Indiva710
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I've never had a problem with pH and air. It's nutrients without sufficient "pH buffer" that cause pH swings. Google how a chemical pH buffer system works, it's magic, it's like a chemical control system. Phosphoric acid and Carbonates work well to keep pH in a non-linear zone.
"Surface agitation" is what drives gaseous exchange, research "flooming", it's what they use in aquaculture. It's just churning the surface of the liquid that facilitates gaseous exchange. Like a swelling in the centre. Much quieter and not a waterfall per se, but it works as well. The splashing of water also works, but it not necessary except for wetting above-surface roots I find, like the ones growing out net pots. Hence why I'm drifting back from flooming-waterfalls to having a good bubble spray.
Are you sure your temps are in range, and the water is churning inside the root mat and at the bottom of tote? These issues are why I'm going back to taller buckets with smaller plants than scrog totes, so that they can in-actuality have a current flowing all around and the root-mat. Also I ask myself when I build a system that water may be sufficiently oxygenated on the surface but is it really penetrating and swapping out solution right from the middle of a massive root mat every 5min? It's all about how water flows in rdwc that means healthier root growth.
I have had more problems with bulkheads that grommets, weird.
I hear water fall guys say air stones raise your ph. Can you please explain this to to me because they don't. Good aeration does. Are you saying airstones provide better aeration?So your grommets are they uniseals or actual grommets as they are similar....Also if you soak them in hottish water it makes things go much much smoother....However I use bulkheads only if it's under the waterline period..I don't trust anything else nor will I chance it using some trash that your gna have nothing but issues with in the future... Containers cracking from the stress from the grommet and the piping as well....
If I was you I wouldnt bother using a airstone in your epicenter since your return line is going to it and will have a waterfall which is plenty d.o for a epicenter plus it will give you more stable pH as well....
Which is why even current culture removed their matala diffusion disc from the epicenter as it is not necessary.....
If I was you I would stick that extra airstone from the epicenter and put it in your top off rez which I highly recommend as well your plants will Love you for it too...
As like my 4 site veg setup is a current culture uc4 with 8gal buckets and I have a epicenter that's outside of the tent and I use a 13gal trash can for my top off red and it works wonders as you want a top off res big enough that u can leave it for a week and be okay... I wouldn't get a huge oversized one tho as it will be more work plus wasted water and nutes....As I set my top off for a week ahead of the system so as the plants drink during the week it will slowly release next week's nutes and be silky smooth transition
Ya I could of said your roots would clog up with 1in tubing only...Which I only use 1in for my return line back to the epicenter.....
For h2o pumps I have found that I like the eco plus mag drives thee best hands down they are amazing pumps are built very well and leak free and it has all threaded male ends unlike the danner mag drive garbage pumps...As I bought 5 danner pumps diff sizes and places and I got 1/5 that didn't leak and I didn't have to send back...Also not a fan of their housings at all and can't see how their model 2,3,5,7,9 all uses the same housing I don't think so..Anyways got 3 eco plus mag drives and they are wonderful pumps quiet too..m
That's what I mean... How does removing an air stones give a more stable ph? I mean waterfalls are great there is no doubt but I really think this ph thing and airstones argument needs to die. It's just soo wrong and if they said that they are blowing smoke up your ass.Which you have already asked that question before aqua......I have a pm from current culture stating that is one of the reasons they took out the matala disc and just use waterfall for the epicenter......
Also I didn't say airstones raises your pH...I said taking the matala disc out or airstone From epicenter will give you a more stable pH in ur system....
However keep in mind I am also using cultured solutions nutrients as well which will effect it too...
Yep... But I think they are telling half truths. It can affect ph but so can any aeration. I get why they are making these claims. People ph water that has not been aerated then add to the system it then becomes aerated and gas exchange is increased and the ph usually rises as the water reaches equalibrium with the air in contact with it.I know this from first hand experience with using my uc4 with the matala like c.c used to have..And they said it helps with stabilizing pH with their system and nutrients.....I will try and find the email from them stating so as well...As aqua we have already had this conversation before.....
NPK 9-6-17 cal mag at about 3-1 and 2-1 ish last few weeks.My tap water is very clean, only like 50ppm. It's also very alkali so I use acids mainly to keep the pH in check.
Do you guys know the NPK Ca Mg S ratios your're using? Because I make my own, setting the ppm targets for individual nutrients is important, and takes much trial and error.
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