Quote Originally Posted by Herbus
LW in my 6 years of experience I've noticed no difference in rate of growth or yeild between 5.5 and 6.5 PH. Nutrients remain in total solution throughout this range. I've tried both (6.5 and 5.5) from start to finish and they are the same in my experience. Bleach does nothing to release bound minerals, in fact it can increase toxicity even when well rinsed. LW I'm a chemist by trade and the advice you are giving may work for you but is in fact not correct. You seem a nice person I'm sure you mean well. Chances are this persons problems are caused from toxic salt build up in the media.
It is easy to quote from the bible, but I went and checked it...as far as ph; Jorge Cervantes, says, you can grow 5.5-6.5 but he and every other hydro grower I've ever met...says, 5.8-6.0 for optimum growth...you can grow 5.5-6.5, and I'm sorry, I simply don't believe that 5.5 as opposed to 6.5 would grow the plants exactly the same...different end of the nutrient uptake spectrum.

Consistency is the key to growing healthy, vigorous, high yielding plants, and for a newb...that doesn't have grow experience, you should tighten the parameters, not LOOSEN them...cause you teach him to grow at 6.5 and the next thing you know....BBaamM,,7.2ph and dying plants...especially if he/she is among the 80% of growers who can't afford an R-O unit.

2nd...Jorge also says that to clean used grow medium, such as Hydroton, use a 5% bleach solution...So does Zandor by the way! So I learned originally from the people at Advanced Nutrients; I'm sorry, but I will keep on advising people to grow the same way I learned by reading Jorge Cervantes Material/books, through trial and error and the Guidance of PHd's in the business.

Nice guy or Not...Look forward to many debates on growing with U. lw