High ec / low ph no nutes added

Running rdwc 6 x 1000w lights 2hp chiller set to 65. Have ran the same system with same nutes before no probs but this is 1st time using tap water. Used tap through veg and had no issues. On wk 4 and since week 2 my ec has increased from 1.0 to 1.8 and ph from 5.8 to 4.2. I bring the ec back up to 5.8 every day and within a couple hours it starts to drop again. I have not added any nutes since the first time I filled up the system at half strength. System uses 180 GL. I top off with 30 GL tap water (let sit out for 24 hrs) everyday to refill the system. Again, no nutes since initial Filling of the system. Temps do get slightly above 100 due to 2hp chiller heat (my exhaust isn't big enough, too much space in basement- work in progress) but I don't see how that could be a problem with roots in the 60's. Leaves are yellowing. I know not to add nutes with current conditions but don't know why this is happening. I searched the web and found nothing. Any ideas?

What EC is your tap water testing at?

1.0???

That excessively high and I seriously doubt you'd be able to use tap water unless you got a full analysis done and created a tailored forumla with dry salts to compensate for what's already in your water.

IMO anything above 0.4EC for tap water isn't really usable for hydro.



J

You aren't emptying your rez, cleaning and refilling every couple weeks?

jondamon said:

What EC is your tap water testing at?

1.0???

That excessively high and I seriously doubt you'd be able to use tap water unless you got a full analysis done and created a tailored forumla with dry salts to compensate for what's already in your water.

IMO anything above 0.4EC for tap water isn't really usable for hydro.



J

Click to expand...

My tap is ph 7.4 ec .4
Just re calibrated my meter too. I just don't understand how the ec can increase if I'm not adding nutes. Maybe time for a new meter?

Bugeye said:

You aren't emptying your rez, cleaning and refilling every couple weeks?

Click to expand...

im using an 18 bucket uc system. Shouldn't have to drain out the system until after I'm finished. Current culture goes so far as to say it doesn't need to be cleaned out until after 2 cycles but I always clean it every cycle. I have 5 x 32 GL trashcans I keep filled with water to top off the system but they're not plumbed to the system since I need to wait a day or 2 to let the water stand in case it contains chlorine

Rickety Rocket said:

My tap is ph 7.4 ec .4
Just re calibrated my meter too. I just don't understand how the ec can increase if I'm not adding nutes. Maybe time for a new meter?

im using an 18 bucket uc system. Shouldn't have to drain out the system until after I'm finished. Current culture goes so far as to say it doesn't need to be cleaned out until after 2 cycles but I always clean it every cycle. I have 5 x 32 GL trashcans I keep filled with water to top off the system but they're not plumbed to the system since I need to wait a day or 2 to let the water stand in case it contains chlorine

Click to expand...

Possibly could be a meter issue.

I'm a BLUELAB truncheon man myself.

Had one for almost 5 years.

Never skips a beat.


J

Lights just came on. Ph 4.2 ec 1.6. Calibrated both my Hanna and bluelab guardian meter. Both on point. At this point how can there be anything but tap water in the system. No nutes since day 1. Can anyone help me?

So I said to hell with it. Can't get any worse so let's experiment. I topped off with nutrients to see what happens. Maybe there's so much water the nutrients are being leeched from the plants resulting in a higher ec. I'll update tomorrow

My only advice would be to dump and refill.

After a few weeks of no changes etc the natural buffers in your tap water may also b exhausted.


J

Nope stayed exactly the same. Guess I'll dump it. Such a waste of nutes.