Bobby Boucher
Active member
I've had the same problems with rdwc, dwc (as per your instructions), biobuckets (as per big tokes instruction). I ditched anything recirculating for years like yourself until I was advised by another member to incorporate a larger res to slow the rate of whatever was going on.
My plants have been looking great since, but the swing still occurs very rapidly without the doser if I don't buffer my water with tap, zone or no zone.
Theres only about 6-7' of strait shot 3/4" pvc tubing that drains back into the res, and 6-7' of 3/8" vinyl tubing that top feed into the buckets. There aren't any joints or crevices lurking, at all. I'm not saying that it's not bacterial, but if it is, the only observable symptom would be the ph drop. There is no odor or rot that I've seen associated with bacterial bloom.
Most say this type of ph swing isn't a big deal so long as its dealt with everyday. I only beg to differ because my flowers still pale in comparison to my buddies who grows the same strain in the same settings who has a more predictable swing, which I'm assuming explains the discrepancy.
Whatever the issue is, it only seems to effect the final product. The grows go swimmingly, providing I buffer my ro with enough tap on a regular enough basis. My roots fill their buckets to capacity, the plants fill their screens, the flowers fill out nicely, I get about a lb per tent.. The terpene expression just is still not to the highest standards. Everybody who doesn't know dude thinks my product is tops. Everybody who knows dude asks me why my flowers don't smell as strong as his after so many years of practice.
This time I am going to try ditch the zone altogether and keep up with my heiseberg tea every few days. I'm still very reluctant to stop buffering with tap to 100ppm. Maybe if I see the tea kicking ass I'll stop worrying about it.
My plants have been looking great since, but the swing still occurs very rapidly without the doser if I don't buffer my water with tap, zone or no zone.
Theres only about 6-7' of strait shot 3/4" pvc tubing that drains back into the res, and 6-7' of 3/8" vinyl tubing that top feed into the buckets. There aren't any joints or crevices lurking, at all. I'm not saying that it's not bacterial, but if it is, the only observable symptom would be the ph drop. There is no odor or rot that I've seen associated with bacterial bloom.
Most say this type of ph swing isn't a big deal so long as its dealt with everyday. I only beg to differ because my flowers still pale in comparison to my buddies who grows the same strain in the same settings who has a more predictable swing, which I'm assuming explains the discrepancy.
Whatever the issue is, it only seems to effect the final product. The grows go swimmingly, providing I buffer my ro with enough tap on a regular enough basis. My roots fill their buckets to capacity, the plants fill their screens, the flowers fill out nicely, I get about a lb per tent.. The terpene expression just is still not to the highest standards. Everybody who doesn't know dude thinks my product is tops. Everybody who knows dude asks me why my flowers don't smell as strong as his after so many years of practice.
This time I am going to try ditch the zone altogether and keep up with my heiseberg tea every few days. I'm still very reluctant to stop buffering with tap to 100ppm. Maybe if I see the tea kicking ass I'll stop worrying about it.
Your ppk sounds like it has some rather large plants in it. 
