Proper PH technique

I have had an ongoing calcium deficiency for quite some time and tried everything to resolve it.After much reading I found that I have been improperly using my PH up.When mixing up a new batch of nutrients I always add nutrients to the water then pH adjust.By adding the pH up to the nutrients in the water a white cloud would form.I thought nothing of this.Come to find out that it was actually the calcium in the water reacting or locking out from the pH up.Now I know this is not news to most but by adding the pH up to plain water and then adding the nutrients.I have no calcium lockout cloud and it has since stopped my deficiency.It just seemed easier to pH the nutrients instead of guessing what the water should be before adding the nutrients.It takes no time to hit the proper pH by adding it to the water first.Just shoot high and let the nutrients bring it down.My pH was never stable had to adjust twice a day this is also solved, rock solid no drops just rises when the nutrients become more concentrated.Also mix your pH with water for adjusting after the nutrients are in the reservoir.This bit of info has made a huge difference,best thing I have picked up in a while.

wow thats wierd. i put nutes in water it comes down, the i add ph up to get it were i need it. never seen a cloudy resadue in my water

cutman said:

wow thats wierd. i put nutes in water it comes down, the i add ph up to get it were i need it. never seen a cloudy resadue in my water

Click to expand...

You are luckier than I,how much pH are you having to use?My start water is near ro quality at 20-30ppm pH of around 8.0ish give or take I'm running Lucas using Flora Nova Bloom using about a cap full of pH up (never measured in ml).

I stopped using tap water. Because it is to unpredictable. Just my two cents. Good luck

Icannabis said:

I stopped using tap water. Because it is to unpredictable. Just my two cents. Good luck

Click to expand...

My tap water has an extremely low ppm near 0 (20 to 30 ppm)like RO water thought I was lucky in that respect,but you may be right about the tap even at near Ro like ppm levels still is unpredictable day to day.

i add nutes to water and then add down (water is around 8, hits about 6.8-7 with nutes added). only time i have to use up is if i use too much down out of trying to rush. maybe 7ml of ph down for 20L

tip top toker said:

i add nutes to water and then add down (water is around 8, hits about 6.8-7 with nutes added). only time i have to use up is if i use too much down out of trying to rush. maybe 7ml of ph down for 20L

Click to expand...

Thanks TTT,rember that pH down adds Phosphorous witch in excess can lockout MG(Magnesium)

where are you setting your PH that you have to use "PH Up" all the time ?.... I've hardly ever used "up" as my tap water is high 7's and even with nutes i have to bring it down a point to achieve the 5.7-6.1 range i try to maintian .....

I can however see your point as to "NOT to add" things together before putting in res........ I always add one thing at a time ......to the res...and mix it in (and measure it), before adding anything else.

EvenHatersShowUsLove said:

where are you setting your PH that you have to use "PH Up" all the time ?.... I've hardly ever used "up" as my tap water is high 7's and even with nutes i have to bring it down a point to achieve the 5.7-6.1 range i try to maintian .....

I can however see your point as to "NOT to add" things together before putting in res........ I always add one thing at a time ......to the res...and mix it in (and measure it), before adding anything else.

Click to expand...

Before changing the way I pH'd I would nute the tap water which started at pH 7,1000ppm flora nova would bring the water to 4.Ph up to 5.8.White cloud would form as the acid would mix in.My water temperature is always above 72.Twice a day adjusting was mainly my veg do to root rot caused by many issues.My bloom also needs adjusting at least once a day.PH would fall from 5.8 to 4.8 within 24hrs.Now I pH the tap to 10 add the nutrients to 1000ppm and hit 5.8 to 6.0.No cloud and my pH is so stable I have not had to adjust at all other than topping with water until the week is up and the cycle starts over again.HP fixed my veg problems so just recently I started to use it also on bloom.Other than this slight adjustment I have changed nothing.