When filling my water tank, i check my ph to keep it between 6.3 and 6.5. But after a couple days it will be up to 7.0 and higher. Is there something i could use other ph down to help stabilize my water tank ph%
1 Like
Lemon juice or baking soda brings it down. But i am in living soil.
2 Likes
As the plants eat if the nute solution is too weak then the EC will decrease and PH will rise because nutrients are becoming less concentrated.
As the plants eat, and the reverse happens, EC rises and PH decreases, then nute solution is becoming more concentrated as plants eat.
If EC and PH remain the same as plants eat then thats equilibrium and the goldilocks zone.
Use top up buckets of food and not plain water, if your EC drops then increase your food base per gallon, if EC increases add water or 1/2 strength nutes in top up bucket.
Goal is your trying to find that goldilocks zone or stay close to it. If you do this your PH will stay almost the same and you might have to adjust it once a week up to like 6.2 then let it drop to 5.8 on its own etc. I actually use Voodoo Juice + and the weeky reup of bacteria and fungus to increase mine. Usually brings mine back to 6.2 from 5.8 if i add the bacteria and Carboload.
@TeNNWisKeY are you using anything to keep your water reservoir mixed? I use an aquarium wave maker to keep my solution mixed. The drift is minimal. I usually keep 12-15 gallons in my reservoir at a time.
1 Like
However; a static solution left and simply agitated will tend towards more base than acidic. Running something like a gravity feed system still requires PH down over the course of a few days.
2 Likes
I have to water cycle through during its pump cycle. But day after day i have to keep using ph down to get it back out of the 7.0% ph range. Yesterday i had it to 6.3 and this morning its at 7.08. Would an air stone and pump help this?
It might. I’ve been using an aquarium wavemaker for all of my agitation needs. I even use one when mixing Jack’s: I can dump Part A in and walk away. But I think you will always see a tendency to rise.
2 Likes
@Myfriendis410 I am totally getting a few more wave makers now for my mixing buckets, great idea.
@TeNNWisKeY I have also found that after adjusting my plants roots that small amounts of the roots will break off and be in the solution and decaying will cause the ph to raise. So any time I have to adjust the plants roots in my hydro setup a day later I clean out the pump filter to remove wall the small loose bits of root causing my ph to raise. Not sure if this is your issue though, just sounds similar…
1 Like
I will look into one of the wave makers next chance i get thank. I grow in soil but im trying to use drip irritation. To keep it from creating suction. The hose after the last dripper returns to the tank.
2 Likes
This does work but isnt as stable as a standard ph up or down. As well baking soda can clog drippers and pumps.
3 Likes
So are you saying this is a easy way to dissolve the part A into the water? This is my only complaint with Jacks, it takes quite a while to stir in the part A, and the rest of the 321 dissolves very easy.
I may need to check into this wave maker.
Oh, yeah! I have half a dozen of the cheap aquarium wavemakers and one is always reserved for mixing nutes. I take the degassed bucket of water, clip a wavemaker to the side, add my silica, wait for 10 minutes minimum then add Part A. Usually wait an hour or so then add Epsom and Part B along with PH down.
I like these as they use far less electricity to run than an air pump.
3 Likes
I just picked out a two-pack of them that were not particularly expensive. I suppose you could look for salt water rated if you want.
I suggest the wavemakers that attach via a magnet versus the suction cup (these can be a pain to attach).
1 Like
Thanks I saw those on Walmart’s website. I think they would work better on the round sides of the bucket.
AQUANEAT Aquarium Wavemaker Circulation Pump, 480GPH Fish Tank Powerhead Pump, Submersible Water Pump, Magnetic Base https://a.co/d/2Zt5QmN
1 Like
@Myfriendis410
any recommendations for a 32 gallon garbage can? I plan on putting 20-25 gallons of jacks mixed in it then scooping out what I need as I go. I figured making a really concentrated 5 gal and diluting it to proper ppm once every 3-4 days should save me a decent amount of time versus mixing batches every day.
I don’t see why you couldn’t although I suspect you’ll at least have to PH whatever you pull out each time before use. You’ll need a wavemaker or airstones to keep it fresh.
Check your local car wash: they have 25, 35 and 50 gallon barrels that contained soap/wax/foam etc. and if you pick one up (free), select one that had soap or foam. Easy to rinse out and stronger than a garbage can. If you want to buy something look at ‘Uline’ for hoop top barrels.
1 Like