Someone mind assisting me in what my hydro system is telling me ? :D

[Merfolk]

Hello, i am currently growing some clones and turning them into mother..


i would post a pic, but no need, they look great, and healthy ..


My System, is a Ebb and flow with pellets, and i use the Lucas formula.


I have not quite understand how to listen to my plants yet and i need your guidance!


6-23-09 i mixed a 4 gallon res tank up 5.4 Ph and 495-500 Ppm

6-25-09 Res checked ph was 6.07 adjusted to 5.4 450 ppm

7-01-09 6.1 Ph 426 Ppm, didnt adjust PH, going to make a new batch after work..


i mixed a 4 gallon batch at 2-4 Per gallon Ratio of the lucas formula..


My plants look good, ill post a pic after work..



Suggestion? Tips?

 

[FreezerBoy]

Sounds like standard movement.

EC up, pH down means too rich. You're drinking water faster than nutes. Nutes are acidic. Increasing nute strength increases acidity.

EC down, pH up means too lean. You're drinking nutes faster than water. Decreasing nute strength decreases acidity (raises alkalinity)

The easy rule is to feed in the direction of pH movement. pH up: feed more. pH down: feed less. While it's possible to get dialed in to the point your readings flatline, a small pH swing is better for you as no one reading provides all nutes equally.

 

[bitpoop21]

what does ec up and ph up mean?
what does it mean when the ph goes up from 5.3 to 6.8 every two hours
all week long?

 

[FreezerBoy]

Without details on your methods, it's hard to say. You could be using an alkaline medium. Strong aeration can raise pH as well by causing the water to release CO2 in the form of Carbonic Acid. Go to the forum that specializes in your type of grow with a description of your methods. Or, go here, copy the questionnaire that applies and post in the Infirmary.

 

[lysol]

Strong aeration can raise pH as well by causing the water to release CO2 in the form of Carbonic Acid.

Interesting, when I read up on Lucas I see that supposadly PH is supposed to maintain itself but what I observe is infact a shift by ~ 1 PH at least every 36hrs.... This must be the reason. Will this give me problems later on?

 

[Mist]

High nutrient temps can also cause the ph to go up. Keeping your nutes at 68 to 70 degrees will help.
But in any hydroponic system there will be fluxuations that occur from the plants uptake of nutrients and their transpiration of waste.

 

[FreezerBoy]

Interesting, when I read up on Lucas I see that supposadly PH is supposed to maintain itself but what I observe is infact a shift by ~ 1 PH at least every 36hrs.... This must be the reason. Will this give me problems later on?

1 pH in 72 hours is far from the worst I've heard tell of. But, forgetting an adjustment day or two could be trouble. Not to mention the old family emergency trick that sees you gone weeks at a time. I'd slow it down if I could. Which way is it moving? Because Lucas is a strength 2-4 times stronger than anything my girls have ever asked for, I'll guess it's moving down.

 

[flat5th]

You say you are using pellets?

I assume that means hydroton or grow rocks...expanded clay pellets...right?

Did you rinse them VERY WELL to get all the dirt and dust off? Did you soak them for 24 hours in pH 5.5 water, adjusting pH along the way until it's stable 5.5-6.0?

I used rocks for a long time and they were always fuckin up my pH.

Just my twin lincolns.

Fifth.

 

[stoneroad]

Sounds like standard movement.

EC up, pH down means too rich. You're drinking water faster than nutes. Nutes are acidic. Increasing nute strength increases acidity.

EC down, pH up means too lean. You're drinking nutes faster than water. Decreasing nute strength decreases acidity (raises alkalinity)

The easy rule is to feed in the direction of pH movement. pH up: feed more. pH down: feed less. While it's possible to get dialed in to the point your readings flatline, a small pH swing is better for you as no one reading provides all nutes equally.

YO FREEZERBOY!
man you deserve an award for being such a fucking know it all when i comes to this shit! so here you go buddy just for you will all the best in mind!

 

[FreezerBoy]

Thanks Stoner but, truth is, I just got here before you did. I'm proud of my outdoor grows but, my cab grows were sad and puny before I came here. We're I a better librarian, I'd remember where I stole the above info from. I didn't figure it out, I just found the info before you got here. Hope it helps.

 

[Merfolk]

You say you are using pellets?

I assume that means hydroton or grow rocks...expanded clay pellets...right?

Did you rinse them VERY WELL to get all the dirt and dust off? Did you soak them for 24 hours in pH 5.5 water, adjusting pH along the way until it's stable 5.5-6.0?

I used rocks for a long time and they were always fuckin up my pH.

Just my twin lincolns.

Fifth.

I didnt soak them, i just rinsed them reaaaaaalllly good, or so i thought >.<