Is this true/correct? Read it on a different forum.

[rkymtnman]

but for us lesser mortals they should only be used for short breaks of a few days to a week.

agreed. i like that i can leave for a week and not worry but it is nice to be home to double check on the plants just to make sure all is ok. i just found a good nute recipe that is pH stable and didn't have to worry about the auto doser.

 

[fartoblue]

i just found a good nute recipe that is pH stable and didn't have to worry about the auto doser.

Spill the beans then RKY

 

[rkymtnman]

Spill the beans then RKY

well the real secret which wouldn't really apply to your setup is drain to waste. my setup gets a fresh batch of correct pH nutes every day.

and it's just maxibloom, bioag cytoplus, armor Si, and southern ag. cal/mg if needed.

 

[athomegrowing]

Well, I was walking to work today in the rain dreaming of blue skies and sandy beaches whilst my automatic Ph adjuster takes care of everything while I am away. I then got to thinking about this gadget's practicality for long term use.

Whilst I do think these machines are a fantastic idea for short breaks, I am not to sure they would be ideal for long term continuous use. Going back to old school growing and not relying to much on technology if I have a dramatic Ph drop/increase I want to know about it as it is telling me I have a problem somewhere and I need to do something about it. The Ph controller would just mask the problem ( a bit like when you go to the doctors and they give you a bag full of pills). Maybe for a seasoned, experienced hydro grower who really has his system dialed in they would be a great labour and time saving device, but for us lesser mortals they should only be used for short breaks of a few days to a week.

I do still have a Ph controller on my Christmas list but as I run a perpetual grow I will need at least two of these machines so my wife had better start saving now.

If you haven't learned how to grow properly, don't waste your time dreaming about automation.

 

[fartoblue]

If you haven't learned how to grow properly, don't waste your time dreaming about automation.

True I have yet to learn the ins and outs of RDWC but summer is a few months away yet and I am a very quick learner. It's hard to take a week out without some kind of automation.

 

[2com]

if I have a dramatic Ph drop/increase I want to know about it as it is telling me I have a problem somewhere and I need to do something about it. The Ph controller would just mask the problem ( a bit like when you go to the doctors and they give you a bag full of pills).

One of the concerns I had too.

 

[Renfro]

If the pH doser has a log then you could see the change in dosing frequency.

 

[SuperiorBuds]

I've been testing the Torus Hydro unit in my reservoir for just over a week now. I used to get a 0.1 drift upwards every few days but since I dropped the Torus into the res I have been stable at 5.8 - 6.0. It does drift up and down slightly, but stays within the acceptable range. A lot cheaper then an auto-doser and no worries of failure.

 

[2com]

I've been testing the Torus Hydro unit in my reservoir for just over a week now. I used to get a 0.1 drift upwards every few days but since I dropped the Torus into the res I have been stable at 5.8 - 6.0. It does drift up and down slightly, but stays within the acceptable range. A lot cheaper then an auto-doser and no worries of failure.

This message brought to you buy - Torus Hydro. Search the internet to find out what it is today!

 

[Keesje]

This message brought to you buy - Torus Hydro. Search the internet to find out what it is today!

Could you please explain what you mean with this?
I know it is an old topic.

I've been testing the Torus Hydro unit in my reservoir for just over a week now. I used to get a 0.1 drift upwards every few days but since I dropped the Torus into the res I have been stable at 5.8 - 6.0. It does drift up and down slightly, but stays within the acceptable range. A lot cheaper then an auto-doser and no worries of failure.

Are you still using it?
There are not that many reviews about it.

 

[SuperiorBuds]

Could you please explain what you mean with this?

I ignored him, sounds like he believes I'm shilling for a product, even though you can see the data yourself in real time on my Twitch stream. I paid for the product just like everyone else, I pay for the recharge solution, I don't have a discount code or coupon for them -- I simply use the product and believe in it.

Are you still using it?
There are not that many reviews about it.

Yes, I've ran it through 3 grows now, recharging between each one. (I use the 70g model in a 35g reservoir.) I am in the middle of a reset as I prepare to switch to perpetual in my flower room, so I will really be able to see how long I can push it between recharges. Perfect pH, perfect drift, zero maintenance, and no new points of failure (dosers).

Search the internet to find out what it is today!

So that you can actually add to the conversation, let me explain what it is.

The Torus Hydro uses ion exchange resins, the same thing that stuff that waste-water treatment plants use. It's called AmberLite Ion Exchange Resins from DuPont and has decades of proven use. You can purchase it yourself and make your own Torus Hydro much cheaper -- if you're willing to buy the resin by the pallet. (We researched this around 3 years ago on OG, before the Torus Hydro was even released.)

Ion exchange has been around for a long time (1850 or so according to a quick search). This is not some crazy snake oil someone is trying to peddle to cannabis growers, it's just packaging something for the consumer that has only been available to industry up to now.

 

[Keesje]

I totally agree that this concept works.
I was made aware of it by the site of Dr. Daniel Fernandez.
He did not talk about the Torus at that time, but about the use of the resins, especially Amberlite CG50.
There is enough scientific supports for this.

What I was wondering, though, is whether the Torus had enough resins, or if the device doesn't fall apart.
And how often you have to recharge it.

I was also looking in buying the resins, but it is not easy.
Or - as you say - if you buy large quantities.
I am afraid though that the resin pearls, will be extremely small. Too small for a mesh in an inline filter.

