pH'd solution keeps rising BEFORE feeding

[onomatopoeia]

I'm growing hempy style, using Dynagro nutes. I let the tap water sit for a couple days in open 2 liter water bottles (the opening at the top is maybe 3/4" diameter). I can see bubbles forming on the sides of the bottle, so I believe the chlorine is evaporating. After I mix in the nutes and add the pH down I notice that it s-l-o-w-l-y climbs by .5 or .6 and then stabilizes over 15-20 minutes while the pH pen (brand new) sits in the solution. What gives?

 

[Thc247]

.5 or .6 is not much
you got a good idea by how it responds each time or is it different every time you come to feed

 

[Thc247]

I'm growing hempy style, using Dynagro nutes. I let the tap water sit for a couple days in open 2 liter water bottles (the opening at the top is maybe 3/4" diameter). I can see bubbles forming on the sides of the bottle, so I believe the chlorine is evaporating. After I mix in the nutes and add the pH down I notice that it s-l-o-w-l-y climbs by .5 or .6 and then stabilizes over 15-20 minutes while the pH pen (brand new) sits in the solution. What gives?

try adding nutes and mixing and giving the nutes chance to mix and settle then check ph see if the fluctuation is just the nutes mixing and settling

 

[makka]

My water does this every time just bubble the mix an hour after mixing then set ph

 

[Thc247]

My water does this every time just bubble the mix an hour after mixing then set ph

yes @makka my thoughts exactly let it settle then ph

 

[phil k]

are you remixing the water when you check the ph.. your top few inches will be higher than the bottom when your oxygenating it.. not sure if its the oxygen being trapped higher that creates it or if its part of an evaporation process but the top always will read higher when it sits for a bit... so mix it really well then check it again as the waters still spinning in the bucket from mixing.

 

[phil k]

My water does this every time just bubble the mix an hour after mixing then set ph

nevermind he beat me to it

 

[Thc247]

are you remixing the water when you check the ph.. your top few inches will be higher than the bottom when your oxygenating it.. not sure if its the oxygen being trapped higher that creates it or if its part of an evaporation process but the top always will read higher when it sits for a bit... so mix it really well then check it again as the waters still spinning in the bucket from mixing.

very true

 

[onomatopoeia]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I was getting varied readings and the behavior of the pH pen (HM ph-200) seemed quite inconsistent. I replaced the probe and initially things look more normal. I just mixed a new 2L of nutes and took a pH reading. I'll let it settle and come back in an hour to see if it's moved.

Also, when you guys say bubbling and oxygenating, are you referring to a DWC setup? I'm running things in a hempy bucket...let me know if I'm missing something.

After quite a bit of fussing around with pH meters (Bluelab, HM, and American Marine) over the years, and having nothing last for more than 6-8 months, I just want dump them all. Too much cost. What do you guys use? I've just read some good things about the Hanna Instruments HI99104 meter...

Does anyone recommend going with the GH tester kit? It would certainly be a LOT cheaper...

 

[ISK]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I was getting varied readings and the behavior of the pH pen (HM ph-200) seemed quite inconsistent. I replaced the probe and initially things look more normal. I just mixed a new 2L of nutes and took a pH reading. I'll let it settle and come back in an hour to see if it's moved.

Also, when you guys say bubbling and oxygenating, are you referring to a DWC setup? I'm running things in a hempy bucket...let me know if I'm missing something.

After quite a bit of fussing around with pH meters (Bluelab, HM, and American Marine) over the years, and having nothing last for more than 6-8 months, I just want dump them all. Too much cost. What do you guys use? I've just read some good things about the Hanna Instruments HI99104 meter...

Does anyone recommend going with the GH tester kit? It would certainly be a LOT cheaper...

I use the GH drops to test the pH...which are cheaper than pens and no maintenance

I grow hempy as well, which are more pH flexible and forgiving than normal hydro, so pH drops get you in the ballpark... in fact I believe slight variations of your pH is beneficial

 

[makka]

yeah slight variations is what u want but not much and to op like I said before when I mix my notes nutes say 500 ppm 5.8 ph then 24 HOUR LATER the phone the ph is 6.1?? I don't know the reason the could be a few possibility but anyway reset the ph to what you want again and then give it to your plants.

Also water can go stagnant and lose the dissolved oxygen within it this is why people bubble the mix to agitate the mix and create d.o