Will GH PH Down & Up kill off bennies in rhizosphere in DWC?

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Aqua Man

Aqua Man

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Thegreywizard

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Yes I totally agree in and since I'm in DWC, I wanted to go all dry powder as possible. The phosphoric acid being liquid isn't a big deal though and it's nice it's concentrated. I'll just make sure I'm super careful when using it.

What's the best application for it if I should be pre-diluting it in water before adding it to the rez?

Should I take a gallon of water and add a couple of drops and shoot for a certain PH?

Is there a dosing chart or something I can following when I need to drop the PH a little bit?

How long should I let it run in the rez to settle to the right PH before adding more to hit target PH of 5.8?
 
Aqua Man

Aqua Man

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Yes I totally agree in and since I'm in DWC, I wanted to go all dry powder as possible. The phosphoric acid being liquid isn't a big deal though and it's nice it's concentrated. I'll just make sure I'm super careful when using it.

What's the best application for it if I should be pre-diluting it in water before adding it to the rez?

Should I take a gallon of water and add a couple of drops and shoot for a certain PH?

Is there a dosing chart or something I can following when I need to drop the PH a little bit?

How long should I let it run in the rez to settle to the right PH before adding more to hit target PH of 5.8?
Yeah just dilute it 10 to 1 before adding. You can mix up like 500ml if you like that's enough for a bit.

If you know the exact alkalinity there are calculations but just ad and wait then readjust. I usually check an hr or 2 after.

The time it takes to mixe depends on the volume of water and pump.
 
Thegreywizard

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So at my LGS today & taking a look at the ingredients of GH Ph Down & Nectars Ph Down, they both only list phosphoric acid.

So did GH change their recipe and are now only making it with phosphoric acid, or are they just not listing all Ingredients?
 
JDsVoiceWorks

JDsVoiceWorks

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I'm not a scientist but it doesn't sound like too much of a stretch that ingredients with acid in their title might be harmful to microbial life. 🤔
Depends on the acid. Microbes coexist with acid in your gut, so more natural acids are needs to lower alkaline.
 
Aqua Man

Aqua Man

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So at my LGS today & taking a look at the ingredients of GH Ph Down & Nectars Ph Down, they both only list phosphoric acid.

So did GH change their recipe and are now only making it with phosphoric acid, or are they just not listing all Ingredients?
I think they always used it but I'm not sure.
 
matsc

matsc

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I'm not a scientist but it doesn't sound like too much of a stretch that ingredients with acid in their title might be harmful to microbial life. 🤔

Not at all. There are plenty of microbes that can happily eat acids, and/or neutralize them and eat the resulting salt. Citrate (from citric acid), ascorbate (from vitamin c), acetate (from vinegar), all possible food sources for bacteria and fungi. It's one reason why using organic acids (like citric or vinegar) for pH adjustment isn't really the best idea, given a bit of time the microbiome of your system will chow down, and your pH will start to drift.

That said, it is very much a matter of concentration. Too much or too concentrated an acid (or base) will absolutely cook your soil. But the amount we use for adjusting pH are typically fine for most things.
 
3 balls

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Not at all. There are plenty of microbes that can happily eat acids, and/or neutralize them and eat the resulting salt. Citrate (from citric acid), ascorbate (from vitamin c), acetate (from vinegar), all possible food sources for bacteria and fungi. It's one reason why using organic acids (like citric or vinegar) for pH adjustment isn't really the best idea, given a bit of time the microbiome of your system will chow down, and your pH will start to drift.

That said, it is very much a matter of concentration. Too much or too concentrated an acid (or base) will absolutely cook your soil. But the amount we use for adjusting pH are typically fine for most things.
Like I said, I'm not a scientist and I dont have the knowledge to debate that. While it may not be the end of the world, I know that it's not uncommon for bennie manufacturers to direct adjusting your ph prior to adding their product. It seems odd to me that they would go to that trouble yet so many here are so absolute that it's nonsense.
 
Aqua Man

Aqua Man

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Like I said, I'm not a scientist and I dont have the knowledge to debate that. While it may not be the end of the world, I know that it's not uncommon for bennie manufacturers to direct adjusting your ph prior to adding their product. It seems odd to me that they would go to that trouble yet so many here are so absolute that it's nonsense.
I always add en last.
 
chemistry

chemistry

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Never had any problems with PH down of any sort, and I ran five gallon DWC in buckets with enzymes. If you pour pure acid onto your plant it will burn it to dust, but bare in mind your adding the PH down to water, which dilutes it.
 
Thegreywizard

Thegreywizard

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I think they always used it but I'm not sure.
I wish we would have figured that out before I spent $40 on phosphoric acid and sodium bicarbonate.

I'm considering just using GH PH down since it's already pre-diluted and easy to use. Plus I have some for free. So I kind of wasted $30 on the 85% stuff.

But I did get the 85% stuff delivered yesterday.

And now I'm thinking I also wasted money buying the PH up I linked to, which is just sodium bicarbonate.

Which I didn't realize is just baking soda.

So what benefit did I gain from spending $14 on a pound of sodium bicarbonate from a brewer, instead of just using $1.00 in regular baking soda from the store?
 
LexLuthor

LexLuthor

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I wish we would have figured that out before I spent $40 on phosphoric acid and sodium bicarbonate.

I'm considering just using GH PH down since it's already pre-diluted and easy to use. Plus I have some for free. So I kind of wasted $30 on the 85% stuff.

But I did get the 85% stuff delivered yesterday.

And now I'm thinking I also wasted money buying the PH up I linked to, which is just sodium bicarbonate.

Which I didn't realize is just baking soda.

So what benefit did I gain from spending $14 on a pound of sodium bicarbonate from a brewer, instead of just using $1.00 in regular baking soda from the store?


Hopefully there is some type of benefit, look up the ingredients for both, maybe the expensive one doesn't have some type of filler or something. Or maybe they just scammed you for $13, hope not though.
 
Aqua Man

Aqua Man

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I wish we would have figured that out before I spent $40 on phosphoric acid and sodium bicarbonate.

I'm considering just using GH PH down since it's already pre-diluted and easy to use. Plus I have some for free. So I kind of wasted $30 on the 85% stuff.

But I did get the 85% stuff delivered yesterday.

And now I'm thinking I also wasted money buying the PH up I linked to, which is just sodium bicarbonate.

Which I didn't realize is just baking soda.

So what benefit did I gain from spending $14 on a pound of sodium bicarbonate from a brewer, instead of just using $1.00 in regular baking soda from the store?
You want potassium bicarbonate not sodium bicarbonate. Do not add sodium bicarbonate ever.... in an absolute pinch but it's not a good idea.

I never said use sodium bicarbonate that was someone else. If you read back I specifically said do not use sodium bicarbonate

You can dilute you 85% it's cheaper. That's reason I suggested it and I never ever suggest GH PH down wasn't good. Nothing wrong with GH ph down. There are just more cost efficient sources of the same stuff.

I simply said 85% is a good option because in the long run its cheaper.
 
Thegreywizard

Thegreywizard

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Ahh that was my bad, I did indeed buy Potassium Bicarbonate, not sodium bicarbonate.

Seems it's also used for brewing beer, as that was the kind of company I ordered it from off of amazon.

Had to use it a couple times and a very little goes a long way. Seems like a good product to use for sure.

Does anyone know what GH PH Up powder is made of? I have a couple of free bags but they don't seem to list what it is.

Also, yeah I'm glad I have the bottle of 85%, even though I haven't used it yet and have just been using GH PH Down lol But I do plan on using it soon.
 
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