Automating pH / remote pH monitor

I'm looking for ideas to remotely manage / monitor pH in my tank. I'm currently using a 160L tank and having to add pH down each day.

Every 24 hours the pH rises from 5.5 to 6.5 which I'm fine with (EC stays the same), however it's a 30 minute drive to my grow room each day, which I'd like to avoid if possible.

I currently run an ip-based camera system in the grow room and I'm wondering if there's a remote pH meter I can use to monitor and build some sort of remote system to add a small of pH.

If I could run something, then I'd only need to check the grow room a couple of times a week. Any ideas welcome!

Dude! Thank you! That is perfect. Now I can just check on my plants via my camera and visit once or twice a week.

Automation way is a expensive route - just interested what acid do you use for lowering PH?

Because change of 1 on PH chart in 24 hours isn't good - at all.

I'm using phosphoric acid. 3ml in the 160L reservoir beings it down from 6.5 to 5.5.

I do have 3 airstones in there which I read somewhere can increase pH.

Strange... I have a 150L tank and 30-70L of water in system (depending on a system) so 180-220L and it's so stable it changes 0.2 PH in 7-8 days (in winter and summer).... Try different acids - maybe sulfuric (it doesn't change "NPK ratio") and it's a nutrient that plants absorb as needed with no complementary nutrients

The plants are thriving and 3 weeks in to flowering. I'm feeding them every 2 hours (flood and drain) during the 12 hours light and once in the dark.

OK. Cool. Not sure if I can get sulfuric acid. How about using hydrochloric acid? I can get that here very easily,

No, don't use HCl, Cl is not a welcoming nutrient that you plants need

Try to use/mix nitric, phosphoric, sulfuric (and find out what one works with you nutrient best)

On that said, nitric and phosphoric will change you "NPK ratio" and sulfuric will not.

A lot of problems arises from poor fertilizers but that is a different topic.

You could always go a PH controller route but its about 400-500€ (quality equipment) / system

OK. Thanks. I'll go on the hunt and see what I can find. I'm using Ionic nutrients at the moment with rain water. However, a load of Hesi nutrients has arrived, so maybe it's more stable with them?

Justin Freidman said:

OK. Thanks. I'll go on the hunt and see what I can find. I'm using Ionic nutrients at the moment with rain water. However, a load of Hesi nutrients has arrived, so maybe it's more stable with them?

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I'm in Europe so we have some different stuff...
But when I was researching few years ago i saw a good ("user friendly company") that builds upon a good concept of salt nutrients with solid feeding tables:

http://npk-industries.com/nutrients_bio_stimulants.html
http://npk-industries.com/nutrients_bio_stimulants.html
I use the same concept but mix my own ratios and buy in bulk from HAIFA CHEMICALS (25-50kg bags that last 2+ years)

And than you get what I spoke in first post - stable PH - much stable than liquid fertilizers (I tried HESI, GHE, AN, Platinium nutrients)

I wish you the best luck with you PH

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it. I'm not to concerned about the ph rising as 5.5-6.5 covers a nice spectrum for absorption. It's having to make the trip each day to adjust.

I was thinking for my next grow to use a 320L reservoir.

I'll certainly try some different acids.

Justin Freidman said:

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it. I'm not to concerned about the ph rising as 5.5-6.5 covers a nice spectrum for absorption. It's having to make the trip each day to adjust.

I was thinking for my next grow to use a 320L reservoir.

I'll certainly try some different acids.

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You may want to try and solve the issue before u throw money at it. I had the same issue and it took a bit but a combination of different nutes and got rid of stones, I now use water pumps to add DO which did seem to help. I switched to house and garden, then to a cheaper knock off mixed locally. It also may be the rain water effecting it as well.

I'm just waiting for the filtration system for our well to go in. So will try a few different combinations of nutrients and the filtered well water.

I guess I could always remove the airstones. I was running them because my water was at 27 degrees C, but the new aircon is working great and it's down to 22, so I don't need to worry about the water being warm enough for root rot. I was trying to prevent any chance with highly oxygenated water.

Justin Freidman said:

I'm just waiting for the filtration system for our well to go in. So will try a few different combinations of nutrients and the filtered well water.

I guess I could always remove the airstones. I was running them because my water was at 27 degrees C, but the new aircon is working great and it's down to 22, so I don't need to worry about the water being warm enough for root rot. I was trying to prevent any chance with highly oxygenated water.

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Yes root rot is a conern. not sure of your setup but typically the air adds heat as well. I have a pump in res that shoots a stream of water up and against the lid, it creates a massive rain storm in there LOL. If running hydro my thoughts and experience is, if u want to get the most out of your effort then chill the water, I resisted for a few years and now know it was a fools folly .

I'm running in an aircon room, so the air being pumped through the water is cold.

Chill the water eh? That sounds interesting. Another little project...

Budley Doright said:

Yes root rot is a conern. not sure of your setup but typically the air adds heat as well. I have a pump in res that shoots a stream of water up and against the lid, it creates a massive rain storm in there LOL. If running hydro my thoughts and experience is, if u want to get the most out of your effort then chill the water, I resisted for a few years and now know it was a fools folly .

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If you are in basement or underground without thermal insulation (on the floor) than you can cool your reservoir just by placing it on the cold concrete floor. I usually get about -3'C to -5'C than ambient temperature

I'm running in an extremely hot country, average outdoor temps are 35 degrees C. I have to run an aircon in the grow room which keeps the temp in the room at 23 degrees C (Humidity 50%)

I'm going to use a water chiller for drinking water and modify it so I can run a water loop through the reservoir. I'd be happy to drop the water down to 20 degrees C. I love DIY projects.

Justin Freidman said:

I'm running in an extremely hot country, average outdoor temps are 35 degrees C. I have to run an aircon in the grow room which keeps the temp in the room at 23 degrees C (Humidity 50%)

I'm going to use a water chiller for drinking water and modify it so I can run a water loop through the reservoir. I'd be happy to drop the water down to 20 degrees C. I love DIY projects.

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Let me know how it works out, I have one sitting waiting to be converted be very careful if bending any pipes .... trust me lol.

KryptoBud said:

http://www.supplymylab.com/Instruments/meters-pH/_/pH-Controller-and-Pump?=&q=MP810&gclid=CIimlJGbxtECFQOHswod8DgLTQ

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Nice find. I was about to say check smartbee

Budley Doright said:

Let me know how it works out, I have one sitting waiting to be converted be very careful if bending any pipes .... trust me lol.

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Will do!