I have noticed that if I set my pH at 5.7, the plants can barely eat. I keep my RDWC systems at 6.1 and let them drift down to 5.9 as the solution drops. Then I top off with more nutrients solution to bring them back up to their maximum rate and change out the systems completely every 9-10 days.
Yeah I apply for a little margin of error from the meters. I like 6.2 - 5.8. I try to stay away from 5.8 because the margin of error of the meter could actually be 5.7 when it says 5.8. Plus it's easier for the workers when I have to leave and not worry as much.This is SO crucial!! Most people don't understand that THIS WILL MAKE OR BREAK YOUR HYDRO GROW!!! Your pH absolutely must swing. You need to allow the pH to fluctuate, and never stay exactly at 5.8 or whatever people think it should stay at all the time.
True, successful hydroponic gardeners know that in order to have healthy plants, the pH must swing through a small range, and then repeat. Snype, you mention 6.1, and I can see that being just fine, but IME I even bring it up to as much as 6.3. Those decimal points can make a world of difference. What is available at 6.0 will not be readily available at 5.9, and so on. PH should swing, on a regular cycle, between 5.8 and, say, 6.2-ish.
Excellent advice, Snype.
is there much difference in running your 4 pot RDWC and running 4 DWC buckets ?
I want to take the step up from growing in coco to DWC or RDWC, i like the idea of no fluid moving from the res to the buckets encase of flooding.
i do like your 4 pot RDWC tho. there selling 5 gallon systems in my local grow shop for 50 euros complete, i have been itching to buy it and give it a try.
the air pump they supply in the shop is rated at 192Lph.
ye those Alita pumps look good. id only be going a max of 6 plants. if i got 5oz per plant average id be happy.
i did read through your tutorial thread today, what is bucket the center to center measurement in the 4 bucket RDWC
while running RDWC or DWC an aero cloner would also be a good investment ?
Everyone here wonders why I'm stressed out all the time and can't leave the farm but someone has to always find a way to fuck up the most simplest things. A Mom in here is mislabeled from when the workers did their transplanting. Now I have to figure out which one it is. No one can pay attention to details.