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DWC PH issues: Ph dropping like a rock - Please help
- Thread starter JohnC
- Start date
OK, so I went to my supermarket to buy some fresh water. What a surprise this has turned out to be. The "RO" water I have been buying tested to a PPM of 220 and a PH or 6.9. These are not the values I would expect from RO water, which should have a PPM of 0.
So now what do I do? If the supermarket water is not what it is claimed to be, do I just use tap water (PPM = 180, PH = 8.5) and stop wasting money on store-bought water?
This doesn't explain why my PH is dropping so much each night, but I do have to wonder about this water I'm using.
So now what do I do? If the supermarket water is not what it is claimed to be, do I just use tap water (PPM = 180, PH = 8.5) and stop wasting money on store-bought water?
This doesn't explain why my PH is dropping so much each night, but I do have to wonder about this water I'm using.
I use tap water. Run, add nutes, shaken not stirred, add to the WaterFarm. No rest from running it into the gallon jug, adding nutes and pouring over the clay balls.
Unless you have some wonky tap water, give it a try.
I haven't consumed the stuff personally since the mid '70's, but it seems to work really well for my girls.
That is a bit weird that your RO grocery store water has PPM of 220. that is WAY off. I'd contact the company after calibrating the measuring tool to confirm.
You might get some good free RO water out of it.
Good luck.
Unless you have some wonky tap water, give it a try.
I haven't consumed the stuff personally since the mid '70's, but it seems to work really well for my girls.
That is a bit weird that your RO grocery store water has PPM of 220. that is WAY off. I'd contact the company after calibrating the measuring tool to confirm.
You might get some good free RO water out of it.
Good luck.
Good morning, folks. Another day, another PH drop.
Yesterday, I did another reservoir change. I waited four hours or so before taking the following readings:
Air temp: 67
Water temp: 65.3
Humidity: 32%
PH: 5.8
PPM: 550
Today, about 16 hours later, I took the following readings:
PH: 4.8
PPM: 560
Water level in my 5-gallon reservoir dropped by about a pint.
However, I think I have figured out the issue. There simply is no other explanation that I can think of.
When did this daily drop start happening? About a month or so ago, right about the time I turned on the gas furnace for the winter season. And where does my furnace sit? About 15 feet away from my grow cabinet.
So now I have to decide: Do I continue to use RO water, knowing that it sucks up CO2 like a sponge? I would have to continue to add 1.0 to 1.5 ML of PH-Up to the reservoir daily, not knowing how this might impact the plant. Or do I change to tap water, which would hopefully be more PH stable, not knowing what exactly is in the water to start with and having to deal with chlorine / chloramine?
Yesterday, I did another reservoir change. I waited four hours or so before taking the following readings:
Air temp: 67
Water temp: 65.3
Humidity: 32%
PH: 5.8
PPM: 550
Today, about 16 hours later, I took the following readings:
PH: 4.8
PPM: 560
Water level in my 5-gallon reservoir dropped by about a pint.
However, I think I have figured out the issue. There simply is no other explanation that I can think of.
When did this daily drop start happening? About a month or so ago, right about the time I turned on the gas furnace for the winter season. And where does my furnace sit? About 15 feet away from my grow cabinet.
So now I have to decide: Do I continue to use RO water, knowing that it sucks up CO2 like a sponge? I would have to continue to add 1.0 to 1.5 ML of PH-Up to the reservoir daily, not knowing how this might impact the plant. Or do I change to tap water, which would hopefully be more PH stable, not knowing what exactly is in the water to start with and having to deal with chlorine / chloramine?
OK, I managed to get my air temperature to stabilize at 70 degrees. I have the reservoir stable at 65 degrees. That's the best I'm gonna be able to do as far as temps go.
I completely understand how temps are important. However, I don't see how temps address my original problem of PH crashing each day.
Based on my own scouring of the internet, PH drops in Veg are usually caused by one of the following:
-- A bacterial / algae infection at the roots
I feel I've already ruled that out. My roots look good and clean, the water smells clean, and I change the reservoir weekly. I also use HydroGuard in the res between water changes.​
-- Nutrient strength is too high
I was feeding as high as 900 PPM but have cut it back to as low as 350 PPM. Still, my PH drops by about a full point each day. I am currently feeding at ~550 PPM.​
-- Somehow, I'm in a CO2-rich atmosphere and I'm pumping CO2 into the reservoir
I have no way to check the CO2 concentrations in my basement so I'm clueless there.
​
Tomorrow, I'll do another reservoir change and this time I'm going to use tap water and hope for the best. I've tested it to 180 PPM and a PH of 8.5. If the PH is my res continues to drop each day, then I simply have no choice but to keep using PH-Up every day to get my PH back in range.
