R/O water = PH stupid? :/

B

bibbles

Active Member
Alright, I'd had lots of problems with the tap water around here, coming out at ~550ppm, so I finally got an R/O filter. I also decided to use the Lucas formula with MaxiBloom at the same time, yay...

I cannot keep my PH above 4. Booo...

The R/O water comes out around 6, but after adding nutrients it drops below four. I tried adding tap water, but the PH would drop down again in about an hour. I don't have PH up on hand, and was sort of under the impression that this would be fine without PH adjustment...

Since then I've gone back over everything with a fine-tooth comb, and have noticed that using the liquid nutes, one should be fine, but PH adjustment may be needed with MaxiBloom...

Seriously though, 3.6? This is ridiculous... help? D:

EDIT: Stuff in question: https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/491480-inda-grow-aquamist-sog-vert.html
 
well...nutrients are acidic...they drop the PH...you must counteract it with PH up since your RO water is starting at 6 to begin with...so you are pretty fucked unless you get something to raise the PH...are you sure your PH tester is accurate?
 
massah said:
well...nutrients are acidic...they drop the PH...you must counteract it with PH up since your RO water is starting at 6 to begin with...so you are pretty fucked unless you get something to raise the PH...are you sure your PH tester is accurate?
Click to expand...

R/O water is acidic because of dissolved CO2, which will drop the PH, but won't have any sort of staying power... Given the lack of buffers, I suppose those in the nutrients have nothing to balance against. I just calibrated for both PH and PPM, nothing doing.

Has anyone else experienced MaxiBloom being so severe in it's PH dropping abilities... perhaps switching back to liquids is the answer... *sigh*
 
G.H. makes a good nute maybe its been damage do to storage or transportaion temps kill nutes never heard of anyone use this do u only feed with maxibloom?
 
laced23z said:
G.H. makes a good nute maybe its been damage do to storage or transportaion temps kill nutes never heard of anyone use this do u only feed with maxibloom?
Click to expand...

7 grams per gallon is what is recommended, just MaxiBloom, I'm using less than that, and this is ridiculous... the PH seems to be (maybe) slowly rising? It's at 4 now... but... still... ._.

EDIT: Drained 1/3 of the res, refilled with tap water, hitting ~5.5, the hydro shop opens in a few hours... ho-hum... I wish I had known this was an issue, I would have just gotten the Micro/Bloom combo, as it's intended for R/O water.
 
You growing soil or hydro? If you are growing in soil I wouldnt worry about it. If you are growing in hydro you may want to get some Protek Silica. Add it first then your nutes, should help buffer the pH some.....

edit:I see your growing hydro, get some Protek....or mix your R/O and well water to get a mix of around 200ppm or so and go from there....
 
go with the three part like u suggested maybe also get some liquid koolbloom and some dry koolbloom makes a big diff just a suggestion
 
laced23z said:
how often do u clean ur system and i mean entire system?
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Well, I've only cleaned this system once, as it hasn't been used before, but generally I flush weekly and get out the toothbrush and bleach at the end of each run. I like to keep a clean shop: https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/491480-inda-grow-aquamist-sog-vert.html

watchhowIdoit said:
You growing soil or hydro? If you are growing in soil I wouldnt worry about it. If you are growing in hydro you may want to get some Protek Silica. Add it first then your nutes, should help buffer the pH some.....

edit:I see your growing hydro, get some Protek....or mix your R/O and well water to get a mix of around 200ppm or so and go from there....
Click to expand...

I was adding this to my reminders with Siri... then Siri told me "I don't know what you mean by stop." - So, I'll look it up if I'm not raped by my phone in my sleep... >.>
 
G.H. just says that you should clean ur entire system if ur ph crashes like that and to clean it every 10 days i use the three part plus sup. an never have had that problem
 
laced23z said:
G.H. just says that you should clean ur entire system if ur ph crashes like that and to clean it every 10 days i use the three part plus sup. an never have had that problem
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure they mean flush, I had a GH AeroFlo2 and actually cleaning it with plants in it would be impossible, as the root mass will keep you from even removing the net cups to check them. Anyway, where would you put your plants while cleaning it? just saying.

Are you using R/O water? Because I had to use PH DOWN before I got the filter - 550ppm is what looks like mostly calcium given the way it precipitates out of solution when left alone (in a drinking glass left alone for 10-20 minutes, for example). I'm on my way to the hydro shop, I'm thinking Pro-TeKt, as it'll be more than just PH up... I see a lot of conflict as to whether Cal/Mag is needed, but I figure I'll wait till it makes itself apparent.
 
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