PH, TDS readings + questions

[GrassNewb]

I started Germination Sept 30 and and put them in the bubbler at 1 week old (Oct 8)


In my rez (56L) I added

50ml of DNF Grow A
50ml of DNF Grow B

DNF says

Seedlings & Cuttings EC 700 (ppm 320-450)

Week 1 Established rooted plants EC 1000 (ppm500-700)

Week 2 EC 2000 (ppm 1000-1400)



My readings are as follows

R.O water 0.013mS | PPM 9 | ph 5.3

REZ after nutes 0.417mS | PPM 277 | ph 5.3

I figure the 0.417mS is the EC reading or 417 in DNF terms. And 277 is the PPM ? probably using 0.67 as the multi factor.

How are my numbers? I take a reading everyday and their always +,- 5 and ph stays very stable at around 5.20 - 5.30. Is this good?

The plants look great. Except two they never really took off. But I have no idea where I am in the growth and nute stages.

 

[GrassNewb]

Pics are now up.

 

[Macster2]

Veg them for as long as you wish.Over the next 4 weeks increase your EC slowly to 2000
Then when you switch them too flower, change your DNF to bloom A+B and maintain at 2000ec and consider adding bloom fortifier when you see buds.By the way ppm is not the EC

 

[trademanny]

Did you calibrate your pH meter? The pH of your starting RO water looks low to me..

 

[Macster2]

Agreed, bring your ph up to 5.8 - 6.2

 

[GrassNewb]

No on the Calibration of PH meter. Its a quality unit I borowed, has a removable sensor on a wire it is left in some sort of buffer solution all the time.

I doubt its been calibrated before.

My liquid PH tests seem to suggest yellowish red on the chart or ~5.0 - 5.5


Looks like I got the PH up for good reason.

Temps in the rez seemd to be going around 75-79F. This ok for not encouraging bacteria growth?

 

[FreezerBoy]

65º is optimum, 75º-79º is pushing it. GH nutes may be able to handle it but, if your playing with beneficial bacteria, consider ice, chillers and or Hydrogaurd.

 

[GrassNewb]

I might be able to dial those temps soon especially since the weather is getting very cold out side.

Currently I am in taking air from the bottom of the cabinet and exhausting from the top. The cab is in a 18'x12' garage and the ambient temps can get quite cold, however right now they are warm.

I am running 24/7 right now Is that an issue?

Also my 400w Sunmaster Warm Deluxe MH is 17" From the rez top.

 

[FreezerBoy]

Some processes happen better at night. 16/8 - 18/6 will provide better growth and remove 6-8 hours of heating from the lamp.

 

[GrassNewb]

OK I am on board with the timer. Will it hurt to change over?

 

[FreezerBoy]

No. You'll be fine.

I screw the cycle 2-3 times every grow. Not on purpose, I'm just human. As long as they're spread out, you're OK. It's playing with the cycle on a regular basis that herms you out.

 

[GrassNewb]

Got a bit of a surprise this morning. Guess I better get that PH in check soon.



Is that from PH being to low at 5.3?

The light is to far away to cause issues, and nutes are very week at 0.417mS

DNF PH UP says to add 1/4 ml to every 1L of nutrients.
My rez with Nutes is about 50L to be safe. (more like 56L)

0.00025 litres * 50L = 12.5 milliliters

I added 6 drops (3 ml) for now. I will take a PH reading tomorrow.

 

[srah]

Ph 5.3 is fine for DWC. Get your EC up to at least 1.0.
Maybe it's just the pic, but the color doesn't look right.
I wouldn't worry about that leaf.

 

[FreezerBoy]

5.3 is way too low. Below 5.6 is asking for trouble. As to EC 1.0, ask your plants. If your readings are going up, you're too rich. Going down, too lean.

 

[trademanny]

I still think you should calibrate your meter. Your pH of RO water seems way too low (or, your meter is SAYING it is, anyways.) If your meter is off, ALL your readings will be (and your plants will suffer).

Check it out:




Pick up a couple bottles of calibration solution. It will save your sanity.

 

[GrassNewb]

Update

Last night I added 15ml DNF Grow A and 15ml DNF Grow B to raise nute levels. They are at 0.514mS (344ppm)

Plus I added 6 drops (3ml) of DNF PH UP.

I don't think that was a good idea. My PH reader looks to be fubared I tried a PH strip and a Liquid Drop kind.

Can someone tell me if my PH is too high from the colors? Maybe 6.0 ish? I hate those damn color things but its all I got for a "solid" reading.

I also included new pics of the leaves and root porn. Do they look ok? I wonder if it was just plain shock going from almost no ppm to "0.417mS (277ppm) " the first time I added nutes.? To young and to quick?

One other question... should the water level be up into the pots (1/4" or so) or should it be below the net pots not touching?

 

[FreezerBoy]

Definitely too alkaline if that's where you're holding or pH is rising. 5.6-6.0 is the desired range. I start at 6.0 and slightly over feed. This raises EC and drops pH. Tap water returns me to original settings. Your roots are long enough now to allow for a one inch gap between pots and water levels. With established roots I've let the gap go as far as six inches though that's not a recommendation.

I'l take a drop test kit over a pH meter any day.

 

[Macster2]

I had a meter but it kacted,before I was using the ph drops kit and it worked fine so I'm going back to that, Just go for GOLD or a nice urine colour and you know your ph level is good.

 

[GrassNewb]

Think I really screwed up now.

Last night I added 10ml PH down. And ended up really really bad.

PH this morning crashed into the reds... high 4's?

Anyway my roots are scared of the water and look to be gathered to together for dear life or up wrapped around the baskets not wanting to touch the water.


The leaves def look worse now and the color blemishes are becoming present on almost all of them. They look wilted as well.

As an emergency measure before I left today (limited time) I emptied out half the res and put in 20L of R.O to perhaps help. Tonight I think I will do a complete res change.


Question about PH up and PH down.

Am I adding to much?

As I stated DNF says

1/4 ml to every 1L of nutrients.
My rez with Nutes is about 50L to be safe. (more like 56L)

0.00025 litres * 50L = 12.5 milliliters

 

[FreezerBoy]

IGNORE YOUR INSTRUCTIONS! DNF has no idea what your water's like or the strength of your solution. Only you know these things and only you can determine the amount.

Get a journal and take notes. Start with a liter of water, measure pH, add .2 ml pH Down and measure again. Add .2 ml, measure. Add.2 ml measure. Now mix up some nutes in fresh water and measure that. Note how nutes adjust pH on their own. Adjust by .2ml a few times and again note changes.

Now you know. Write it all down on the journals opening page so that 2-4-137 weeks from now you know just where to go.