I completely understand how temps are important. However, I don't see how temps address my original problem of PH crashing each day.
Based on my own scouring of the internet, PH drops in Veg are usually caused by one of the following:
-- A bacterial / algae infection at the roots
I feel I've already ruled that out. My roots look good and clean, the water smells clean, and I change the reservoir weekly. I also use HydroGuard in the res between water changes.​
-- Nutrient strength is too high
I was feeding as high as 900 PPM but have cut it back to as low as 350 PPM. Still, my PH drops by about a full point each day. I am currently feeding at ~550 PPM.​
-- Somehow, I'm in a CO2-rich atmosphere and I'm pumping CO2 into the reservoir
I have no way to check the CO2 concentrations in my basement so I'm clueless there.
​
Tomorrow, I'll do another reservoir change and this time I'm going to use tap water and hope for the best. I've tested it to 180 PPM and a PH of 8.5. If the PH is my res continues to drop each day, then I simply have no choice but to keep using PH-Up every day to get my PH back in range.
Interesting update this morning.
Yesterday, I experienced another unexplained drop in my reservoir PH. Yesterday morning, I added my usual 2ml of PH-Up to the reservoir to bring the PH back up to 6.1. Believe it or not, by 4:00 p.m., the PH had dropped to 4.3! I was livid to say the least.
So, at 4:00 p.m., I drained and refilled the reservoir again, this time using tap water. I mixed up my nutrient solution to 590 ppm and PH of 6.6. I left out Cal/Mag, assuming that the tap water would provide these elements. I did, however, add in 10ml of Hydroguard after I mixed everything up. Lights then went off at 7:00 p.m.
This morning at 8:00 a.m., I went to the basement to check on my lady and take some readings. The water level in the reservoir went down by about a quart overnight. The PH dropped slightly to 6.4 and my PPMs went down to 580 ppm. Air temperature is stable at 71 degrees and water temperature is steady at 67.4 degrees.
Based on today’s readings, this is my understanding. She is drinking and eating, albeit a small amount, which I guess is to be expected after the roller-coaster ride she’s been having. I went ahead and added 1.5ml of PH-Down to the reservoir to bring the PH down a little bit more. I also added some plain RO water to bring my water level back up.
So how do I proceed from here?
Yesterday, I experienced another unexplained drop in my reservoir PH. Yesterday morning, I added my usual 2ml of PH-Up to the reservoir to bring the PH back up to 6.1. Believe it or not, by 4:00 p.m., the PH had dropped to 4.3! I was livid to say the least.
So, at 4:00 p.m., I drained and refilled the reservoir again, this time using tap water. I mixed up my nutrient solution to 590 ppm and PH of 6.6. I left out Cal/Mag, assuming that the tap water would provide these elements. I did, however, add in 10ml of Hydroguard after I mixed everything up. Lights then went off at 7:00 p.m.
This morning at 8:00 a.m., I went to the basement to check on my lady and take some readings. The water level in the reservoir went down by about a quart overnight. The PH dropped slightly to 6.4 and my PPMs went down to 580 ppm. Air temperature is stable at 71 degrees and water temperature is steady at 67.4 degrees.
Based on today’s readings, this is my understanding. She is drinking and eating, albeit a small amount, which I guess is to be expected after the roller-coaster ride she’s been having. I went ahead and added 1.5ml of PH-Down to the reservoir to bring the PH down a little bit more. I also added some plain RO water to bring my water level back up.
So how do I proceed from here?
Cool chart. I think it says too much CO2, not 02 in the 3rd box from the top. I'm not familiar with the acid rain effect.
Checking air source for high CO2 would be something to do.
Also Note 1 is mentioned, but not on the chart.
The chart also says if pH is static that is "perfect". I don't know about that. GH says pH should range to insure all nutes are absorbed. They print a chart to show what is absorbed at what pH. I like to see mine range up due to 02. If it stayed static, I'd be concerned, just because
my WaterFarms don't do that.
Looks like most of the solutions involve res change. I don't measure PPM at all. pH three times a day, and add balanced water to over flow the drilled hole for the air stone line. I add water twice a day.
Just mixed up Week III nutes and everybody is very happy.
Checking air source for high CO2 would be something to do.
Also Note 1 is mentioned, but not on the chart.
The chart also says if pH is static that is "perfect". I don't know about that. GH says pH should range to insure all nutes are absorbed. They print a chart to show what is absorbed at what pH. I like to see mine range up due to 02. If it stayed static, I'd be concerned, just because
my WaterFarms don't do that.
Looks like most of the solutions involve res change. I don't measure PPM at all. pH three times a day, and add balanced water to over flow the drilled hole for the air stone line. I add water twice a day.
Just mixed up Week III nutes and everybody is very happy.