Hygrozyme buffering pH?

BeverlyRollins69

Well-Known Member
I've searched high and low and nobody has commented on this. I currently use Hygrozyme in my DWC tubs for my vegging plants. I take my water, add the micro, add the bloom, add the superthrive, and check the pH. I then add the Hygrozyme and the pH is about 0.3 pH lower. I asked the knowledgeable guy at my hydro store and he said that when keeping my pH in range (5.5-6.2 normally), I need to be aware that my future pH readings will be off. Therefore I should keep water with nutes and additives showing 5.2-5.9 on the pH meter. I suppose this is the same logic that if you start with 100 ppm water, you need to keep in mind that when everything is in the water, nute ppm is actually 100 ppm lower then what the meter is reading.

I just want to know if the guy at the store is correct, because otherwise my pH is actually a bit low.
 

smokertoker

Well-Known Member
You pH scale is probably off slightly anyways... You pH scale will show different than what is true unless it is calibrated to your tempurate. The pH scale is based on how much Hydrogen is in your solution at 25 C.

I'm not sure what you mean by, "I need to be aware that my future pH readings will be off." Why would the future readings be more off than the first? Compounds do create pH buffers at varying strengths...
 

BeverlyRollins69

Well-Known Member
The pH meter I use says that it automatically adjusts for temperature (ultraBasic pH tester by oakton).

Basically my question is this:

Taking into account that there is hygrozyme in the water, should the reading on my pH meter be between 5.2-5.9 or 5.5-6.2?
 

SOMEBEECH

Well-Known Member
beverly i have the same meter and i have to take water from my dwc becuse the air stones makes it fluctuate.do u have the same problem just got this meter a week ago??? 5.2 5.9
 

smokertoker

Well-Known Member
pH and ppm are not the same. Yes, when looking at your ppm you need to be aware of what your water was before you add nutes. That is not the same case with pH. pH is just a way of saying the concentration of H in the balanced solution. Concentration of H ([H]) = 10^(-pH) and/or -log[H]= pH.
 

BeverlyRollins69

Well-Known Member
^^Yes I have the same problem, I just take my readings in an area of the tub where there aren't bubbles.

^Not to be an ass but I understand pH and your statement didn't really answer my question from above regarding which range to use.
 

massbaster

Well-Known Member
if your concerned about your ph to that degree, couldnt you check it with an ec meter?

maybe i am thinking of something else.....isnt there an conductivity associated to certain ph ranges?
 

potroast

Uses the Rollitup profile
I don't know what the hydro store guy meant, unless he was talking about anticipating a rebound. Anyway, keep your pH in the high five range with all nutrients and additives included, since that's what the plants are getting, and the pH effects the availability of nutrients to them.

HTH :mrgreen:
 
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