Questions about PH

[fhydro]

Hello,
after putting some seeds into rockwool cubes, there are now in a bubbler system. The roots are growing fast but the leaves seem to be stopped. I checked my PH solution : 9!!!. I made a new mix which is 6.5 PH.
1/ Is it normal to experience a slow growing in a 9 PH solution ?
2/ Why the PH is increasing so fast ? Is it a rockwool pollution of water ?

Thanks for advises

Fhydro

[willybblue]

Did you soak your rockwool in PH balanced water first?? Rockwool is high in PH naturally and so it is always wise to PH balance the rockwool cube by soaking it in PH balanced water for 24 hours before you start using it.

Also, I would say that 6.5 is still a bit high...I would go for more like 5.8-6.0 but that is just what works for me...

Can you give more details?? Setup? Lighting, temps humidity etc?? That might help out a bit more too...

Also, when you PH balance the water and you use a product like PH Up or down, the PH up and down with gas off for the first few days causing the PH to fluctuate...I would say it is a number of factors but knowing more about your setup would help everyone better diagnose your problem!

Good luck!!

[fhydro]

Yes, i prepared my rockwool cubes with acid water, PH 5.5, during half a day, saying 12h. The light is a 250 HPS for the moment, temp is 26 celcius, and the ferts are GH flora series. I use self made bubbler. The plants are 3 weeks old and even more and they have only one set of leaves after cotyledon. But the root system is growing quite fast in my opinion.
I check the PH of an unused rockwool cube and it seems to be very basic, PH 9 or more.
Fhydro

[fhydro]

I have just checked my PH and it is already 8.5 high, 24 h after being 6.5. I think that the bubbles go to the rockwool and go back down to the fert /water solution with a high PH. I don't think that i have to balance my PH every day...
I did not have this problem with waterfarm and vermiculite. Any one with bubbler/rockwool experience ?
Thanks
Fhydro

[willybblue]

Hey there...I use GH Flora series too...bubbler (DWC 5 gal buckets) and I have never had that big of a problem before. Have you calibrated your PH meter lately? I do however check my PH every day and usually I don't have to adjust but once a week if that. I usually start at 5.5 and let it drift up to 6.2 or so before bringing it back down again. That is weird...I don't know what to tell ya...except for change your nutes and start over...

What PPM are you running just out of curiosity?? What strain are you growing too? I always like it when I find a new GH Flora user...nice to know what kind of ratios and things other people go by...

Good luck and sorry I am of little help!

[fhydro]

Hello willyblue,
the problem is less important now but still exists. I have to adjust every 2 days, but I start from 6.5, maybe i should try like from starting from 5.5 also. I think that did not soak enough the rockwool cubes, either not enough time, either not enough acid solution. Lastly, 2 days after being 6.5, it was 7.5.
I don't use PPM meter, neither PH meter. I use PH test with reactive solution, and I put 3 ml floragro, 2 ml florabio, 1 ml florabloom in 2 liter of water. And you ? Should I get a PPM meter ?
I grow skunk special from female seeds and hazexskunk from nirvana seeds. I am starting also afghan from nirvana seeds in soil to compare.
Any way, i find that for one month of growing, my plants are very little.
Thanks for your help ..

[SmoKnJo]

Fhydro , I have same issue,did you get yours resolved,if so, how or what was cause?

[fhydro]

Hello Smoknjo,
the situation now is :
day 0 : i make my nutes solution with 2 liters of water and 3,2,1 ml of GH flora series. Add some acid to get a ph solution to 5.5. Put the plants with bubbler in it.
day 1 : PH is 8 or even more. I add acid to lower the PH to 5.5
day 2 : PH is 6 and stay stable to day seven

I tried the same without putting the bubbler, without air stone nore plants. PH is stable allover the week.

Maybe the air makes the ph to increase at the first moment of mixing? Chimic reaction ? I don't know. Anyway the results are not very good regarding the growth rate. At 5 weeks, the look as 3 weeks.
Oh, i use ph down for aquariums...
And you, what are your tools, and the results, set up ?
Thanks

[SmoKnJo]

fhydro,using a emily's garden,with a 400w hps,using earth juice ph up and dwn.KURI advised me to chk water temp and if any light is getting into tank,this seemed to help me considerably..might want to chk that...