davecw
- 26
- 3
Well I have a rainsoft water softener and RO system. I've been using the water out of the RO but noticed that the PPM out of the RO is 120 which didn't seem right to me. I bypassed my water softener and checked the water out of the tap and it is 88 so I think there may be something wrong with my water softener and RO system. They're sending someone out to take a look at it tomorrow. Yesterday I made my nutrient solution with just tap water for the first time which has PPM 88. Added nutes to PPM around 229 and PH 5.7. This morning it was PPM 240 and PH 6.23. So because the PPM and PH went up I added tap water to bring it back down to 222 PPM and PH 5.76Another thing, if the plants getting lock out it will not eat much. You using reverse osmosis water or tap? And what ph are you at? I used country well tap Water without filtering and it locked my hydro plant out so bad I had to use florakleen clearing solution once then it came back with a vengeance! Started calling for more nutrients. Im atleast using filtered water now but would like to start using RO
I've been struggling with a couple of plants. 1 is almost 2 months old and another is almost 1 month old. I'm trying to figure out how much to feed them but every time I raise the PPM level I start to see issues. I read that if the PPM level goes up overnight it means I'm feeding too much and if the level goes down then I'm not feeding enough. So I thought I'd just bring the PPM for both plants to around 210 and watch the movement of the PPM to see what I need to do and that way I can dial in how much my plants need.
Well overnight the PPM went up on both plants. Considering that neither of them are seedlings they should be needing way more than 200 PPM. Yet the PPM are going up which is indicating the PPM/nutrient level is too high.
I don't know if there's something wrong with my water or my PPM meter is broken or if I'm just crazy but I have no idea what is going on here and I kind of feel like giving up because its stressing me out
2x4x5' tent
Maxisun PB1000 at 30"
GH Flora Trio
Air Temp 77-80 degrees F
Water temp 65-69 degrees F
Using Hydroguard and Piranha
3 fans for air circulation
I only started charting PPM and PH a couple days ago but his is what I have so far. I check when I wake up in the morning around 7 AM and when I get home around 6 PM.Get you some Calibration solution for your meters, and calibrate them, then double check them before every use to ensure they are still correct. Its tedious, but unless you have a fancy one, its gonna need calibrated frequently.
If your ppm is going up slowly, even 1 ppm over a week, its too much. You want to see ppm dropping, if its increasing, you will have issues that will leave your head spinning trying to diagnose.
You can use this chart I made, just print it out, and check your PPM every 12hrs, write it down and watch the trend. https://www.thcfarmer.com/threads/a-simple-chart-to-use-for-hydro.126059/
Dont be scared to add just water if the ppm is climbing. As for knowing how much they need, ignore what you know. The plants tell you, you dont tell them. I have plants that are over 5 weeks old at 230ppm right now, it will be fine, you have to lower it. The majority of issues comes from over feeding and root rot, that is for new growers, in my opinion.
But yea, fill out that chart, and post it. . I was checking mine at 9am and 9pm for about 3 weeks until I understand the ratios. What blend are you using, do you have pics? Whats your ph?
If I had to guess, your overfeeding it or your meter is way off. My meter screwed me for my first month :( So best bet, act like its broken. It will still tell you if the plant needs more or less water. Give it more water.
I only started charting PPM and PH a couple days ago but his is what I have so far. I check when I wake up in the morning around 7 AM and when I get home around 6 PM.
The RO is a couple years old. I think I changed the filters about 9 months ago. The company is supposed to be sending someone to take a look at the system. I have bypassed the water softener for now and using the water from fridge filter since it measures the lowest ppm at 88.Is your RO unit new?
Big issues here... you can't use water out of a water softener. It exchanges minerals for sodium and pretty much the entire ppm will be sodium..
Lot more questions but do you have pics of the plants?
There's 3 gallons in each bucket. The PPM meter is only a few weeks old. It was like $10. The PH meter cost about the same. Its a couple months old but I just calibrated it a couple days ago. I think I need to pony up some money for a couple good meters. Either the PPM meter is broken like you said or I'm going crazy lol. Or my strain just requires extremely little amounts of nutrients. Its bubblegum autoflower.Keep ur ppms at 211 for now. You never mentioned your hydro system or res size. How many gallon does your system hold? Seems like you've almost dialed in your ppm meter.. And it's broken lol.. I understood your charting. Your ph increasing so fast makes it seem as if your res is small? If not, your ph needs to be lowered a bit, say 5.6 to 5.8 it will absorb more in acidic water, which is why it could be lower ppm absorption. Regardless how much did that ppm meter cost you, how long have you used it, and when have you last checked its calibration. There's solution you dip it in to make sure it's accurate lol. Those massive 12 ph swings makes me think ur ph meter might be off too? Ur pp. Swings are not that bad when low. Just don't think they need more food ever.
My res started at 350, 2 plants 20 gallon. I'm lazy, and it's dropped down to 220 in almost 2 weeks. I've added 0 water, only ph up and down.
Regardless act as if ur meter is way off.. So every ppm matters. If it's stable at 212 ppm and slowly dropping do that.. If it's 215 it will matter. Anyways I'm off to bed.
Post up some pics too,
Take 1 gram of table salt (sodium chloride) and dissolve it in 1 litre of DISTILLED water. The ppm should be 1000 or close to in order to verify the ppm meterThere's 3 gallons in each bucket. The PPM meter is only a few weeks old. It was like $10. The PH meter cost about the same. Its a couple months old but I just calibrated it a couple days ago. I think I need to pony up some money for a couple good meters. Either the PPM meter is broken like you said or I'm going crazy lol. Or my strain just requires extremely little amounts of nutrients. Its bubblegum autoflower.
General Hydroponics PH down and upOk lots to go over... your PH is rising because of a lack of buffering.
See this post then ask questions.
Marijuana pH Levels for Growing Weed: A Basic Explanation
OK I'm going to do my best to explain PH since its something that is for the most part greatly misunderstood and can be confusing to new growers and even experienced growers alike. This will explain why we need both ppm and PH meters to give us informed information about PH This will be a...www.thcfarmer.com
What is your source of ph down? It makes a world if difference.
Do you have ph up?
How much of which nutrients are you mixing and in what order?
Your nutrients are to low. 300-400ppm total should server you well. Have to remember you tap water is not balanced nutrients.
Yeah I just went ahead and ponied up for the blue lab combo just for my piece of mind so I know I'm getting an accurate reading
One less issue to worry about..Yeah I just went ahead and ponied up for the blue lab combo just for my piece of mind so I know I'm getting an accurate reading
Thats why I tried to spend the money up front. So far after not being in this for ~12 yrs its been going really wellOne less issue to worry about..
You won't be sorry.Yeah I just went ahead and ponied up for the blue lab combo just for my piece of mind so I know I'm getting an accurate reading
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