grandvapor
Active Member
I think this is going to fix everything...
Small Hydro Issue... or not?
- Thread starter grandvapor
- Start date
blackforest
Well-Known Member
Hey, nice setup. The problem with your deficiencies is that your ph is too low. I just went through this entire ordeal. Try raising your ph to 5.8-6.0 for a couple days and see if those girls don't start to green up. (It certainly won't hurt them) Below 5.5, plant has a hard time taking up N and Mg (plus others). That is why they are yellowish w/ signs of Mg def (spots) My ph pen was off (ran out of calibration solution) and I thought mine were at 5.8, but were closer to 5.1 - 5.2. Once the ph was corrected they greened up within 24 hrs. They are drooping because they are not drinking. The water is too acidic for them a this stage imo.
4.) Keeping PH between 5.2 and...
5.) PH'd the water to 5.1 (I know it's a little acidic, but it drifts up so fast I can't always get over to add more acid).
grandvapor
Active Member
Thanks friend. I'll try exactly that and perhaps get another ph pen for comparison.
Terry385
Well-Known Member
got lots of air now...
grandvapor
Active Member
Yes tons of air still drooping today...
Is this really just acidic water?
Edit: Think I need a mattress topper under the tubs. Air stones are immensely vibrating the floor...
Is this really just acidic water?
Edit: Think I need a mattress topper under the tubs. Air stones are immensely vibrating the floor...
Terry385
Well-Known Member
are the roots still white..still have light leaks with the totes inside must be dark..cover whole top tape anything to stop light from getting in
if roots are going south you don't have to much time to decide what to do sorry kinda hard call been there a few times but with one plant at a time.. I've transplanted to a promix and also fought root rot to save plants
I'm hoping your roots are white and i'm wrong
Alienwidow
Well-Known Member
for that reason. 
Alienwidow
Well-Known Member
Is that new air pump spraying bubbles all over the hydroton because they still look like theyre drowning for some reason?
grandvapor
Active Member
I know right? They can't be drowning now.. Immense air, basic nutes, no idea why they aren't loving life...
grandvapor
Active Member
grandvapor
Active Member
Roots look great pearly white. No giant ball yet but I honestly expected this to be easier with autoflower.
grandvapor
Active Member
Ok will get a better look at the roots next time I visit. Probably a day or two.
grandvapor
Active Member
Is this a common problem? Too many bubbles?
I'll take a look at the Hydroton pebbles and the rapid rooter plugs to make sure they aren't soaking wet tomorrow.
I'm also considering a "flush" of sorts. Just ph some tap water to about 6.0, add in about 1/4 amounts of Micro, Bloom, and Cal-mag and see what happens. This doesn't look like burn, but if I don't solve this soon, the yields will probably be so pathetic I'd be better off trying a different strain.
These are auto's that should be finished around Jan. 15th, after all...
grandvapor
Active Member
The PH has been swinging wildly for reasons beyond my best guess. I use literally ALL Generial Hydroponics products, so not junk nutes. I had been adding 20 ml of Hydroguard to combat any chance of root rot (not sure how effective it really is).
It's worth nothing again, I think, that I've been having to add around 3.25 oz (6.5 table spoons) of GH PH Down solution to each 10 gallon tub of water. That's also AFTER adding the nutrients, which, as far as I know, typically bring down your PH quite a bit on their own. I know my experience with Fox Farms Trio would significantly drop my PH before adding my own acid. Not so with the GH line for me.
Water is coming out of the tap at around 7.8-8.0. Last time, adding 30 ml of each GH Trio, still took 3.25 oz of PH Down to get to 5.4 on my pen. Sounds like a freakin lot of acid to me.
Typically, if I visit about 3-4 days later, PH has risen to between 7.3 and 7.9 (average readings). I typically then just re-adjust, and leave alone until the next reservoir change (averaging 6-10 days between).
grandvapor
Active Member
I got that Panda Film Black/White poly film today. Not sure if it's too late, but I'm going to completely cover a new set of lids top and bottom with it to remove ALL light leaks. Might even cover the outsides of the tubs with it. 100 sq. ft will easily cover 2 lids and the outsides of the 18 gallon tubs.
Edit: Freakin eBay Seller didn't use tracking on my PPM meter pen... Anyway, I won't bee too upset if this grow fails. Autoflower plus DWC while learning a new technique was probably a bit foolish on my part. Worst case scenario, 80 bucks, some new seeds, and a few weeks. Not the end of the world. Honestly just want to learn my mistakes as to not repeat them. When I get invested in learning something new like DWC, I refuse to give up till I get it right.
Edit: Freakin eBay Seller didn't use tracking on my PPM meter pen... Anyway, I won't bee too upset if this grow fails. Autoflower plus DWC while learning a new technique was probably a bit foolish on my part. Worst case scenario, 80 bucks, some new seeds, and a few weeks. Not the end of the world. Honestly just want to learn my mistakes as to not repeat them. When I get invested in learning something new like DWC, I refuse to give up till I get it right.
grandvapor
Active Member
How often should people be calibrating these cheaply made PH pens and what is the most economical way to check the calibration? Any way without ordering the solution online?
blackforest
Well-Known Member
Calibration solution is only like $10 for a small bottle which will last a long time. I just pour a little into the cap and go from there. Don't put any back into the bottle though to avoid any contamination. There may be some home remedies to create a known ph solution, but I would not know if they were accurate or not. I picked mine up at the local shop, but you can order online as well. I calibrate my pen every week or 2 or at least check it to make sure it's reading correctly.
blackforest
Well-Known Member
That's just too much ph down. The water is too acidic. At this point any changes would probably help. Also, I wonder about your current ph pen being way off. I've had cheap ones that just go berserk after awhile and are not even close to what the actual ph is. I always have ph liquid drops for backup so if I'm concerned about my pen, I can know for sure. If it were me, I would change out the water Now, add my nutes to get to 1.0ec, and not add any ph down at all. If that is the problem, they will respond within hours. At this point, it's not going to hurt them anymore.
grandvapor
Active Member
I agree. I'll be visiting the ladies tomorrow for a reservoir change. Going to keep it super simple. A little Bloom (maybe 20 ml per 10 gallons), a little micro (maybe the same amount?), and a little Cal-Mag. I'll do a couple quick samples using the PH "color drops" to get it close, and going forward either buy some PH calibration solution or get a better PH pen.
Unfortunately still cannot check EC/TDS because the douchebag shipped it snail mail with no tracking number almost a week ago... Holiday Shipping eh...