jjm
12-20-2011, 05:56 PM
Hy Droton pH tap water mix problem.
I hope that this will save someone time and trouble somewhere down the line !
As an avid dirt farmer so to speak, I decided to try the wet side for a change of pace.
I’m not looking for kudos, credit or a following. I am posting this as a purely personal experience after an EXTENSIVE internet search and reading posts on the subject from many- different web sites / forums, and not finding what I really wanted to know!
I have a pH meter “Accurate PH 2 Digital Meter” calibrated per the instructions to 7.0.
I also have a “TDS3” by “HM DIGITAL” calibrated to a 342 NaCl PPM solution.
THIS IS WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED. First I had the owner of a local well known hydroponics store check my tap water which confirmed MY OWN TEST
… PPM = 32 and pH = 7.0.
I bought a large bag of “Hy Droton” I was instructed to “Just wash it for 3-5 minutes, put it in a bucket of tap water adjust the ph to 5.0 with “PH UP” or “PH DOWN” and monitor it for a couple of hours.
The owner said that it should remain constant at after a little while at or around 5.5-6.2”.
WELL THAT SOUNDED LIKE A SIMPLE THING TO DO?
SIMPLY WRONG !!!!!!!!
After what I perceived as a through cleaning of “Hy Droton” with city tap water 7 PPM = 32 and pH = 7.0 and following his instructions, I came to the realization that there was a problem with the ph balance of “Hy Droton” plain water mix {NO NUTES ADDED AT ALL}.
I have a lot of free time and it shows if you look at the time line below, Ha Ha Ha!
Needless to say, I cat nap when I want to.
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The following is how I “TRY” changed the ph value of “Hy Droton” tap water mix after thoroughly rinsing.
4 ~ 10 INCH NET POTS FULL ~ 2 EACH ~ DUMPED INTO 5 GAL BUCKETS [WATER CHANGE drained and NEW tap water at 7.ph adjusted down. As follows
Water with pH adjusted down from 7.0
Time - Bucket 1 pH - Bucket 2 pH
9:00 AM 5.2 - 5.3
12:30 PM 6.3 - 6.4
3:45 PM 6.7 - 6.7
4:45 PM Water changed and pH adjusted down from 7.0
4:45 PM 4.3 - 4.5
6:45 PM 5.4 - 5.4
6:45 PM 5.6 - 5.6
9:00 PM 5.9 - 5.9
12:30 AM 6.3 - 6.3
2:20 AM 6.4 - 6.4
2:30 AM Water changed and pH adjusted down from 7. 0
2:30 AM 5.4 - 5.5
4:30 AM 5.9 - 5.9
10:30 AM 6.4 - 6.4
Adjusted pH down with NO water change out
11:30 AM 4.1 - 4.2
3:00 PM 4.9 - 5.0
Changed solutions as some one suggested on some message board somewhere… now using 2 gal water and 1 gal white vinegar per bucket. 2-1 ratio
3:30 PM 3.0 - 2.9
6:30 PM 3.2 - 3.2
9:30 PM 3.4 - 3.4
11:30 PM 3.5 - 3.5
4:00AM 3.5 - 3.5
5:30 AM 3.5 - 3.5
9:00 AM 3.5 - 3.5
11:30 PM 3.7 - 3.6
5:00 PM 3.7 - 3.7
7:30 PM 3.8 - 3.8
11:30 PM 3.8 - 3.8
10:00 AM 3.8 - 3.8
1:00 AM 3.8 - 3.8
STABLE AT LAST.
I expect the pH will tend to rise in the grow cycle over time due to several factors. I am happy with my results using the water and vinegar solution SO FAR.
I’d rather have to up the pH than to constantly tune it down.
3:15AM
I drained vinegar water solution and refilled buckets with tap water / rinsed the “Hy Droton” and added it. and adjusted the pH down to 5.5.
SO FAR, the pH has remained constant at 5.5 for the last 9 hours.
AS I stated at the beginning, I hope this helps someone somewhere. I will follow up IF and WHEN something note worthy happens.
