PH dropping 1 full point in 12 hrs

[Guest]

I run 8" aero tubes, 40 gal rez, RO water, PBP nutes, 1/4 hp chiller. Rez set at 65F

In the last week my PH is dropping like f*%k :yoinks: In 12 hours it goes from 5.8 to 4.8 so I have to adjust twice a day.

I have changed the rez and it will hold steady for 24 hrs then drop like crazy again.

The AK's in there now have 12 to 14 days to go so I don't know if they have changed their diet in a way that would destabalize the ph? :chin:

The only other thing I can think of is that the chiller is about 3 weeks old and I installed a 400gph mag pump for that (mounted outside the rez, not submersible) I've heard the mag pumps affect the iron in the solution but that seems like a longshot and I use Calmag so there should be sufficient iron.

The ph was fine for at least a week and a half after installing the chiller and pump so it doesn't really point to that.

The rez is pretty clean and free of algae, normal I would say. Don't think I have a ton of roots rotting, they should be good.

Any ideas?? Any input is apprecited...

GroNut

[dirtysouthboss]

i had the same prob. No one could give a straight answer, just scrub the inside of your res mine would make it about 3 days and drop again. something to do with how the water evaP'd and the nutes were being used.

[Guest]

I would replace the res in it's entiriety. I have found that when this occurs, there is a number of problems occuring simultaneously.

Nutrient lockout is occuring due to the ph problem excacerbating the ph problem creating a dog chasing his tail problem, until it is too tiired and just lays down.

I use a DWC bucket that holds 20 gal. It has this proble evey now and a again. based on nutrient buildup and salts. In my large DWC unit I use PBP F&F and Cal/Mag plus. That has worked best for me now, and I have not a re-occurance for some time now. knock on wood. I used to use GH 3 part and additives.

I also swapped out my other large DWC unit going to 5 gal dwc tanks. No more ph or nutrient problems.

I also use aero to create a nice air/water ratio. Maybe a better circulation system with the air/water in the res will help. Bubbling water causes the ph to rise, so perhaps you need more oxygen through bubblers or something. I hope you use something to mix your res while it is feding the tanks. if not I would review bio-buckets for some ideas as well.

I hope this helps, but I would R&R the res unit removing any heavy buildup on the interior of the res unit. That is where your problem starts.

Good Luck!

Avid

[dirtysouthboss]

I had the problem with gh 3 part nutes also, 20 gallon res on areoflo 30.

[JustATry]

GroNut - what you are seeing right now is the 'transition perioid' of NPK. If you watch your pH during veg it will tend to drift up because the plants are consuming more N than P or K. P and K are both bases, so this causes the pH increase.

During flowering you will see the pH drop due to the increased K consumption. N is a acid, so this causes the pH drop. This is when they start packing on weight and consume a lot of K.

Use either K or pH up (potassium hydroxide) for a bit until you see the pH stabilize.

http://www.icmag.com/gallery/data/500/2385P1010089-thumb.JPG (http://www.icmag.com/gallery/data/500/2385P1010089.JPG)

I used to run the 6" tubes.

[Guest]

Thanks fellas for the replies,

It seems I may have a combination of probs.

DS and Avid... dumped the rez and gave her a good cleaning. Some brown algae but nothing more that I usually see at 6-7 weeks. No doubt that a cleaning helps.

Hello JAT, Been watching your new rig construction... I'll have to pop back over to check out your progress.

I suspected the diet change may change the balance a bit but I've never seen it this bad. I looked over my notes of past grows to look for a pattern or to see what's been different and I discovered that I've slacked off using Hydro Guard. Been using Cannazyme at some rez changes but not all and I kind of tapered off the Hydogard in the last couple of weeks so I added 10ml per gal and BAM!!!

I couldn't beleive it... the ph actually went up a tad and these babies drank like large fish. 6 gallons in the first 12 hours and 6 more last night.. :woohoo: 12 gals in 24 hours!! Guess I had a couple of things going on but it seems to be fine now.

Thanks again.... GroNut


http://www.icmag.com/gallery/data/500/5610Eden_s_Meadow_013-thumb.jpg (http://www.icmag.com/gallery/data/500/5610Eden_s_Meadow_013.jpg)

[JustATry]

GroNut - What brand of nutes are you using? You definitely want to stay up on the inoculation of Hydroguard into the system, try to keep your colony as strong as possible. Is your rez covered? 12 gallons in 24 hours seems excessive, maybe you are losing most of it to evaporation. Room temps ok?

I will be over here from now on. OG has way too much drama/newbies for me. I just want to grow some buds and share what I can. :D

Room2Grow and I will be starting a new True Aeroponics Thread here soon. Keep a lookout...

Don't want to hijack your thread. Here are a couple of new pics for ya'.
http://www.icmag.com/gallery/data/500/2385DSC01217-thumb.JPG (http://www.icmag.com/gallery/data/500/2385DSC01217.JPG)

http://www.icmag.com/gallery/data/500/2385DSC01215-thumb.JPG (http://www.icmag.com/gallery/data/500/2385DSC01215.JPG)

[Guest]

Usin Pure Blend Pro and Floraliscius at 1/4 strenght. Also use ProTekt (potassium silicate) for PH up. Calmag with RO water.

12 gals is a shit load of water for 24 hrs. When I first opened the lid to the rez I thought I had a leak for sure.. no leak. I'm hoping these ladies are making up for the last week or so when things weren't right. 26 of them and no taller than 3'. I just hope that since they have a little less than 2 weeks to go that I'll still get some more of the late bloom fattening up.

The rez is tight. The drains go through a rubber seal as does the siphon tube for the pump and there's a hard lid that I cover with a towel just to make sure. Room temps don't exceed 80F and stay pretty constant at 75F.

Is that a grow rig or car wash!!! damn that's sweet! Looks like the hard work is paying off. I keep an eye out for your new thread.

Thanks bro,
GroNut

[JustATry]

I have also been using PBP for the last two grows. I can vouch for the dramatic pH swing that occurs during the 'transition period'. Just use the pH up for a week, or so, and you should see your pH level back out.

12 gallons still seems like a tremendous amount. I had 120 going and the most they were drinking was 8-10 gallons at their peak thirst. And you say there are no leaks... ...so they must just be really thirsty. :yummy:

Thanks for the compliments on the tables. It's a true aeroponic setup. 100 PSI foggers and pump, almost 3 feet of vertical growing area, mediumless, and they should be up and running very soon.

[Guest]

Ready to hear somthing funny....

The 12 gals didn't leak that's for sure but one 7.5' length of tube holds a lot.

The root blob covered the drain and the tube was filling faster than it was draining until water started leaking out the tops of the net pots.. :pointlaug

I got a laugh out of it. The ph is doing better so that's cool.

Can't waint to see that rig going. Are you gonna post the probress in your new thread?

later,
GroNut

[JustATry]

You know, I ran into that before and didn't even think about that. Now you know!

The setup is pretty much done. Just moving around some lights and waiting on clones. I will go through and take some detailed pics tonight and start the new thread. Room2Grow should be joining in shortly. Most of the aeroheads from OG are migrating over here. :D

[Guest]

Glad to see your ph under control again. Usually I find nutrient lockout starts to occur next and the plants can really suffer from that activity.

Cleaning filters, pumps, and rez's is a must with organics I think.

Glad to see the problem resolved.

I gravitate from PBP to Budswell the last three weeks of 12/12 to give the plants a change of pace and some much needed phosphorous and less needed nitrogen.

Avid