GH nutes drop your pH precipitously?

[driad98]

Hey there all.

I'm adding three part GH Flora nutes to 8.0 tap water in 1/3-1/2 strength, no diamond nectar (though I usually use this). Been doing so for some time. Lately, I've found that adding these, Flora Bloom in particular, drops the pH to 5.5. Not having kept as close track of pH in the past, as I do now, I'm unclear of what to make of it... I'm measuring my pH with a digital meter, freshly calibrated.

Nutes should have a shelf life of more than a couple of months right?? So whats with this plummeting pH? Also, when I add GH liquid pH up (blue), it causes a bloom of white color in the reservoir that I'm adding it to. I'm told this is nutrients falling out of solution, which is obviously non-optimal. I guess I could buffer my pH UP before adding nutes, but I've NEVER had to do that before.

Do you GH users find this to occur? What nutes do you use that don't mash the pH all to hell?

Thanks for your insight.

[SpaceNeedle]

GH nutes balance the PH in the water when first mixed. So you shouldn't have to add any PH up the first few weeks.
Then, when adding PH up, go slowly by adding maybe 1 or 2 oz in a 40 gal container of nutes.

[FreeDaHerb]

If you are growing hydro that's right where you want your PH range...5.5 is great as it falls right in that sweet spot of 5.2 to 5.8. NOT the same as soil PH range nutrient availability wise as I'm sure you know. (in soil you would want it 6 - 6.5)

[Divestoned]

The PH dropping and the clouding ph "UP" are both normal with GH.

Dive:stoned:

[driad98]

Alright, rad. Thanks for the replies. I feel better, especially after reading Latewood's legacy. Woo hoo!