Water and PH spikes? Please help?

Harvester315

Harvester315

Well-Known Member
I am only on my second grow ever, first grow was in soil and I had a lot of issues. I wanted to downsize my operation while bettering my growing techniques before I add more plants. Right now doing a BB x WW in a premade Hydro bucket (5Gal)

My question is about water and PH.

I started a seed about 2 weeks ago. I started it in an unknown starter pellet that came with one of my grow tent kits (I say unknown because its not listed on anything, or in any pictures) I've heard that these are at a high PH and may also cause the bucket water to increase.

I am currently using tap water as I have yet to find a source of RO water and cannot afford a filtration system. My tap comes out at around 180 PPM, should I use distilled water (Locally it runs around 5-8 PPM) instead?

I ask because I am having a rapid PH rise issue. I started the first week in plain PHed water to 5.8 and didn't think it would rise but 7 days later it was at 7.4. I did my first feeding of 1/4 strength nutes (GH micro grow and bloom) and PHed to 5.5 (to allow a rise in PH since i kind of expected one again). The next day I was already at 6.6 and 2 days later 7.4.

I am still going to look for a steady source of RO water as I'm sure that would help, but in the meantime should I switch to distilled to help slow the PH jump? Thanks for any pointers!

(Soon I'll be able to attach pics with these but my phone is hardly in commission as of this moment)
 
V

VegasWinner

Well-Known Member
If you are bubbling that raises ph levels naturally. In flower your ph will stay around 6.0 to 6.5 no matter what you add due to ph nutes. Most nutes lower the ph because thgey use low ph to store over time. So think about options for air in your grow. I use aeroponics system I designed. peace
 
Harvester315

Harvester315

Well-Known Member
Hmm haven't even thought of that. I do have an airstone, was thinking of getting a second after watching all the HHT DWC videos on YouTube. Thanks for that insight
 
Harvester315

Harvester315

Well-Known Member
Temp is a steady 67°. Unless my water thermometer is wrong. But don't think so.
Just did a res change today using distilled water so I will find out tomorrow if it makes a difference. The PPMS were about 850 when I dumped the old water, seemed high but didn't check it at the previous res change.
 
Budley Doright

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
Harvester315 said:
Temp is a steady 67°. Unless my water thermometer is wrong. But don't think so.
Just did a res change today using distilled water so I will find out tomorrow if it makes a difference. The PPMS were about 850 when I dumped the old water, seemed high but didn't check it at the previous res change.
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I had real issues with air stones and PH fluctuations (believe it was the air stones) so I switched to using a waterfall and things were much better. Also for a 2 week old seedling the ppm's seem a tad high. Keep that lower and your PH may stay lower. I run 5.6-.7 in flower with no issues at all.
 
ThaMagnificent

ThaMagnificent

Well-Known Member
Tap water has additives that keep the pH high so that it doesn't corrode the pipes. You can dump all the pH down you want in it it it will still rise at least for a couple days. I found this out the hard way and switched ro. My tap is good too like 150ppm
 
T

THE KONASSURE

Well-Known Member
get a big bucket or water butt or 60 to 200L waste bin

and a good air pump

ph to ph5.......... I like to add some potassium silicate then I use ph down get it to ph5, then add a water butt treatment and some bennies and trycorr I add fulvic acid too

your probably just need to use ph down and a water conditioner but potassium silicate is good stuff I use it 1st as it puts the ph up a bit

Ok so leave your water to bubble, you`ll notice ph5 in a week should end up around ph6.5 depends on your water, keep the light out of your water

doing hydro with tap water without chambering it and conditioning it for 3 days to a week or so is just silly unless you your there for 3 days when you do the res change and ph every few hours or have a big uber system that you`ve dialed in to be able to take topping up or 50% to 90% res changes

Good luck mate
 
Budley Doright

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
ThaMagnificent said:
Tap water has additives that keep the pH high so that it doesn't corrode the pipes. You can dump all the pH down you want in it it it will still rise at least for a couple days. I found this out the hard way and switched ro. My tap is good too like 150ppm
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Aquarium test kits that measure KH will tell you how much buffering the water has. My well water has lots of buffering due to the limestone. Buffers in my experience with my water require a large amount of down but once I achieve the levels required it is stable. I have to add 30-40 ml to get from 7.2 to 5.6 per 100 litres. Think it's 35%
 
ThaMagnificent

ThaMagnificent

Well-Known Member
Budley Doright said:
Aquarium test kits that measure KH will tell you how much buffering the water has. My well water has lots of buffering due to the limestone. Buffers in my experience with my water require a large amount of down but once I achieve the levels required it is stable. I have to add 30-40 ml to get from 7.2 to 5.6 per 100 litres. Think it's 35%
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Mine has alot of limestone too but no matter how much down I add it jumps back up 12hrs later
 
T

THE KONASSURE

Well-Known Member
ThaMagnificent said:
Mine has alot of limestone too but no matter how much down I add it jumps back up 12hrs later
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you using phosphoric acid based ph down ? maybe use a nitric acid based for your 2nd ph`ing comboing nitric based and phosphoric base may stabilize out what ever is reacting

If using a citric based ph down I`d expect to have to re-ph every 1 to 4 days for sure
 
Budley Doright

Budley Doright

Well-Known Member
I know I struggled with Ph for about a year then it just all seem to come together, I have no easy way of using RO sadly
 
Harvester315

Harvester315

Well-Known Member
I did notice after 24 hrs of using the distilled that it only jumped .5 instead of 1.4 so that's already reassuring. I'm still planning to go to my local walmart to find out if I can get RO water. I'm pleased to find at least it's a slower rise. I actually like the concept of a ph swing to allow access to nutrients at all levels but obviously I don't want to add more ph down than necessary.
 
Harvester315

Harvester315

Well-Known Member
GH PH down. I am interested in a more organic method been doing a little research. Any suggestions? Also should I bother getting a second air stone? Thoughts?
 
Harvester315

Harvester315

Well-Known Member
ThaMagnificent said:
Just get an ro system
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Definitely not in the budget this grow. Maybe one or two down the road. Ideally I'd love to have one. And I know in the end I'll save money on what I spend on distilled from the store. I'm hoping tomorrow to get to my local walmart and find out if they have an RO refill machine. My distilled comes in at 1 PPM presently.
 
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