hydro hard up

[redbudduckfoot]

okay, so im new to this online forum. im a seasoned grower, delving into hydro. im using a turbo flow 14 as bubbler, w two air stones, pumping 24hrs a day. the water level is about ten centimeters above the bottom of net pots. the roots look healthy, minus a little browning ot the tips. res temp is at 72, and i use only distilled water.I use an almost organic fert called cornicopia formula x. it has no salts, nute value is 2-1-2. also to go w that i use cornicopia necessary energy, a micro nute. its a tried and tested hydro nute combo, many of my friends have had great success w it. i change the water completely every 2 weeks.
now.......the problems. first of all, i adjust my ph to about 5.6. it keeps on rising. the nutes are at about 200ppm, which is my sound low, but this fert has no salts, so it is equal to about 700-800 ppm generalhydro.
the roots arent really growing much past the pots, which seems out of the ordinary, because ive seen this system used and the roots should fill the top res. the leaves are folding width-wise, while also clawing down. looks like magnesium def, but ive added epsom salt. also added 3 tablespoons h2o2. the thing is,2 of the 14 plants are doing much better, while 8 are absolutely miserable. the new plant growth is affected also, and the new growth is weak, in some plants almost folded over.
feeding a mother w the same fert solution, and its perfect. huge. im using a 400 watt mh, and the air temp is 75 deg f. please help, getting discouraged. plant growth is no where near what im used to. thanks

 

[Classyathome]

Try dropping your water/nutes level down to below the netpots, not above the bottoms...

The roots will drop down after the water...

 

[redbudduckfoot]

okay, but the thing is that 2 of the 14 are doing well, while the others are curling and clawing with an obvious deff. is the green at veins and much lighter as it reaches the edges. regardless of water level now, if i removed a drainspacer and the roots grow down, wont i still be back to the start? thanks for the quick response

 

[redbudduckfoot]

now, i just got an idea. i checked the ph of the distilled water w/ my liquid ph test kit and its color matched the corresponding color of 8.0+ now that is impossible, since distilled water is ph 7.0. so maybe the ph test kit is old/expired? gonna get a new kit tommorrow. anyone have this happen to them?

 

[toastfighter2]

Distilled water is only 7.0 in theory. From the bottles that I have bought from the store, they have been as low as 5.5 to as high as 8.5. The key is to always test it before you use it.

 

[EvilTwin]

Hey redbud,
I tend to agree with Classyathome. Dropping the level would stimulate more root growth...and the brown root tips concern me a bit. What do the instructions say about water level?

I'm an old dirt grower who switched to hydro a few years back. It'll take some time...but you'll get there.
ET

 

[jim_browsky]

72 degrees is too high for my DWC buckets, I would drop your temp.
Also drop your water level below the netpots by 2-3".
About source water pH- my RO water varies from 5.4-7.2. If you are
only using distilled watered in your system, that could be the
reason your chasing your pH. It has no buffering capacity. Read
BigTokes basic water chemistry. I don't change any of my reservoirs
the whole flowering cycle and I might have to add pH up/down 2-3
times in 9 weeks.
Do you have any pics of your set-up or plants? That may help.

 

[redbudduckfoot]

well everyone, i finally figured it out. my freakin general hydro PH down went bad. i was havin to add way to much , like 6-10 ml per gallon!!!! and that, as i figured out, was poisoning my plants w phosphoric acid. so to everyone out there, dont use GENERAL HYDROPONICS PH DOWN if its over 2-3 years old. ive heard it a little bit over the net, now confirmed. my ladies are finally becoming healthy again.

 

[EvilTwin]

well everyone, i finally figured it out. my freakin general hydro PH down went bad. i was havin to add way to much , like 6-10 ml per gallon!!!! and that, as i figured out, was poisoning my plants w phosphoric acid. so to everyone out there, dont use GENERAL HYDROPONICS PH DOWN if its over 2-3 years old. ive heard it a little bit over the net, now confirmed. my ladies are finally becoming healthy again.

Hey Redbud,
Glad you figured that out and are back on track. That exact thing happened to a grow buddy of mine about 2 years ago. GH ph down got weak on him. So now we have at least two accounts of this...
ET

 

[redbudduckfoot]

yeah. i just about gave up. i thought i was losing my mind. it has been about 4 years since i did hydro, and it was always easier than soil. less work. and of course, my mother was being fed ph'd water too... it took a lot longer to show the signs, but now shes fucked too. it'll be harder to bring her back. im glad i figured this out, because i'm on day 14 of a 10 plant auto ak47 fem run. if i'd fried those id be pretty pissed. now, every day the plants look better and better. im hoping i'll be able start flowering in a week.

 

[EvilTwin]

yeah. i just about gave up. i thought i was losing my mind. it has been about 4 years since i did hydro, and it was always easier than soil. less work. and of course, my mother was being fed ph'd water too... it took a lot longer to show the signs, but now shes fucked too. it'll be harder to bring her back. im glad i figured this out, because i'm on day 14 of a 10 plant auto ak47 fem run. if i'd fried those id be pretty pissed. now, every day the plants look better and better. im hoping i'll be able start flowering in a week.

I'm no autoflowering expert...just curious. Are you planning on turning the light cycle down? Or leave it on 16/8?

Your statement "im hoping i'll be able start flowering in a week" makes me think you're taking an active role.

It's my understanding that you just let the plants do their thing and leave the lights alone. better yield that way. Check with some of the autoflowering dudes.
ET

 

[redbudduckfoot]

oh, i didnt specify: i've got a couple strains goin. the mother and hydro table is an outdoor strain from my area, very tasty and virtualy no leaves near bud site. my recent addition is ten auto ak47 fems, and a fem LA Woman. shes a fast grower from seed. when i said im hopin to start flowering i was refering to the damaged hydro table. yes, my veg room is at 20/4. right now my veg room is 8x5, w/ a 400mhswitch and a 600 hps. im gonna flower out the ak in the 20/4 and divide the room off to allow for 12/12. ive got plenty of ventilation.