I hope that this will save someone time and trouble somewhere down the line !
As an avid dirt farmer so to speak, I decided to try the wet side for a change of pace.
I’m not looking for kudos, credit or a following. I am posting this as a purely personal experience after an EXTENSIVE internet search and reading posts on the subject from many- different web sites / forums, and not finding what I really wanted to know!
I have a pH meter “Accurate PH 2 Digital Meter” calibrated per the instructions to 7.0.
I also have a “TDS3” by “HM DIGITAL” calibrated to a 342 NaCl PPM solution.
THIS IS WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED. First I had the owner of a local well known hydroponics store check my tap water which confirmed MY OWN TEST
… PPM = 32 and pH = 7.0.
I bought a large bag of “Hy Droton” I was instructed to “Just wash it for 3-5 minutes, put it in a bucket of tap water adjust the ph to 5.0 with “PH UP” or “PH DOWN” and monitor it for a couple of hours.
The owner said that it should remain constant at after a little while at or around 5.5-6.2”.
WELL THAT SOUNDED LIKE A SIMPLE THING TO DO?
SIMPLY WRONG !!!!!!!!
After what I perceived as a through cleaning of “Hy Droton” with city tap water 7 PPM = 32 and pH = 7.0 and following his instructions, I came to the realization that there was a problem with the ph balance of “Hy Droton” plain water mix {NO NUTES ADDED AT ALL}.
I have a lot of free time and it shows if you look at the time line below, Ha Ha Ha!
Needless to say, I cat nap when I want to.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
The following is how I “TRY” changed the ph value of “Hy Droton” tap water mix after thoroughly rinsing.
4 ~ 10 INCH NET POTS FULL ~ 2 EACH ~ DUMPED INTO 5 GAL BUCKETS [WATER CHANGE drained and NEW tap water at 7.ph adjusted down. As follows
Water with pH adjusted down from 7.0
Time - Bucket 1 pH - Bucket 2 pH
9:00 AM 5.2 - 5.3
12:30 PM 6.3 - 6.4
3:45 PM 6.7 - 6.7
4:45 PM Water changed and pH adjusted down from 7.0
4:45 PM 4.3 - 4.5
6:45 PM 5.4 - 5.4
6:45 PM 5.6 - 5.6
9:00 PM 5.9 - 5.9
12:30 AM 6.3 - 6.3
2:20 AM 6.4 - 6.4
2:30 AM Water changed and pH adjusted down from 7. 0
2:30 AM 5.4 - 5.5
4:30 AM 5.9 - 5.9
10:30 AM 6.4 - 6.4
Adjusted pH down with NO water change out
11:30 AM 4.1 - 4.2
3:00 PM 4.9 - 5.0
Changed solutions as some one suggested on some message board somewhere… now using 2 gal water and 1 gal white vinegar per bucket. 2-1 ratio
3:30 PM 3.0 - 2.9
6:30 PM 3.2 - 3.2
9:30 PM 3.4 - 3.4
11:30 PM 3.5 - 3.5
4:00AM 3.5 - 3.5
5:30 AM 3.5 - 3.5
9:00 AM 3.5 - 3.5
11:30 PM 3.7 - 3.6
5:00 PM 3.7 - 3.7
7:30 PM 3.8 - 3.8
11:30 PM 3.8 - 3.8
10:00 AM 3.8 - 3.8
1:00 AM 3.8 - 3.8
STABLE AT LAST.
I expect the pH will tend to rise in the grow cycle over time due to several factors. I am happy with my results using the water and vinegar solution SO FAR.
I’d rather have to up the pH than to constantly tune it down.
3:15AM
I drained vinegar water solution and refilled buckets with tap water / rinsed the “Hy Droton” and added it. and adjusted the pH down to 5.5.
SO FAR, the pH has remained constant at 5.5 for the last 9 hours.
AS I stated at the beginning, I hope this helps someone somewhere. I will follow up IF and WHEN something note worthy happens.