ppm levels

[FreezerBoy]

I didn't record formulas but, I started Wilma (Thunk) at EC 2.1 on 1/30/08 which climbed on me and by 2/17/08 worked my way down to EC 1.1. She drank about 2 gallons a week so, I'd drain about two more and top with 4 gallons of pH adjusted tap water.

She stayed flat at EC 1.1 and pH 5.5 from 2/17 - 3/4. I figured it meant she was happy so I would top with EC 1.1 and pH 5.5. Wide spread yellowing from Magnesium deficiencies (pH lockout) was my reward. So I upped her to EC 1.2 pH 6.0 and that was the magic formula. In 2 weeks she'd work up to EC 1.5ish pH 5.5ish and 4 gallons of straight tap water brought her back to about 1.2 and 6.0.

With Wilma, I was in virgin territory with new methods and equipment and I recorded everything twice a day, for a month. Then once a day, then once a week. With my following Thunks and my current Destroyer, I've been a bad to non-existant journalist, going weeks or more between notes, if any. I need to find a happy medium.

 

[hehateme19]

Hey Freezer thanks for the input. I did a water change on a couple of different ladies last night (backed off on the ppms) since they seemed to be drinking more water than chem. And Im gonna check them periodically to find the sweet spot. Thanks homie.

 

[lightmove]

Solution of nutes changes the ph so I do it after.

Thanks for the answer!
Yesterday I stabilized the pH of plain water to 5.5, today I checked the pH and the reading was 6.5. Into the water there is small amount of rockwool. Did evaporation change the pH? Or may be small pieces of rockwool change it?

 

[Deft]

Ya know, mine does that too and I don't know why. My guess would be slow reactions with something in the water.

 

[lightmove]

Today I asked a friend - chemist. He told me that something from air have been dissolved into solution. So solution must be kept in airtight container. Then, most likely, the pH will stay unchanged.

 

[Deft]

Could also be some other dissolved liquid (air included) is coming out over time and changing it. I know when I run my tap a lot of air bubbles get churned in and there could be some other gases trapped in the water even before it comes out.

 

[fred_light]

I know I have read somewhere in this forum that the rockwool can change the pH. If you can raise it above the waterline that would at least eliminate it.

I have not used rockwool myself, so I can not confirm.

 

[joseaf]

You can cover the rockwool top with foil, but the algea will not hurt the plant. I covered my rockwool because I don't like the look of the stuff.

 

[gopers]

I am using rockwool in my first time grow. I am using ebb & flow, and man have I had my share of surprises. Ph is one. Freezer helped me with when to add the ph up or down. i was doing before I added nutes. But, I added new nutes to my resevoir on Saturday, ph balance to 5.7, then this morning I checked the ph and it was 6.2. I probably should have flushed the rockwool cubes, but being a noob, I didn't know any better. That has created ph problems from the get go. I believe the next go around, I will flush those cubes!