Question about PH balancing.

So, I think i've read somewhere that using PH UP/DOWN in same water is a no-no? Here is my scenario;

Using lucas formula in DWC. When I mix full strength for my 5 gallon buckets, I need to use some PH UP to get my water to around a 5.7. The following day when I check my PH, both plants have raised to the 5.85/5.9 mark. Is it safe for me to add water to my reservoir that has been brought down to 5.5 with PH DOWN?

Any help or advice appreciated.

acidzx said:

So, I think i've read somewhere that using PH UP/DOWN in same water is a no-no? Here is my scenario;

Using lucas formula in DWC. When I mix full strength for my 5 gallon buckets, I need to use some PH UP to get my water to around a 5.7. The following day when I check my PH, both plants have raised to the 5.85/5.9 mark. Is it safe for me to add water to my reservoir that has been brought down to 5.5 with PH DOWN?

Any help or advice appreciated.

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Alright pal i use both in the same res, I have even ph down my solution too far then used ph up to correct it and have never had any issues.

I just top up and adjust ph to 5.8 then over a day or 2 it will slowly rise to 5.95 - 6.

How long you been doing dwc?

First time in rdwc for me from coco and soil.

Mixing them together is ment to be bad because they have a chemical reaction with each other that makes salt.
I just make PH in my DWC work its normal drift.
Mine PH drops over time.

So after having nutes mixed with water its 6.4 in mine. I PH down to 6.0.
Next day it will be 5.8.
Next day 5.6
Next day 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2 then I do a res change depending on EC or do a half drain and top up with fresh water and nutes which will bring it back to about 5.9.

majins said:

Mixing them together is ment to be bad because they have a chemical reaction with each other that makes salt.
I just make PH in my DWC work its normal drift.
Mine PH drops over time.

So after having nutes mixed with water its 6.4 in mine. I PH down to 6.0.
Next day it will be 5.8.
Next day 5.6
Next day 5.5, 5.4, 5.3, 5.2 then I do a res change depending on EC or do a half drain and top up with fresh water and nutes which will bring it back to about 5.9.

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Have you ever mixed them in the same res?

I have done it a lot and it does nothing at all to my girls, I have used just one in a res and used both and to be honest i didn't notice any dif?
Read somewhere that most of what is in ph up and down can be use by the plants anyway.


I change my res every 10 to 14 days, my tap water is 7.3 but after adding nutes it drops down to about 5.

Everyone to there own i suppose but IMO as long as its not excessive mixing of the 2 and you do regular res chages I don't think you will have any issues at all.

acidzx said:

So, I think i've read somewhere that using PH UP/DOWN in same water is a no-no? Here is my scenario;

Using lucas formula in DWC. When I mix full strength for my 5 gallon buckets, I need to use some PH UP to get my water to around a 5.7. The following day when I check my PH, both plants have raised to the 5.85/5.9 mark. Is it safe for me to add water to my reservoir that has been brought down to 5.5 with PH DOWN?

Any help or advice appreciated.

Click to expand...

Depends on the amount used, I've dosed ph up, then 2 days later ph down without issues. Just keep an eye on the water clarity, if it clouds up, you're getting a chemical reaction and precipitation and should probably change it out.

Let them drift, up to 6.2 is alright. Ideally, you want 5.8-6.0 in veg, 6.0-6.2 week 1-4 flower, 6.2-6.4 till end of flower. Always add unadjusted water/ nutes to your res, let it settle for a minute, then adjust the res PH.

majins said:

Mixing them together is ment to be bad because they have a chemical reaction with each other that makes salt.

Click to expand...

They don't make salt. They are chemical "Salts".

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_(chemistry)

"In chemistry, a salt is an ionic compound that results from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base."

They can react with each other chemically causing minerals to precipitate out of solution

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precipitation_(chemistry)