Can't Keep my PH down

[boognish]

this is my first grow and I am going to try and post some pics, but I want to know if my experience is normal regarding extremely fast swings in PH.

I start with well water through a newish softener. It then goes through a run of the mill under sink cartridge filter. By the time it comes out, it is about 7.5ph using my digital meter (I don't have a TDS meter yet).

After I use some citric acid granules, the ph comes down to 5.8 nice and easy, but within 2 hours, it is back up to 8ish........no matter how much I use the PH down (citric acid)

the plants are growing like crazy......but is this normal? any suggestions? I am going through a ton of PH down..........

dude i'm having this same problem and the shit drives me nuts because this can lock nutrients out, anybody have suggestions for a natural ph stable?

[SmknVTEC]

I use well water through a softener as well and my pH is 7.1 plus. I also use the pH down in a powder for soil but, for hydro applications it does trickle up and quite quickly. I recommend using a liquid pH down such as one from GH Products. The liquid seems to hold better in hydro than does the powder/granules.

[boognish]

thanks for the idea.....

I do use GH's other products, i guess it should be natural just to use their PH down as well.

[boognish]

just from reading around, it seems as though even if I do go with a liquid PH down, I will be using a ton of it still........is it worth it to get reverse osmosis system? any tried this? will RO strip out too many nutes preset already in my well water?

[SmknVTEC]

To lower my filtered water which is at 7.1 to 5.6 or so I use about maybe a table spoon of the liquid. Considering I have a gallon of the pH down it has lasted me a long time.

[5starfarmer]

You won't use that much of a proper ph down. Citric acid doesn't last long in the water, no real buffer capability.

[switchridex]

I had the same problem also and was going thru a ton of ph down and I was using liquid...my ph cAME OUT of the faucet at about 7.6-9 lol...oh well

[how_pow]

Why don't you just buy the pH up (potassium hydroxide)http://www.basementlighting.com/Merc...age=1/PROD/PH3 or pH down(phosphoric acid) http://www.basementlighting.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?page=1/PROD/PH4 bottles and adjust until correct. Also cheap pH testing kits (last 1 or 2 grows) http://www.basementlighting.com/Merc...age=1/PROD/PH7

[cantharis]

Originally Posted by boognish

the plants are growing like crazy

So if you weren´t fretting over some silly meter reading you would have no problems at all.
This is why I NEVER measure pH but still average over a pound of dried/cured bud per plant.
Of course, lots of people who only get 2 ounces a plant warn me about the dire possibilities of nute lockout and other such rubbish.
But I (and my girls) just give them the finger.

[buddy77]

Originally Posted by cantharis

So if you weren´t fretting over some silly meter reading you would have no problems at all.
This is why I NEVER measure pH but still average over a pound of dried/cured bud per plant.
Of course, lots of people who only get 2 ounces a plant warn me about nute lockout and other such rubbish.
But I (and my girls) just give them the finger.

So you never worry about pH I am curious what kinda setup do you have and what is your method for getting so much out of one plant, that is awesome!!! If you have any pics and pointers that would be awesome.

[SmknVTEC]

Originally Posted by buddy77

So you never worry about pH I am curious what kinda setup do you have and what is your method for getting so much out of one plant, that is awesome!!! If you have any pics and pointers that would be awesome.

He grows outside under the sun in monsterous sized pots. He neglected to metion that.

[cantharis]

I have not NEGLECTED to mention anything, Smknvtec. My methods are not secret, or anything special, just an application of common sense and growing experience which is fully disclosed and highly recommended to all.
I grow on my roof in pots, using the sun, which is, IMHO, the best light and completely free. I mix my own compost with peat, horse shit, wormcasts, sand/gravel and crushed eggshell. Up till now I have grown in 50 litre tubs, and my last grow averaged 18 ounces (dried & cured) a plant using them. The best individual plant gave me 26 ounces. I use tapwater (no idea what its pH is) and give liquid organic ferts. But for ´09 I hope to smash my own records, I have got in 40 gallon and 65 gallon megapots. Going for the big one in ´09.



3 gallon bucket in front, 50 litre tub to the right, 40 gallon megapot behind.

I tie my plants down, which makes all branches act like the main cola.



Got just over a pound off of this lady.