Stupid fast ph drift

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flipsidesw

New Member
I have 2 plants growing in seperate water farms with air stones. I used 3 tsp foxfarms hydro grow big, 10 ml sweet, 10ml liquid karma, 2 drops super thrive, and 2 tsp of big bloom. I used this mix with 2 gallons of distilled water for each reservior. I adjusted the ph to 5.5-6.0 (not using digital meter yet). For some reason it shoots up to 6.5.-7.0 overnight. Im about to pitch this stupid thing. I just wanted some feed back before i did. Oh yea im water 30min on 3hours off. Plants are in what should be the third week but look like the second. Here some pics.

I was thinking about switching back to soil or maybe trying
a soilless mix. Any input would be greatly appreciated. If not going in the trash.!

pics in gallery
 
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Florida Girl

Florida Girl

Well-Known Member
I can totally relate!!! I think I've got it nailed down to Res temp and algae growth from not covering my Res. I run a portable A/C during the day so the room stays at between 74 - 77 degrees (res temp 73). However in the dark cycle I shut down the A/C to save on electricity. The lights usually come back on an hour or 2 before I get to the A/C to turn it on for the day so the room temp is around 85 by then... and the Res. temp at 79 degrees... and the PH skyrocketing.

I'm experimenting this week with some different ways to keep my Res. cooler and covered. The PH fluctuation is a bitch.... I guess something we all have to learn how to deal with :D
 
KAOSOWNER

KAOSOWNER

Well-Known Member
it sounds to me like your plants are eating more than they drink making ph rise, do you have a e.c meter?
 
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flipsidesw

New Member
yea its a bitch i just wish i knew it was worth is. I dont think me and the hydro farms are a good fit. I got a job and a life... Who want to have to adjust the ph 3 times a day, especially in 2 seperate reservoirs.
 
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flipsidesw

New Member
Yea i have a tds meter my total soup = 600 ppm. The only thing i can see is maybe i put my plants in too early. My other plants that i started from seed at the same time are bigger and the only get misted 2x a day. Maybe i just suck at growing pot. Or ph Is a mother fucker
 
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flipsidesw

New Member
Nope, should it? the plants are pretty small. Did you check my gallery? I appreciate any light you may be able shine my ph.
 
Florida Girl

Florida Girl

Well-Known Member
flipsidesw said:
yea its a bitch i just wish i knew it was worth is. I dont think me and the hydro farms are a good fit. I got a job and a life... Who want to have to adjust the ph 3 times a day, especially in 2 seperate reservoirs.
Click to expand...

Yep... I hear you... that's why after reading a bunch of threads here I went with the Hempy Bucket method. I'm only watering my plants once a day now that the roots have hit the bottom. It's all on a timer so I wake up... adjust the Res and then my timers feed the plants about 3 hours later. I don't worry about it climbing the rest of the day because they aren't going to be fed again till the next day. I'm pretty certain my issue is due to temp. fluctuation. Once I get the Res. temp down the PH does not fluctuate as much. I may have to purchase a Res. chiller. I can do the frozen 2 liter bottles when I'm home.... but I do travel often for work.

I know the feeling of frustration... believe me... I'm seriously giving some thought to going SOIL with the next grow.
 
KAOSOWNER

KAOSOWNER

Well-Known Member
well if the plants eat more than they drink you would expect ph to rise abit and ppm's to lower, and if the plant drinks more than it is eating than your ph should lower abit and ppm's should rise. If everything is constant than plant is eating as much as it is drinking. over time ph tends to rise abit naturally i believe but not really more than a point or two. are you using litmus paper or the solution with chart to check ph since no meter? what are you using for ph down?
 
daddychrisg

daddychrisg

Well-Known Member
I would not put an ORGANIC fertilizer in a drip system...Switch to GH 3 part and I bet your troubles will be decrease...
 
daddychrisg

daddychrisg

Well-Known Member
I have only a year of farming under my belt so, I don't claim to be an expert! But with my experience and understanding how fertilizers work, I stick to Chem. Nutes. Organic nutes tend to have a wandering PH due to the "organic" material that was used to create the fertilizer. On the other hand chemical nutes are generally buffered, that meaning stable, and are derived from salts. I have tried to use tea's and such in my op. but all I get is nasty build up and PH fluctuations...So there is my two cents! GL and stick to General Hydroponics 3 part nutes, it is simple relatively cheap, and gives you a good understanding on what the plants need during different phases of growth..Keep it simple, at least for awhile...
 
