gonna get this watering/feeding thing down?? LOL

geegee2 · #10 (**permalink**) 10-26-2009, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sabasi

Oh geeze, once again I been doing it all wrong! LMAO I feed every 2 days, just a lil tho! When am I ever gonna get this watering/feeding thing down?? LOL

Hehehe my heart is with you haha learning all the way!!!

Last question, I think. Is it Ok to water before the lights go off (20-4, since those are autos)? Logic says no, but they seems to be on the dry side!

Thanks!!

4maggio · #11 (**permalink**) 10-27-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geegee2

Hi all

Been grwing to autos (Snowryders) on soil. I always thought they were doing fine until it became time for blooming nutes. When I gave them those, they just went so alive and nice! It was incredible to see!

Thing is a day after the first blooming session, I received my PH pen and I measured the tap water, and it is on 8! about 7,7 if I let it rest for a day. I also measured the water with the bloom nutes, and the PH was around 7, so I think that they were thriving on the good PH and not the bloom nutes!!

So, how can I lower that PH if I weren't going to rely on the bloom nutes to lower the PH? Just add a tap of vinegar or something?

Thanks and peace!

High GG..

I've started using the AC runoff.. It comes n at 4.8 ph and 30 ppms. In DWC, I take out some (1-2 gallons) of rez juice and put back the AC run off. It will take a few goes b4 you know how much drops ph so much... depends on rez size.

Some worry about PPMs in AC run off??

Feezle · #12 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 02:57 AM

GG2: You'll get it figured out.

Personally I use vinegar to regulate PH, as I'm on a budget. 2 capfuls per gallon takes me to a 6.5 - 6.6 everytime using plain ol' tap water. I test also for chlorine, but our water doesn't seem to have measurable quantities. That's good. And yep, I generally containerize and PH my water a day before I go down to water/feed.

I think most growers who have been around a while will tell you that the average new grower does 1 of 3 things that will surely spell a failure in the end. My bets are on #1 below being the culprit in the LARGE majority of failed grows.

1) Overwater - regardless of how fervently we pray to our medicinal plant, it is still a weed. It does not, at least early on, require a hugh amount of water to sustain itself. Again, it is a weed. Overwater them and I say unto yousems that your plant will never be fruitful. Period. Water well every 4th day and if you don't over-fertilize, you will be on the smokem' road soon. I have a number in flower right now, and even under a 1000 watt HPS 15" from their tops, I water every 4th day and they give me buds as in the pic below.

2) Lack of sufficient air movement/ventilation. If they don't respirate they die. Bye.

3) Lack of light. Sorry if this is not in agreement with others opinions, but give them as much light as possible once they root. Certainly you may have to figure out how to deal with heat depending on your light source. That is a given, that if you are not willing to deal with, well, you shouldn't oughta' be growin. Yes there are all the differences in opinion on lighting ..... bottom line .... without a crap load of light your plants WILL NOT reach their potential. We all have different budgets ... I have a low budget right now, got lucky, came into the 1000 Watt HPS for almost nothing ... but if I had to grow under CFL (I did so for some months) or Fluoro tubes (I veg under both) I would be pumping as much fluoro as my mini-budget would allow.

Your grow will almost surely be successful if you do the following:

As you are aware - PH your water everytime you water or feed.

Either feed or water only every 4th day.

Do not over fert - instead, force yourself to under-fert.

Everytime you water or feed - use molasses - IMHO

Go buy some fans - whatever you can afford and fill your grow with them.

Get the heat out.

Buy the maximum light (lumens) you can possibly afford.

*** The number two thing you can do to ensure a successful grow -- READ ***

*** The number one thing you can do to ensure a successful grow ----- keep growing and growing and growing and you're sure to get it right.

So go grow something !!!!

Feez

coremaster b · #13 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 10:16 AM

just new too this but i am very interested in anybodys led grow as iam two weeks into my own and things seem to be working ok any tips with led would be great thanks

coremaster b · #14 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 10:23 AM

ps. i am useing 20 light 4 dark these cutings came from 18 on 6 off hps i have heard led light hours differ from normal hps or hid.

