Hydro Nute Problem with pics... Help Needed

[MVP]

I have not made good notes until a week and a half ago when luck ran out and flying by the seat of my pant began to suck. Still getting used to Mr. Clipboard, but he gardens with me each morning and evening when checking numbers.

I want to say that the PPM increased as water consumption increased and the water level fell. But in the last 10 days PPM has bumped up and down by no more than maybe 100 over a 24 hour period.

Water consuption has been light during the same time frame.

MVP Reviewed by MVP on 11-28-2007. Hydro Nute Problem with pics... Help Needed I've been trying to figure out what type of problem I have here. The bubbler hold 4 plants (2 master kush, 1 blueberry, 1 super skunk). Two of the four plants have the same issue (one MK and the super skunk), they other 2 seem okay, maybe slight P def. Leaf pics are from MK, they are the tallest. I also have 2 MKs in dirt in same room with no problems at all. Here are some details: -indoor -hydroponic -hydroton -DWC system type -Water is 1/2 RO and 1/2 tap -Water pH is 5.8 (+/- .1 to Rating: 5

[Weedhound]

You mentioned the scent....would you say that is better today? If they really eat those numbers down are you prepared to change entire res to restore nute balance? Just something to think about.

[MVP]

Very slightly better today. I run a large carbon filter but I did notice a slight improvement. Changing nutes is no problem if the numbers fall - I have 10 gal of RO, PBP Bloom, LK, Sweet, EJ Micro, and of course CalMag on hand - so THAT is a problem I would LOVE to have....

I just pumped them up to 1115 yesterday afternoon from 920 in the morning. All fresh nutes a couple of days ago, but if the numbers fall I'll change them gladly. What do ya think my taget number should be?

[Weedhound]

Well here is where I'm not sure about things and am doing some guessing. I have a feeling that they are mostly sucking down CalMag.....you mentioned before that they did not appear to be eating much.....obviously now they are. You can go two ways with this....

I would say when your number gets down below 1000 you can either add 100ppm CalMag or change things over to a whole new rez solution.

If you are going to change your rez.....If it is possible to use ALL RO water here....I would if I were you. If that were the case I would use RO water and 300ppm CalMag in addition to whatever you are running...(about 1200 ppm with supplements) .if you use tap water.....if you use 1 gal tap water I'd go with 250 ppm and put your number at about 1100.

Other option would be to just add more CalMag. This is much less precise however....because we are only assuming the plant is eating the Cal MAg....we're not really sure WHAT the plant is eating....capice? It's a pretty safe guess I think.....but not positive so that route is a litte more chancy imo because you could possibly end up putting in too much. Between your bloom nutes and your CalMag....I'd like to see 1000ppms.....700 base nutes and 300 CalMag (or tap....but I'd like to dump your tap stuff completely) and then the LK and Sweet numbers after that....and I'd stay under 1200.

[MVP]

I've pretty much settled into the idea of dumping tap and going completely with RO. I even pickep up a second 5-gal RO bottle and filled 'er up. I'll probably go with a quick add of CalMag if I see a big drop tonight. Otherwise the plan is all fresh nutes on Friday morning as I am heading out for Vegas for Fri-Sat-(maybe)Sunday. I'll have my GF check in on the girls and foliar feed if they still appear needy that way.

[Weedhound]

That sounds pretty much exactly what I would do....add 100ppm if needed then change over next time.....pretty safe bet that's what they want this time around. After that...who knows?

Sounds like you are getting pretty dialed in there....going with all RO water is an excellent idea....you know EXACTLY what is going into your rez....not a problem until you have an issue. Believe me I find that one out the hard way myself.

Our well water was about 170 ppms but i could NOT control the ph with it. Yours has 300ppms....kind of scary because what IS all that in there?

[MVP]

Our well water was about 170 ppms but i could NOT control the ph with it. Yours has 300ppms....kind of scary because what IS all that in there?

I have figured out whatever IS in there- it is the REASON to go to RO water - for predictability and consistency...

[Weedhound]

yes exactly....! I think alot of us hydro geeks are also control freaks.....the more control I have over my plants the better I like it.

[MVP]

Final number from this evening:

PPM rose a smidge from 1060 to 1075
PH dropped from 5.7 to 5.5

I wanna believe that their leaves look like they are slowly recovering, but I'm not sure yet. Guess I'm being hopeful.

On a related note (kinda) I remodeled my mum area and my transition bubbler where I move my clones after they exit the humidity dome. Still got some work to finish but making progress.

So when do ya think I should kick the PPMs up to the ~1300 range? I wanna get them going so they can finish in time to keep my Dominas from starting flower late...

[klondike_bar]

soo many words and not enough pictures.... post some pics and we can better understand, as wel as drool over another persons plants