What to use to lower PH?? CONFUSED

[Kingzako]

OK now I'm really confused!!!
I have been using PH Down to adjust my PH ( to around 6 )
Now see that some are using different products liked:
Ctric Acid
Muratic Acid
Hydorcloric Acid

So what is the best and most accurate PH Down product to use??

 

[sallyforthDeleted member 75382]

Nitric acid or phosphoric acid will bring the ph down. Simple aqaurium ph water tester is cheap to tell what the ph is. Nutrients bring down ph too so add the ph down acid after you make da feed up,if it's plain water then just add a few drops at a time till you get the right ph etc.

See what others say.

 

[Ganjaplanta]

Every acid is fit for use to lower your ph level.Id prefer to keep it biological and use citric acid.Hydrocloric acid would prolly be the last kind of acid.acids usually have a ph range from 0-7(7 i a neutral sollution)

 

[reckon]

it all depends on your medium as to which will correct the PH

I personally use "sour salt" which is pure citric acid, that I use in cooking/candy making so I feel good about adding it to my water.

muriatic acid is used in pools to adjust PH, and it's also an ingredient in MURINE eye drops, so again if it doesn't harm your naked eye, it's probably safe to use in your cannabis

I personally would NEVER use hydrochloric acid to adjust PH, it's just TOO concentrated, and too dangerous to use (get just ONE drop in your eye, and that's all it would take to blind you for life)

I have a bottle of both PH up, and down, and use them when I run out of sour salt, and late in flowering when the lime I add to the soil is used up.

 

[friscofrqancis]

Muriatic Acid IS Hydrochloric Acid. I am thinking the muriatic acid for pools is 31% and that labeled as hydrochloric is 37%. A drop of Muriatic acid in your eye will ruin your day just as quickly as a drop of hydrochloric.

 

[superultramega]

ah, Muriatic acid is hydrochloric acid.

true story.

You don't want to use HCl. Acids work by dissociating in water. HCl dissociates into hydrogen ions (H+) and Chlorine ions (Cl-). The hydrogen ions react with hydroxide ions (OH-) to lower the pH. The pH scale is the concentration of hydrogen ions. If your pH is too low you need more hydrogen ions and conversely you have too many hydroxide ions.
Unfortunately with hydrochloric acid it leaves all those chlorine ions around after adjusting your pH. Those ions would like to react with something in your system; plants, other nute salt ions, etc.

GH pH down is citric acid and phosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid dissociates into hydrogen ions and phosphate anions. Those phosphate anions are actually beneficial to your plants. (it's also triprotic, which gives you a decent amount of bang for you buck in a sense for you science nerds) The citric acid will function as somewhat of a buffer for your solution as well.
SO that's why everyone says to just buy pH down from a hydro manufacturer. They know what they are doing when they formulate their adjustment solutions.

just don't use muriatic acid.

 

[TheMonarch]

sulfuric? Even when other types of acid are available, this one seems to be preferred

 

[Mr.Meds]

 

[!!!]

Use any "ph down" product from your gardening store.

 

[dupester]

I just use FF TIGER BLOOM. drops that ph way down

 

[DrugleyDoRite]

Lemon juice is my favorite. Available at any grocery store.

 

[superultramega]

Lemon juice is my favorite. Available at any grocery store.

Obviously you have never actually used it. Lemon juice will not maintain your pH.
Why do people feel the need to comment when they have no actual experience?

 

[FreezerBoy]

Kitchen products last just long enough to drive to the store and back with legitimate pH control. pH Down is both infinitely superior to and astronomically cheaper than lemon juice or vinegar. Do your plants and your wallet a favor and get the real thing.

 

[asstastic]

ph down, ej bloom, ff beastly blooms, ff chac hing

 

[chileno1978]

Rice Vinegar for me

 

[El Toker]

Phosphoric acid for me. It does the job well and in such small amounts that it doesn't affect EC at all. Although when I mix my nutrients (vitalink) and tap water they come to a pH of 6.0. The pH only starts to move up when it's time for a reservoir change so I'll sometimes use the pH down for a couple of days to postpone the change.

Most decent nutrients will buffer pH extremely well and keep it at the right level for optimum results. If you need to us a lot of pH down there's something not right.