PH optimally what should it be?

KTOWNGUY

Well-Known Member
5.8-6.5 I also find for me that allowing my PH to start around 5.8-5.9 and then allowing it to go up to around 6.4-6.5 before i drop it down again works cause some minor and major nutes are better absorbed at the different ph level,.
 

jimjones420

Active Member
GG, in my experience which is not too much, I do not notice the ph increasing normally except for the first day after a nute change... I don't know why this is but is predictable, I put new solution at a ph of 5.6 and everyweek the next night when I chek it will be up to around 6, I will lower to around 5.6 again and wil usually not fluctuate the rest of the week... TDS however I do notice to rise due to evaporation and plants using more water than nutrients possibly, I usually add a few gallons of ph'd water throughout the week to keep my tds/ec in check... Also, I like to keep the ph in my ez cloner in the lower part of the range (5.4-5.6), and the mom and flwring plants around 5.7-5.8... Just my way of doing things i guess...
 

racer3456

Well-Known Member
GG, in my experience which is not too much, I do not notice the ph increasing normally except for the first day after a nute change... I don't know why this is but is predictable, I put new solution at a ph of 5.6 and everyweek the next night when I chek it will be up to around 6, I will lower to around 5.6 again and wil usually not fluctuate the rest of the week... TDS however I do notice to rise due to evaporation and plants using more water than nutrients possibly, I usually add a few gallons of ph'd water throughout the week to keep my tds/ec in check... Also, I like to keep the ph in my ez cloner in the lower part of the range (5.4-5.6), and the mom and flwring plants around 5.7-5.8... Just my way of doing things i guess...
I think that depends on what kind of water you use too. If I'm lazy and use tap water one week, mine will fluctuate pretty badly. If I use my RO water, just like you said, maybe a little the first day or two, but then it stays pretty much constant for the rest of the week. I think the reason the PH is such a pain with tap water is because of the chlorine. As the chlorine evaporates, it makes the water more basic, so you have to keep adding more and more acid to bring the pH down.
 

racer3456

Well-Known Member
thanks guys so as plants consume more of the nutes in hydro will the PH generally go up?
I would say it depends. Usually mine goes up, but if I leave it for a long time and not stay on top of the water level, it will become acidic. But really just adding water will help to bring the pH back up. I usually don't have to use pH up too often.
 
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