Pretreating DWC media?

Anyone have experience pretreating media for DWC? I'm experiencing some moderate PH swings (~+0.3 every 12 hours or so then I PH down) w/ RO water in a diy cloner, rapid rooters, and with a couple cfl lights.

Currently using an 16 quart plastic container for the smaller profile. Thinking of switching to either 3 or 7 gallon trash cans for flower w/ HPS (potentially switching to diy cob led's for heat reduciton).

Is 1L vinegar per 1 gallon of water the standard to pretreat? Could I re-use the same vinegar solution with various containers to pretreat?

WHAT in the good fuck are you talkin about?

Vinegar solution?? Trash cans?? Might just quickly throw a diy COB together?!!?

HUH?

th_0812 said:

Anyone have experience pretreating media for DWC? I'm experiencing some moderate PH swings (~+0.3 every 12 hours or so then I PH down) w/ RO water in a diy cloner, rapid rooters, and with a couple cfl lights.

Currently using an 16 quart plastic container for the smaller profile. Thinking of switching to either 3 or 7 gallon trash cans for flower w/ HPS (potentially switching to diy cob led's for heat reduciton).

Is 1L vinegar per 1 gallon of water the standard to pretreat? Could I re-use the same vinegar solution with various containers to pretreat?

Click to expand...

Generally, I let my ro water sit for 24 hours before I use it allowing ph to stabilize. Peace

SnaFuu said:

WHAT in the good fuck are you talkin about?

Vinegar solution?? Trash cans?? Might just quickly throw a diy COB together?!!?

HUH?

Click to expand...

Two different areas in a closet setup. One cone/veg and the other flower. My understanding is some containers depending on the material can effect the ph level. I've had to micro manage the ph level the first week and adjust every 12 hours. vinegar is acidic (~4.0) and is used to pretreat media before starting to stabilize ph.

Trash can is because the dimensions I have fit 3 perfectly in the 21"x36" flower tent. 7gal container x 3 is 21 gallons would be 21L of vinegar to pretreat. Not trying to buy 21L of vinegar so I'm going to reuse the same solution in each to pretreat.

VegasWinner said:

Generally, I let my ro water sit for 24 hours before I use it allowing ph to stabilize. Peace

Click to expand...

I'll try that for my next reservoir change. Thanks.

How about Cal Mag? 7ml/ gallon RO water sound about right? Been having some defficencies on older/lower branches

th_0812 said:

I'll try that for my next reservoir change. Thanks.

How about Cal Mag? 7ml/ gallon RO water sound about right? Been having some defficencies on older/lower branches

Click to expand...

Is your light getting to those leaves? If you are using a complete feeding you have micro/macro nutrients. If you are not using micro/macro I would look into those. even the inexpensive powdered GH uses a combined package delivery now. I would make sure you are not experiencing any nutrient lockout issues, as well. make sure you are not feeding to aggressively different response from different strains. I use Cal/mag when the plants call for it. Brown spots on leaves. Check your air flow and ventilation. Plants should have leaves pointing upwards, happy, never droopy, unhappy. peace.

SnaFuu said:

WHAT in the good fuck are you talkin about?

Vinegar solution?? Trash cans?? Might just quickly throw a diy COB together?!!?

HUH?

Click to expand...

That's what i thought..

I pretreat my dwc water by letting it soak in a nutrient solution for 24hrs before adding it to my dwc buckets....

I've seen 1-1.5 ph swings in 24hrs sometimes, I just adjust and come back the next day, repeat.

Don't use vinegar, get ph up or down. Vinegar has a short window of efficacy, which is why you use so much and have to continually add it. It gets neutralized quickly, then it just becomes another organic compound to decompose in your res, providing ample amounts of food for bacteria to thrive on. But hey. .it's your grow. ..

I just add all the nutrients to my RO water, let the pH rise from 5.5 to let's say 6.0 (happens after a few hours) and then pH it down to 5.8. Then it's stable and I'm ready to rock.

th_0812 said:

Two different areas in a closet setup. One cone/veg and the other flower. My understanding is some containers depending on the material can effect the ph level. I've had to micro manage the ph level the first week and adjust every 12 hours. vinegar is acidic (~4.0) and is used to pretreat media before starting to stabilize ph.

Trash can is because the dimensions I have fit 3 perfectly in the 21"x36" flower tent. 7gal container x 3 is 21 gallons would be 21L of vinegar to pretreat. Not trying to buy 21L of vinegar so I'm going to reuse the same solution in each to pretreat.

Click to expand...

I think the food safe containers like the white buckets at home depot are worth the extra dollar due to this. The rubbermaid professional series totes are good to. I can vouch for the sterlite containers as well, the black ones. Perhaps treating with a mild bleach water solution for a day would help.