Adjusting PH

Fman

I have to adjust my PH after every feeding. Ive been checking my PH about 5 min BEFORE the feeding starts, which I think gives me a reading from the last feeding. Any way its always a little high. I add som PH down everything is good, then I let them feed. a few hours later when I check the PH again its back up. I dont have a meter I use drops , and keep going from orange-yellow to light green Is adjusting this much normal? Im using RO water and GH flora nova.

tokecrazy

Hey Fman,I use the GH 3-part in my cab.You are using R/O water,are you adding Cal-Mag+ to your nutr? What kind of a system and medium are you using.I fine with rockwool the PH dose rise on you.The last time that happen to me I dump the res and started fresh.On res change check your pump filter and clean it.Sometimes the salt build up can cause the PH to raise.How far into the grow are they?Save some beans and get a PH pen,I have the oakton and I'am happy with it.PH pens are a must in hydro.Need more just hollar. Peace

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Fman

Toke --Cal-Mag no I dont think I have to with the nova stuff. There is some in the nova grow already. Im using 1" rockwool in hydrotron in 3"net cups. The plants are 6 weeks old. I water with a drip system 4times a day for 15 min. The drippers are 2gph. Sat. was nute change day and I did all that clean-up stuff.

Fman

Oh yea my tank is only 10 gal and there are 5 plants 6 weeks old and 3 clones 3 1/2 weeks old 8 total

Pappy

I'm not a hydro guy, but it seems that if your reservoir is only 10 gal., the pH will fluctuate quite quickly, as the plants take up water and nutrients. Do you have room for a larger res?

Pappy

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Fman

Yes I think I can get a taller tote in THAT space. I have had that same thought. I accually started a thread at a different site asking about reservior size. Didnt get many answers. Last night I did some research and Im sure I no what is wrong. Saturday when I did the clean and nute change, I didnt mix enough nuts into the water. So I added somemore. so far the ph is holding. My plants are feeding right now so Ill check the runoff in about 10 min.

green_nobody

first, water it self is not a pH stable liquid at all. second, by learning from some others here that have way more knowledge on hydro i learned that is actually beneficial to let the pH fluctuate a bit as not all nutrients are available at a average point as in a soil grow.


By having it fluctuate between 5.5 and 6.5 you make everything available and stay sane as you not readjusting the pH like crazy all day long.

besides, if you want to go on with growing your own herb it will be very beneficial to get at least a pH meter and if possible for you also an EC/PPM meter. i know they look pricey but the hassle they cut is worth the money - and even a simple pH meter will be a big step. and of cause they need some maintenance it only takes a second to do it and a drop of solution and the meter hold their calibration for very long period. with the paper strips you have to guess the color right and with dripping kits you have to be super exact on everything or it really doesn't matter to pH at all... and if you check that a brand pH meter can be bought for about 20 bucks online and will last you will probably agree with me that it is a nice thing to have.

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Fman

I guess meters are going to be next on the buy list. Like I said Im pretty sure it was operator error- not enough nutes when I changed and cleaned everything this weekend. Up until then the ph stayed somewhat stable, but if I had a tds or ec meter Id have known that right away that I was short on nutes. (among other things)

tokecrazy

Hey Fman Sounds like you a old stoner like me.You are running a drip system,how much dose it take from the res at feeding time.do you top off with nutr mix? Pappy is right,you do need a bigger res.It will stay stable longer and much easyer to run.In your case you would be able go 14 days between res changes.If you havent had a cal-mag problem by now you most likely wont. 6 plants on one 10 gal res is alot.They will drink more water and nutr when they start flower out good.Glad you got your PH fixed.Check you later Peace

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Anything I may say or do is stickly for entertainment only.This is all make believe and is not To believe by me or anyone

Fman

Old --55, stoner- started in the summer of love "68" .I do a nuet change every 2 weeks. What would a cal mag problem look like? I can increase my tank to 14 gal. so I will. Thanks.