Hi, this is my first post&grow. My set up is DWC a 5x25l airstone system operating under a 600 watt sodium, enclosed in a 1.2m sq Budbox.
I am in to my 3rd week of flowering, i have 3 plants left (2 have been culled). The plants are approximately 2 foot high and have begun producing an aroma. The strain is probably Thaitanic ( i started with 3 Thai and 2 Sadhu - i can't tell which is which). The root system and general plant health seem to be within acceptable parameters.
I do have some yellowing and i am compensating with nitrogen.
My problem lies with the PH rising after 1 day (or less).
*Of note*
My tap water PH falls in the range of 7.4 to 7.6 and has an EC of 0.5 to 0.6.
My tap water PH after filtering is in the range of 6.3 to 6.4 and it's EC of 0.3.
I have tried alot of permutations in order to better understand the nature of the fluctuations, of which these have been administered in a weekly fashion. So far i have tried the following:
1) Used tap water, airrated for 24 hours, brought ph down to 5.8, added nutes, transferred to growroom bucket(GB).
2) Used tap water, stirred for 40 mins, added ph down to 5.8, stirred for 40 mins, added nutes, ph 5.7, transferred to GB.
3) Used tap water, added ph down to 6.0, left for 24 hours, added nutes, ph 5.8, transferred to GB.
4) Used tap water, added ph down to 5.8, added nutes, transferred to GB.
5) Used tap water, airrated for 24 hours (to test)
6) Used tap water, (removed airstone from system) used liquid oxygen, added ph down to 5.8, added nutes, ph 5.6, transferred to GB.
7) Used tap water, (no airstone) ph down to 5.8, stirred for 40 mins, added nutes and liquid oxygen, transferred to GB
Used filtered tap water, (no airstone) ph down to 5.5, added nutes and liquid oxygen, transferred to GB.
9) Used filtered tap water, (no airstone) ph down to 4.7, added nutes/liquid oxygen/nitrogen[yellowing of leaves]), transferred to GB
10) Used filtered tap water, (airstone re-introduced) ph down to 5.8, added nutes/liquid oxygen/nitorgen, transferred to GB
11) Used filtered tap water, ph down to 4.4 added nutes/liquid oxygen/nitrogen, transferred to GB.
Points 5,9 and 11 have produced readings of above 7.5 after 24 hours, which does boggle me, especially 5! All of the other points also produce a PH of around 7.5 give or take 0.2, the highest i have seen it is 8.5.
Whilst i am expecting at some point this grow to die (being my first an all), it would be benefical if i had some control of the problems in which i'm facing. I have had numerous conversations regarding this with my local grow shop, and have Jorge Cervantes 'Indoor Bible'.
The PH fluctuations are defineately more apparent when i have an airstone.
Possible contributing factors are:
The air intake not being directly linked to the outside (it's enveloped in a curtain which is approximately 10 cm away from a window propped open by a bird feeder.
I smoke tobacco in the room.
PH meter out of calibration (though has been re-calibrated twice, and has always ph'd tap water within 7.5 give or take 0.1).
So any input to establish a reason for these discrepancies would be beneficial.
I am in to my 3rd week of flowering, i have 3 plants left (2 have been culled). The plants are approximately 2 foot high and have begun producing an aroma. The strain is probably Thaitanic ( i started with 3 Thai and 2 Sadhu - i can't tell which is which). The root system and general plant health seem to be within acceptable parameters.
I do have some yellowing and i am compensating with nitrogen.
My problem lies with the PH rising after 1 day (or less).
*Of note*
My tap water PH falls in the range of 7.4 to 7.6 and has an EC of 0.5 to 0.6.
My tap water PH after filtering is in the range of 6.3 to 6.4 and it's EC of 0.3.
I have tried alot of permutations in order to better understand the nature of the fluctuations, of which these have been administered in a weekly fashion. So far i have tried the following:
1) Used tap water, airrated for 24 hours, brought ph down to 5.8, added nutes, transferred to growroom bucket(GB).
2) Used tap water, stirred for 40 mins, added ph down to 5.8, stirred for 40 mins, added nutes, ph 5.7, transferred to GB.
3) Used tap water, added ph down to 6.0, left for 24 hours, added nutes, ph 5.8, transferred to GB.
4) Used tap water, added ph down to 5.8, added nutes, transferred to GB.
5) Used tap water, airrated for 24 hours (to test)
6) Used tap water, (removed airstone from system) used liquid oxygen, added ph down to 5.8, added nutes, ph 5.6, transferred to GB.
7) Used tap water, (no airstone) ph down to 5.8, stirred for 40 mins, added nutes and liquid oxygen, transferred to GB
Used filtered tap water, (no airstone) ph down to 5.5, added nutes and liquid oxygen, transferred to GB.
9) Used filtered tap water, (no airstone) ph down to 4.7, added nutes/liquid oxygen/nitrogen[yellowing of leaves]), transferred to GB
10) Used filtered tap water, (airstone re-introduced) ph down to 5.8, added nutes/liquid oxygen/nitorgen, transferred to GB
11) Used filtered tap water, ph down to 4.4 added nutes/liquid oxygen/nitrogen, transferred to GB.
Points 5,9 and 11 have produced readings of above 7.5 after 24 hours, which does boggle me, especially 5! All of the other points also produce a PH of around 7.5 give or take 0.2, the highest i have seen it is 8.5.
Whilst i am expecting at some point this grow to die (being my first an all), it would be benefical if i had some control of the problems in which i'm facing. I have had numerous conversations regarding this with my local grow shop, and have Jorge Cervantes 'Indoor Bible'.
The PH fluctuations are defineately more apparent when i have an airstone.
Possible contributing factors are:
The air intake not being directly linked to the outside (it's enveloped in a curtain which is approximately 10 cm away from a window propped open by a bird feeder.
I smoke tobacco in the room.
PH meter out of calibration (though has been re-calibrated twice, and has always ph'd tap water within 7.5 give or take 0.1).
So any input to establish a reason for these discrepancies would be beneficial.