Hy Droton pH tap water mix problem

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 vote STICKY!!!!

Ga.

Jim....

Darn edit function time limit....

jjm.... IMO, it would have been much easier to just rinse the hydroton off.... 15 minutes in a mesh bag or pot with drain holes.... Rinse off until you don't see any of the clay runoff.... Let dry and re-rinse if you want to as well....

I too just like you researched and found many different methods of cleaning or cleansing off hydroton.... And after years of experience, I can say that simply rinsing the pebbles off will not give you any pH problems during your grow.... pH is never ever stable for more than 24hrs....depending on the amount of water in your rez.... A smaller rez will flucuate faster than a larger one.... And when I say that it's never stable, I mean that fluctuation is always occurring at .001....either up or down....

So with a freshly bought bag of hydroton, rinsing well is perfectly fine.... Just my :twocents: though....

CGI::::::

I agree with ya Can... Thats all I do anyway.. I have none of those bells and whistles to check ph. I just let all the water I use allowing it to ph. The reason for the sticky vote was for the fact they observed and documented the good the bad and the ugly. What to and not to...:thumbsup:

Ga.

I've posted this myself atleast a dozen times on this site and know others have as well. This is for both new and old doesn't matter. Rinse Tron untill most of the "dust" is gone. Take a bucket with PH adjusted water (PH is up to you but I would look at 5.5-5.8) and add Tron to water then let soak. After an hour or so check water and see how much it has risen then dump water and repeat. Normally takes a couple 3 times for it to stabilize but it will.