Adding ph down directly to rez bad?!?

Hey everyone!
I was reading that if you add ph down directly to a rez that it will lockout cal/mag or other nutes. Does anyone have a more scientific explanation for this if it is true? Usually unless someone has info to back this type of stuff up it usually ends up being an opinion of a possibly bad grower. I have been adding directly to rez for weeks now but have no issues yet. Also my previous grows I have done the same thing.

That is not right. Diluting any acid or base with water before adding to another solution is useful. But that is an old wives tale about lockout caused this way. I have a 50" White Label White Skunk next to a Dinafem Blue Widow that is next to an G13 Labs OG13 - all in DWC - all have had numerous adjustments using pH Down right into the res.

Thanks. I figured I wasn't the crazy one. I never had a problem with adding directly but I see a lot of ppl on here that think that it fucks things up. One piece of bad info and the masses flock to it.

Ain't that the truth hard for new grower to learn right from wrong ... Best way to learn just jump right n and get ya feet wet lol

Article that you might like.

About 2/3 of the way down it talks about nutrient precipitation.

Where nutes can become rendered useless if exposed to massive pH changes caused by neat pH adjusters.


http://urbangardenmagazine.com/2009/12/hydroponics-nutrient-recirculation-basics-part-2


Enjoy.



J

Always added straight to res. no problems. The article says pure PH down added to nute solution will cause probs.. If you're adding the ph down to a res, everything is diluted as soon as it hits the water so theres pure ph down in contact with anything.

So a res isn't a large nute solution then?

Any nutrient elements within the area of the pH down solution can be rendered useless.

When you add pH down to a nute mix it reacts a little like a cloud slowly dispersing into the mix until you thoroughly mix it in yourself

Direct quote.

With the addition of either phosphoric acid, pH down (try to stay away from sulfuric acid as it accumulates Sulfur and takes up precious EC) or Potassium Hydroxide, pH up. Always mix with water at least 100 to 1 before adding to solution. Adding pH adjuster full strength causes all kinds of mischief in the nutrient solution. Elements exposed to a pH below 4 (even temporarily) may precipitate and you won’t know it until a deficiency shows up: even then you won’t know what caused it. Be careful. If possible use a pH doser to incrementally dose on demand. In this way you avoid spikes in pH.


The whole article is generally talking about recirculating hydro.



J