For All Cap Ebb and Grow Users

[shnkrmn]

The reason your water has a ppm of 120 coming out of the tap is because of dissolved minerals, including calcium carbonate, which will consistently cause your ph to rise. I'm no water chemistry scientist, but my water is over 300 ppm coming from the tap, with a ph near 8 like yours and it was always impossible to keep the ph down using it. Switching to RO water made a total difference in my ability to control my water.

 

[cvbud]

The reason your water has a ppm of 120 coming out of the tap is because of dissolved minerals, including calcium carbonate, which will consistently cause your ph to rise. I'm no water chemistry scientist, but my water is over 300 ppm coming from the tap, with a ph near 8 like yours and it was always impossible to keep the ph down using it. Switching to RO water made a total difference in my ability to control my water.

interesting, i had no idea. i was under the impression that once you ph'd your water, you where set. thank you very much for your help. i will look into RO water for sure. i have stayed away because of the amount of water it wastes. but hey, i guess its way worth it in the long run.
i wonder if their is a way to test the calcium to see if i have high levels. you probably hit it right on the button.

 

[shnkrmn]

Just ask your municipal water authority. They are usually happy to share water data.

I feel you about the waste water with RO.

 

[ears]

Just ask your municipal water authority. They are usually happy to share water data.

I feel you about the waste water with RO.

how much will you lower your water at a time? i never drop it more than .5 at a time. my tap is about 220. i set 45 gal. drum aside 24 hours befor i use it with a punp and a big air stone. this works very well it just bubbles out all the bleach and chlorine. not sure what is so bad about lowering the PH to fast but i just dont.

 

[IGroWhErwAterflo]

Hey guys I have a ?, whAt u guys think about trimming the root
balls in the bucket? Good idea? Bad idea any advice or
help be appreciate !! Cap ebb and gro 2 gallons buckets

 

[shnkrmn]

Other than initial adjustment after adding nutes, I usually don't have to adjust more than .4 or .5 at a time. If it gets up to 6.0 I try to knock it down to 5.5 and it ends up slowly rising over 4 or 5 days back to 6. I have no idea if lowering your pH too fast is good or bad. It does seem prudent to take it slow though. I don't let my water 'rest' because it's RO; there's no chlorine left.

How long can you go without adjusting?

how much will you lower your water at a time? i never drop it more than .5 at a time. my tap is about 220. i set 45 gal. drum aside 24 hours befor i use it with a punp and a big air stone. this works very well it just bubbles out all the bleach and chlorine. not sure what is so bad about lowering the PH to fast but i just dont.

 

[ears]

Hey guys I have a ?, whAt u guys think about trimming the root
balls in the bucket? Good idea? Bad idea any advice or
help be appreciate !! Cap ebb and gro 2 gallons buckets

i would love an answer to that to

 

[ears]

Other than initial adjustment after adding nutes, I usually don't have to adjust more than .4 or .5 at a time. If it gets up to 6.0 I try to knock it down to 5.5 and it ends up slowly rising over 4 or 5 days back to 6. I have no idea if lowering your pH too fast is good or bad. It does seem prudent to take it slow though. I don't let my water 'rest' because it's RO; there's no chlorine left.

How long can you go without adjusting?

the only time i have ever used ro water was an boats. people cant survive on it because there are zero minerals in it. is that why you use ro water?

 

[shnkrmn]

the only time i have ever used ro water was an boats. people cant survive on it because there are zero minerals in it. is that why you use ro water?

lol. I use RO water because my tap water is very, very hard, about 380ppm coming out of the tap with a ph of 7.8. It's impossible to grow with that, at least it is for me. So, yes, that's why I use it; zero minerals except for what I put in.

 

[ears]

shnkrmn
i really look forward to your comments, you seem to not be full of shit thanks for your input.

 

[rocklee420]

You know I've been toying with the idea of adding some drip rings to this system. This would put that little bit of standing water to use... maybe i'd even raise the controller a little. If this has already been mentioned w/e.. but seems like a great idea to me. As for trimming roots, I've never been big on it unless they are dead. I run hygrozyme with this system and highly recommend it.

 

[researchkitty]

50ppm tap water here, so no R/O for me. pH rises about 0.2 --> 0.3 per day, and the system in a 55 gallon reservoir at 80% full capacity utilizes about 5-7 gallons of water per day for 18 pots and 2000w of lights. Hope that helps!

