Constant high pH in DWC

Good afternoon fellow growers,

I am in need of some serious help because I am at a loss about what to do about my problems. I am currently in day 18 of vegging and my plants are only 2" tall because all of the problems that I have been experiencing. The problems pretty much began after I started to introduce nutrients to my system. Before the roots of my plants were touching the water I was just running straight pH'd tap water without a problem. Introduce nutrients and the problems started to begin. Randomly one day the 10G reservoir that I have started to bubble like crazy, it didn't concern me too much since it didn't smell bad (yet) until I checked my pH. It went from 5.8 to 7.5 over night. I completed drained the reservoir with h2o2 and then to be sure with bleach. Ran straight tap-water again for 2 days without a problem, introduced nutrients again just to have the same problem come right back. I thought it was algae at first but as I understand, algae needs photosynthesis to live and I triple checked that there are zero light leaks. I pH'd the hydroton and rockwool cubes in water for 48 hours before putting them into my system.

What I have done so far.
- Changed nutrients from Stealth Hydroponics to General Hydroponics 3-part system. - Same result.
- Added Aqua-shield - Same result.
- Put frozen bottles in my reservoir to drop temps to 60F - Same result just slower
- Put reflective tape on the top lid and any opening including the net pots. - Same result.

I just don't understand what I can do to get rid of the problem. Temperatures are between 70F and 77F. The reservoir is between 60F and 68F. Humidity is around 40%.

The tap-water that I am using is right around 7.0 pH and has a PPM of 110.

I just ordered some Physan 20 as a last resort to just sterilize the crap out of the reservoir but I fear that it will do absolutely nothing.... so frustrated right now.

Can anyone help me out? If you guys need any additional information just let me know.

A few years ago, I filled a bucket with tap water, ph'd it
to 5.6 let it bubble overnight with no nutes.
checked the next am, is went up to above 9.

i suggest using filtered h20.

bleuballz said:

A few years ago, I filled a bucket with tap water, ph'd it
to 5.6 let it bubble overnight with no nutes.
checked the next am, is went up to above 9.

i suggest using filtered h20.

Click to expand...

Hey I appreciate the comment bleuballz. I was concerned about my tap water at first but I have run straight tap water for 1 1/2 weeks before introducing nutes and didn't have a single problem. pH would fluctuate just a tiny bit which is normal as plants were eating. I can try filtered h20 but I don't think that is the root to my problems

what a lot of brother just use coco medium get the a x b nunte that gos with it go by the guide on the bottles and you be all good to go

Oh man, that sucks.
Tap water, and heat have been my biggest problems in hydro. (And root aphids)
I was so sure it was the tap water. I use Botanicare in hydro, and the buffers always lower the ph
of the tap water where I am, but only for a very short time.

Per chance, is there any kind of silicone gel in the res? I ask because once upon a time,
the wrong silicone was used to try and glue down an air stone in my res, and it caused all kinds of havoc.
sorry I couldn't be of more help. I hope you get it fixed fast!

@ GreenFringers - a x b nunte? Don't know what that is. Sorry haha I am still a noob at this.

bleuballz said:

Oh man, that sucks.
Tap water, and heat have been my biggest problems in hydro. (And root aphids)
I was so sure it was the tap water. I use Botanicare in hydro, and the buffers always lower the ph
of the tap water where I am, but only for a very short time.

Per chance, is there any kind of silicone gel in the res? I ask because once upon a time,
the wrong silicone was used to try and glue down an air stone in my res, and it caused all kinds of havoc.
sorry I couldn't be of more help. I hope you get it fixed fast!

Click to expand...

No never used silicon before... However. I have my air stones tied down with fish line and lead weights. Should that be causing any problems to the setup?

lol lead weights eh? maybe the lead is leeching into the water and raising the pH. try using something else, maybe glass marbles in plastic netted bags or something

I have had no problem with the fishing weights and unfiltered water.
Are the roots slick?
I run GH 3 part I don't add anything until flower if I mix like the paper says the ph comes pretty close.
If the roots are not slick it's not root rot (imo) I don't have a whole lot of memory.
Sounds like it has something to do with nutes,are you mixing each 1 in seperate?
If all else fails look up SuperStoner1-it looks like he knows everything.

I just removed the fishing weights just to be sure. I had switched nutes before so I am so confused about what is going on. I am mixing the nutes in a quart a jar that is half full with distilled water. Mixed them all equally until I got a desired PPM of 200.

Buy some purified water, couple of those big jugs from WalMart! Try that and if the problem goes away you know something is up with your water!

Doing that as we speak. Filled up a 2 Gallons bucket with purified drinking water and added nutrients and a clean air pump. If the bucket doesn't act up I know that is has something to do with either the water, growing medium or rockwool cubes lol

Hopefully I will find out the problem before my plants decide to die on me one of them is starting to turn really yellow

Just for future grows, there is no need to use rock wool or any medium!!! Just use neoprene collars!!!!

What's happening????

Yeah man, you should see improvement by now.
whats the word?

nameno said:

I have had no problem with the fishing weights and unfiltered water.
Are the roots slick?
I run GH 3 part I don't add anything until flower if I mix like the paper says the ph comes pretty close.
If the roots are not slick it's not root rot (imo) I don't have a whole lot of memory.
Sounds like it has something to do with nutes,are you mixing each 1 in seperate?
If all else fails look up SuperStoner1-it looks like he knows everything.

Click to expand...

Unless you have a nice well, you can't be using tap water in hydro.
i doubt that you are.