cal def or lockout?

hey all im extremly new and after starting a dwc i realize i should have started with something a little simpler but im alreadys started so i may as well learn as i go, right? so likei said this is my first grow and im definatly making a few mistakes but learning as i do , so i have the full spectrum leds and the rusty spots under that light look extrremly big but under normal light its hardly noticable i at first thought i was a rust fungi so i cut the affected leaves off then once i got them out of that light i realized it wasnt as bad as it looked , so i went and got some calmag because i was using distilled water , i used some calmag (about half the dose the fisrt day and up to full dose over three days) im using fox farm grow big and bloom and voodoo juice aswell, i do only have the drops to test my ph at the time so i know if its the ph itll be a lockout im really just looking for an experienced grower to help me confirm what one it could be. the color of the ph was pretty dark so i brought the ph up today , thank you for your time in advance! (that is the same leave in both pics)

leaf* lol

Definitely a cal/mag issue. When you say you brought the pH up, what did you bring it to? Hydroponic systems want to run more acidic than soil grows. Typically you want your pH to be between 5.6 and 6.0.

I am not generally "experienced" but I have experienced a same/similar problem. I was using CalMag and reduced nutes and got the same patterning on the lower leaves except worse. It ended up being a PH issues. If PH is out of range nothing else matters. Buy a good PH pen and use it/calibrate it often. After a few days you will be back on track.

yea it was looking like 5 on my drop test so i put about half a cap of ph up i have 2 5 gallons buckets running water between them both i dont currently have a ph meter but i do have a ec meter

okay cool thank you !!

yoshisisland said:

yea it was looking like 5 on my drop test so i put about half a cap of ph up i have 2 5 gallons buckets running water between them both i dont currently have a ph meter but i do have a ec meter

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If you can, take another water sample and test for pH using the drops again. It's a damn shame that pH pens are so expensive (starting at like $80) but if your gonna go hydro, you gotta invest in one.

yea i bought a cheap one off amzon and it didnt work even once so i def gotta get a high quality one thats my next purchse i also reead somewhere that if the air isnt leaving the tent it could do something similar but im trying to keep the co2 in right? i havent got a carbon filter of fan yet because it hasnt started to smell yet but i do plan on it within the month

Remember that PH is not static, it fluctuates. Fluctuations withing range are good but once you are out of range you are going to bring on the problems. Check it daily at minimum, twice is better.

could it change that fast without adding nutes?

yoshisisland said:

could it change that fast without adding nutes?

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Honestly I am not experienced enough to say how fast it can change but I know there are many reasons why it would/could change. I have seen half point changes within 24hrs without any changes to nutes but I have only been running for a month so I really don't know if that is normal.

okay sweet ill defiantly keep an eye on it ty!

Organic Altruism said:

If you can, take another water sample and test for pH using the drops again. It's a damn shame that pH pens are so expensive (starting at like $80) but if your gonna go hydro, you gotta invest in one.

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Jellas Pocket Size pH Meter - Digital pH Tester for Water Quality Test, pH Measurement for 0-14.0 pH, ± 0.1 Accuracy, 0.1 Resolution. (Blue) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C53HRLY?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

This is the meter I use. Before this one I used a yellow one exactly like it for 5 plus years. Just buy the liquid gen hydro calibration solution in 7.0 and 4.01 and calibrate a couple times a year. And every now and then wipe the little glass thing off with a coffee filter. It's accurate enough. My only gripe is the auto temp calibration is a little wonky under about 60°f. When my water is too cold I verify readings with liquid drops

Also after a while you'll get a feel for the drops too. When your plant is happy pay closer attention to the shade of yellow. And after a while you'll just be able to do a quick liquid test too. But a cheap pen works fine too

yoshisisland said:

yea i bought a cheap one off amzon and it didnt work even once so i def gotta get a high quality one thats my next purchse i also reead somewhere that if the air isnt leaving the tent it could do something similar but im trying to keep the co2 in right? i havent got a carbon filter of fan yet because it hasnt started to smell yet but i do plan on it within the month

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Are you injecting co2 already? If so it's a waste until the plant is much much older and you want to keep temps a little higher to utilize co2

SmokeyMcChokey said:

Jellas Pocket Size pH Meter - Digital pH Tester for Water Quality Test, pH Measurement for 0-14.0 pH, ± 0.1 Accuracy, 0.1 Resolution. (Blue) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01C53HRLY?ref=yo_pop_ma_swf

This is the meter I use. Before this one I used a yellow one exactly like it for 5 plus years. Just buy the liquid gen hydro calibration solution in 7.0 and 4.01 and calibrate a couple times a year. And every now and then wipe the little glass thing off with a coffee filter. It's accurate enough. My only gripe is the auto temp calibration is a little wonky under about 60°f. When my water is too cold I verify readings with liquid drops

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I was always very skeptical about those. You get what you pay for right? But 5 plus years is really something... Maybe next time I need to invest I'll take the cheaper route. Thanks fam.

why are you talking about co2 on your first grow. figure how to keep a plant alive first, huh?

im just doing sugar and yeast and those blue tubes are going sitting right beneath the fan leaves so the co2 rises to the other leaves but i defffiatly didnt know not to bother at the beginning when should i start with that ( im doing this on a begginer scale for now ) lol and i got that yellow ph meter but a differnt brand and it ddint work ever

Organic Altruism said:

I was always very skeptical about those. You get what you pay for right? But 5 plus years is really something... Maybe next time I need to invest I'll take the cheaper route

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I have a $20 amazon one and a Milwaukee PH55, both work fine but the calibration starts drifting away on the cheap one after 10-20 uses. I recal almost weekly if I'm using it regularly. I love that the Milwaukee is waterproof and has a water temp sensor. Overall, if I was on a budget I would have no problem with the cheap ones as long as I was prepared to recal often.

Organic Altruism said:

I was always very skeptical about those. You get what you pay for right? But 5 plus years is really something... Maybe next time I need to invest I'll take the cheaper route. Thanks fam.

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I'm sure milage varies. But for me I'm careful with it and I'm ok with good enough on pH. When you shoot for 5.6 and let it float to 6.2 does it really matter if it's 5.4 or 6.3 for a day? Nah. It'll be fine.

Offcenter said:

why are you talking about co2 on your first grow. figure how to keep a plant alive first, huh?

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I used to do it too. I pretty much go full force on my hobbies. It's why I can brew 25 gallon batches of beer and have 3 damned drones
But I'll be honest I've got a regulator and short timer and a couplele 7 pound tanks but I rarely add co2 I don't run strains hard or often enough that I'm already maxed out. I will add it if I'm having trouble keeping temps under 85 in heat of summer but that's about it