 

[shnkrmn]

I am just another pilgrim seeking wisdom, but thank you, Ears. I think this thread has a number of knowledgeable contributors; I've learned quite a few things here.

shnkrmn
i really look forward to your comments, you seem to not be full of shit thanks for your input.

 

[BeginnersLuck]

interesting, i had no idea. i was under the impression that once you ph'd your water, you where set. thank you very much for your help. i will look into RO water for sure. i have stayed away because of the amount of water it wastes. but hey, i guess its way worth it in the long run.
i wonder if their is a way to test the calcium to see if i have high levels. you probably hit it right on the button.

I am a newb and am having success with my first grow. I am using the e&g and I started out using distilled water. PH was high 7s. Then tried tap ppms low 200s. I finally got success using RO water. I buy it from walmart until I get a filter installed. My grocery store sells it for 30C/gal if you bring your own containers.. To much a pain. Anyways the RO water is PERFECT. Mine has a ph in HIGH 4s like 4.9. I I get this to about 5.3-5.5 with just 1-5 ml YES ml total of ph UP. and set the tank and forget it til I have to add water back cause the ladies are drinking alot. I keep the tank fairly the same level so adding back a gallon or two a day. The ph goes like 5.3 5.6 5.8 5.95 6.05 over the course of a few days. It seems so perfect to me. I add back my gal or two with 0-4 ml of ph DOWN. not per gal total 0-4. Seems to work perfect for me. Love RO water.


good luck BL

 

[BeginnersLuck]

You know I've been toying with the idea of adding some drip rings to this system. This would put that little bit of standing water to use... maybe i'd even raise the controller a little. If this has already been mentioned w/e.. but seems like a great idea to me. As for trimming roots, I've never been big on it unless they are dead. I run hygrozyme with this system and highly recommend it.

I have thought about keeping the water in the buckets and adding a bubble into each of them.

 

[cvbud]

I am a newb and am having success with my first grow. I am using the e&g and I started out using distilled water. PH was high 7s. Then tried tap ppms low 200s. I finally got success using RO water. I buy it from walmart until I get a filter installed. My grocery store sells it for 30C/gal if you bring your own containers.. To much a pain. Anyways the RO water is PERFECT. Mine has a ph in HIGH 4s like 4.9. I I get this to about 5.3-5.5 with just 1-5 ml YES ml total of ph UP. and set the tank and forget it til I have to add water back cause the ladies are drinking alot. I keep the tank fairly the same level so adding back a gallon or two a day. The ph goes like 5.3 5.6 5.8 5.95 6.05 over the course of a few days. It seems so perfect to me. I add back my gal or two with 0-4 ml of ph DOWN. not per gal total 0-4. Seems to work perfect for me. Love RO water.




good luck BL

good to know. thanks for you help bro. i think thats the direction i have decided. i just need to drain everything, cycle it a few times. and refil with RO.
we shall see.

 

[rocklee420]

I have thought about keeping the water in the buckets and adding a bubble into each of them.

Yea next grow I might try it as a dwc with net pot lids, just set it to flood forever. I want a bit more active system... either that or the drip rings and aerate the res. I'm gonna play with it and see if I can't get a bit closer to a gram a watt.

 

[shnkrmn]

Yea next grow I might try it as a dwc with net pot lids, just set it to flood forever. I want a bit more active system... either that or the drip rings and aerate the res. I'm gonna play with it and see if I can't get a bit closer to a gram a watt.

I think you would want to set it for 15 mins flood and 15 mins drain. Interesting idea.

 

[rocklee420]

I think you would want to set it for 15 mins flood and 15 mins drain. Interesting idea.

I'd aerate each bucket and keep it flooded if I went this route, then drain it when I want to change it. I've noticed the pumps will kick on randomly to keep it flooded evenly.

 

[bigbacon2]

Hopefully someone can answer this question for me....
I have a cap ebb and grow system about 14 days into Veg....I picked up the insert bucket on a couple of them and there are major roots coming out of the bottom.. Like 8 inches out of the bottom already.. It seems as they are sitting in a little bit of water.. IS it ok to let them be or should i trim them...Anyone have any issues with this? Thank you ...