I found Seplite MC290 which is similar to Amberlite CG50.
The particles are about 0.3 - 1.2 mm.
That sounds ok.
The price is about $ 350 for a liter. Which will be around a kilo. (I don't understand the difference between 'bulk density' and 'density' on their page)

 

[2com]

Could you please explain what you mean with this?
I know it is an old topic.

Sure, the guy's delivery sounded like a commercial or sales pitch. He didn't even describe what it was, though it's obvious it's a pH "controlling" product. So I made a joke, referring to both these things. That's all.

So that you can actually add to the conversation,

There was no conversation, you made your post, I made a joke about it, you "ignored" it. No problem. The conversation is now between you and Keesje, right? I didn't claim to have "something to add", other than the attempt at humor, but you left some room for that. Which is why you're now explaining to Keesje.

let me explain what it is.

Perfect, I guess now you have the opportunity to add what was "missing", and explain in further detail for Keesje.
Enjoy.

 

[Kassiopeija]

Most people assume that with a rising EC, it is the plants way of saying, I don't want more food, here, have some back.

What is actually happening is this.

Plants roots take in water/nutrients through a process called Osmosis. Effectively, if you think in terms of the roots having their own internal EC.
The osmosis process will always try to balance out the EC's, taking from the higher side of the barrier and giving to the lower part.

So if the EC of the nutrient solution is higher than the "internal EC", then food & water will flow from the solution to the roots, this is the normal process.
"If however, the EC of the solution is lower than the "internal EC", then the balancing will work the other way and nutrition will be leeched from the roots to the solution. "
A res change or increase in EC should resolve depending on the other factors such as ph and water levels.

hmm this doesn't ring well... a plant's internal EC is usually higher (when at the norm) than the water in the rhizosphere... plants roots are able to synthesize special "salty proteins" which do that job for them in order to attract water IN (through osmosis) - and this results in the osmotic root pressure.

only when one does heavily overfeed a plant you'll reverse that process by excess salinity - then roots cannot drink anymore and the plants growth is stunted greatly and will die if not flushed. one effect this has is the visible "clawing" of topleaves.

but this is how a plant behaves in its natural habitate and hydro may change alot. I think there you're looking at different feeding cycles which affect accessability to certain minerals, and you can also measure the amount of "excretes" (=the amount of ions which the roots released back to discard them) or "secretes" as exchange-ions; and witness pH changes depending on the plants feeding strategy.

 

[DaFreak]

If this was true than the flushing people would be right about that aspect of the argument but I was always under the believe that it didn't work in reverse like that. I have never had a situation where the water level was the same and the EC rose though.

 

[Kassiopeija]

If this was true than the flushing people would be right about that aspect of the argument but I was always under the believe that it didn't work in reverse like that. I have never had a situation where the water level was the same and the EC rose though.

There are many grow-reports available (here & elsewhere) of EC risings, plus this chart

actually gives evidence of a rising EC. ("plant is drinking more than eating")

This is the result of selective ionic transport - we had that discussion prior - remember. Ion-channels, ion-pumps & carriers are actively transporting nute molecules into the plant (and back out of it)

Secondly, the way how roots properly work can be re-read in any basic book on plant physiology. It's not like we need to speculate about these things... and I would be very happy to take a few shots from my college-books but they're in german so you won't be able to decypher it...

but maybe give this guide some time?:

Hydroponic Nutrient Science | Manic Botanix

The big read. Integral Hydroponics Evolution @ 2016. 100 A4 pages on hydroponic nutrient science. Undoubtedly the most culturally appropriate and informative material about hydroponic nutrient science…

medteknutrients.com.au

it's really informative & on spot

Greetings

 

[DaFreak]

That doesn’t say plants dumping nutrients back into the solution.

my above post was not in response to you, it was to the ops first post.

 

[fartoblue]

There are many grow-reports available (here & elsewhere) of EC risings, plus this chart
View attachment 4643932
actually gives evidence of a rising EC. ("plant is drinking more than eating")

This is the result of selective ionic transport - we had that discussion prior - remember. Ion-channels, ion-pumps & carriers are actively transporting nute molecules into the plant (and back out of it)

Secondly, the way how roots properly work can be re-read in any basic book on plant physiology. It's not like we need to speculate about these things... and I would be very happy to take a few shots from my college-books but they're in german so you won't be able to decypher it...

but maybe give this guide some time?:

Hydroponic Nutrient Science | Manic Botanix

The big read. Integral Hydroponics Evolution @ 2016. 100 A4 pages on hydroponic nutrient science. Undoubtedly the most culturally appropriate and informative material about hydroponic nutrient science…

medteknutrients.com.au

it's really informative & on spot

Greetings

Gosh that Med-Tec article looks interesting but it is going to take some reading, many thanks.

 

[Keesje]

Yes, I've ran it through 3 grows now, recharging between each one. (I use the 70g model in a 35g reservoir.) I am in the middle of a reset as I prepare to switch to perpetual in my flower room, so I will really be able to see how long I can push it between recharges. Perfect pH, perfect drift, zero maintenance, and no new points of failure (dosers).

Did you have the 'normal' capsule, or the inline filter one?

 

[SuperiorBuds]

Did you have the 'normal' capsule, or the inline filter one?

I used the drop-in model. The in-line is just a container that holds the drop-in model in place for the flow, so they're technically the same.

When I originally tested this I wasn't sure it was going to work, so I didn't want to modify my feed manifold for an in-line unit that I might want to remove later on.