4maggio · #15 (**permalink**) 10-28-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coremaster b

ps. i am useing 20 light 4 dark these cutings came from 18 on 6 off hps i have heard led light hours differ from normal hps or hid.

High coremaster.. I grow HID but

try looking here.. if you haven't found it yet.. http://www.greenpassion.org/f75/

LED section under INDOOR GROWING..

Good luck

geegee2 · #16 (**permalink**) 10-29-2009, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Feezle

GG2: You'll get it figured out.

Personally I use vinegar to regulate PH, as I'm on a budget. 2 capfuls per gallon takes me to a 6.5 - 6.6 everytime using plain ol' tap water. I test also for chlorine, but our water doesn't seem to have measurable quantities. That's good. And yep, I generally containerize and PH my water a day before I go down to water/feed.

I think most growers who have been around a while will tell you that the average new grower does 1 of 3 things that will surely spell a failure in the end. My bets are on #1 below being the culprit in the LARGE majority of failed grows.

1) Overwater - regardless of how fervently we pray to our medicinal plant, it is still a weed. It does not, at least early on, require a hugh amount of water to sustain itself. Again, it is a weed. Overwater them and I say unto yousems that your plant will never be fruitful. Period. Water well every 4th day and if you don't over-fertilize, you will be on the smokem' road soon. I have a number in flower right now, and even under a 1000 watt HPS 15" from their tops, I water every 4th day and they give me buds as in the pic below.

2) Lack of sufficient air movement/ventilation. If they don't respirate they die. Bye.

3) Lack of light. Sorry if this is not in agreement with others opinions, but give them as much light as possible once they root. Certainly you may have to figure out how to deal with heat depending on your light source. That is a given, that if you are not willing to deal with, well, you shouldn't oughta' be growin. Yes there are all the differences in opinion on lighting ..... bottom line .... without a crap load of light your plants WILL NOT reach their potential. We all have different budgets ... I have a low budget right now, got lucky, came into the 1000 Watt HPS for almost nothing ... but if I had to grow under CFL (I did so for some months) or Fluoro tubes (I veg under both) I would be pumping as much fluoro as my mini-budget would allow.

Your grow will almost surely be successful if you do the following:

As you are aware - PH your water everytime you water or feed.

Either feed or water only every 4th day.

Do not over fert - instead, force yourself to under-fert.

Everytime you water or feed - use molasses - IMHO

Go buy some fans - whatever you can afford and fill your grow with them.

Get the heat out.

Buy the maximum light (lumens) you can possibly afford.

*** The number two thing you can do to ensure a successful grow -- READ ***

*** The number one thing you can do to ensure a successful grow ----- keep growing and growing and growing and you're sure to get it right.

So go grow something !!!!

Feez

Thanks a lot!!! some very good info in your post!!
I totally agree on the light issue. I have a 250CFL running, and it just doesn't have enough penetration for the lower branches/leafs, so I had to supplement with 4x30W CFL's just for side light/lower canopy part. I will give them as much light as possible so that I may worry about the other things.. And this al adds up to having a fan blowing constantly!

By the moment, I've used vinegar to lower the PH to 6.5. I'm eager to get the ph down solution rather than the vinegar after researching the options on this post , because it contains Phosphorous, so I guess my girls will like that.

BTW, just gave them ph'd water (vinegar)... they seem to be drying much faster than they used to...

Thanks a lot to everyone for the input!

Feezle · #17 (**permalink**) 10-30-2009, 06:30 AM

GG,
I absolutely agree with your going with "PH Down", If I could afford it I would. I put my money into lighting and ventilation. I'm not at all sure why your plants would be drying any faster (I assume you mean the soil), but perhaps they are able to uptake at a greater rate with proper water/soil PH.

Regards

FEEZ

geegee2 · #18 (**permalink**) 10-30-2009, 07:05 AM

You got me Fee.. soil is drying faster, they just get limpy when that happens!! I guess it does indeed have to do with intake at the proper PH.

Thanks again!

!