Florida Girl

Florida Girl

Well-Known Member
daddychrisg said:
I have only a year of farming under my belt so, I don't claim to be an expert! But with my experience and understanding how fertilizers work, I stick to Chem. Nutes. Organic nutes tend to have a wandering PH due to the "organic" material that was used to create the fertilizer. On the other hand chemical nutes are generally buffered, that meaning stable, and are derived from salts.
Click to expand...

Good information... thanks for sharing. +Rep to you! Being new to growing I'm learning as I go. I'm currently using organic nutes so this could be a contributing factor based on what you said. I don't want to waste good money I've spent on them so I'll stick it out through this first grow.

I have already purchased chem nutes for my next grow so I'll see if that does indeed make things a little better.

Thanks again
 
M

massbaster

Well-Known Member
flipsidesw said:
yea its a bitch i just wish i knew it was worth is. I dont think me and the hydro farms are a good fit. I got a job and a life... Who want to have to adjust the ph 3 times a day, especially in 2 seperate reservoirs.
Click to expand...

try the General Hydroponics stuff. the 3 bank formula tends to hit the correct Ph everytime i mix it up.

it is so consistent that i rarely check it cause every time i do it is right on.

i just need to have more patience and let my buds grow before i try to bloom them hard. doh
 
daddychrisg

daddychrisg

Well-Known Member
Good information... thanks for sharing. +Rep to you! Being new to growing I'm learning as I go. I'm currently using organic nutes so this could be a contributing factor based on what you said. I don't want to waste good money I've spent on them so I'll stick it out through this first grow.

I have already purchased chem nutes for my next grow so I'll see if that does indeed make things a little better.

Thanks again

I think you will be very happy, and have time to worry about other things besides what your PH has fluctuated to after you use up the nutes that you don't want to waste..I also use H2O2 to keep things running clean... I think if you really want to use organic nutes, you have to use a medium that you can feed in a drain to waste program..If you go hydro, the name of the game is how to keep your system clean...Thanks for the Rep. if you have other questions or concerns feel free to PM me, I will always give you my opinion! Happy growing!

 
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flipsidesw

New Member
will my weed still taste good tho. I ve grown in soil before and the taste was unbeatable but i thought if i was using organics in a hydro it would give me similar taste as soil. What do you think about the lucas system for gh nutes?
 
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massbaster

Well-Known Member
flipsidesw said:
will my weed still taste good tho. I ve grown in soil before and the taste was unbeatable but i thought if i was using organics in a hydro it would give me similar taste as soil. What do you think about the lucas system for gh nutes?
Click to expand...
i believe the taste is based on strain.

if you dont flush with clean water on a hydro system prior to harvest then yes your weed will taste different. maybe soapy.

not sure why that would not hold true with soil.

never seen the lucas system but i use a AG/dwc and the GH nutes are cheap, easy and ph right every time. i go check out lucas.

i like cheap and easy :mrgreen: :hump:


so i check out. not sure what GH i using but i have a picture of the three bottles as well as my HYGROZYME

i tried soil nutes in hydro and it did not work. hydro nutes for hydro work. soil nutes for soil works. why change it?

zoom the picture to see N-P-K concentrations.
 

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MickFoster

MickFoster

Well-Known Member
I assume you have hydroton as a medium in your waterfarms? (make sure you rinse it well) Everytime I start a grow in a waterfarm I get pH drift overnite at the beginning then after a week or so it straightens out. I asked the same question a few years ago - suspecting that the hydroton had something to do with it and was told that it was inert and didn't effect the pH - BS! I put pH adjusted water in one jar with hydroton and pH adjusted water alone in another jar - by morning the pH in the one with the hydroton had rose a point and the other jar was still stable. Your pH will straighten out eventually (assuming you are using pH stable nutes) - don't worry about it. Also - waterfarms are designed to be on all the time - it not only drips but it also aerates the water in the rez. I also run an additional airstone in each rez for more oxygen. Hope that helps.
 
daddychrisg

daddychrisg

Well-Known Member
I assume you have hydroton as a medium in your waterfarms? (make sure you rinse it well) Everytime I start a grow in a waterfarm I get pH drift overnite at the beginning then after a week or so it straightens out. I asked the same question a few years ago - suspecting that the hydroton had something to do with it and was told that it was inert and didn't effect the pH - BS! I put pH adjusted water in one jar with hydroton and pH adjusted water alone in another jar - by morning the pH in the one with the hydroton had rose a point and the other jar was still stable. Your pH will straighten out eventually (assuming you are using pH stable nutes) - don't worry about it. Also - waterfarms are designed to be on all the time - it not only drips but it also aerates the water in the rez. I also run an additional airstone in each rez for more oxygen. Hope that helps.

Good stuff....
 
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