Help
 

Ok I have a NFT system. I live in FL, use to have the system outside till it got very hot then moved it indoors. NOTHING is growing..... My husband is about to throw it in the trash. We bought the right light the right food. HELP HELP HELP

A lot more information is needed if you want help? Just buying what the manufacture says will work great, doesn't guarantee success, or even give any details of anything. Start by describing the problem with the plants, and give details about the plants growing conditions. Post pictures if possible.

help
 

When we started everything was moving slow but, growing. then the weather got hot and everything just stopped or died. We moved it inside and bought lights and nothing still more brow leaves and i can not get the ph to lower. these are some pics

What is the temp where the plants are? Maybe it is still too hot. What is the PH and what are you using to bring it down? I would stick with the standard PH down/up until you get the hang of it. What do the roots look and smell like, maybe you have a fungus. What are you adding besides the nutes? We need lots more info to help you any further.

it is about 78 degrees and I was using florduo a and b. Use baking soda to bring down ph. My ph has never been right inside or out. I have lost al plants. Going to start from scratch.

I have never heard of using baking soda for lowering PH; vinegar but that is only a temp fix. You would be better off getting a "starter kit" that has both PH up and down and the testing kit.
The plants look a little bunt to me; can be from the outside temp or your lights are too low or maybe your nutes are too strong. Could also be a deficiency in a required nutrient like cal/mag.
I am not familiar with the nutes you are using but you want to make sure if it is a two part you are using both parts according to the directions and that they are PH stable thus reducing the fluxuations.

What do the roots look like? Are they white or slimmy or is there an ordor? Remember the plants can tolerate a higher temperature if the nutes are kept cool. You can cool them down by purchasing a cooler but if you are like me and can't afford several hundred bucks, you can just freeze two liter bottles and plop them in the nutes mid-day to help cool them off.
Gotta run to work, help this helps.

Baking Soda is used to raise the PH not lower it (this was recommended by our local hydro retail operator). That is what I use and have had no problems to date. Have been using it for about 2 months now.

Correct and if you want you can use Muriatic Acid or Battery Acid to lower the PH the Muriatic acid is not as strong as the batttery acid but in a smaller system is what I would use. What part of FL are you in?

I use citric acid. I get it from a homebrew/winemaking supply store. I have not heard of using muriatic acid, I know it used to be used to clean brick walls but I didn't know you could still get it. I thought it was very strong stuff.
I am in VA.

Jerryconn,
Ya, I still often get the purpose of acids and bases mixed up. You would think that an acid raises, but it's actually a pH down, and a base raises pH. Kind of backwards to me. Muriatic acid can be bought at most pool supply stores, at least that is where I bought it by the gallon many, many years ago when I lived in Calif. They use it to clean pools with, I used it to clean the oil stains off the garage floor (I worked on a lot of cars back then). Battery acid (Sulfuric acid) is sold at most auto part stores, and is much stronger to me. I got it on me quite often when I worked at sears automotive as a mechanic. But I would never recommend using them for hydroponics for many reasons. I have a few basic rules for success in hydroponics.

1. Use nutrients designed for hydroponic plants.
2. Use pH adjusters designed for hydroponic plants.
3. Use a pH test kit for hydroponics (for the right testing range).
4. Use good quality water (most often overlooked).
5. Keep the nutrient solution temps in range (68-75 is the optimum range).
6. Make sure the roots get enough oxygen.

Well I could add a few other things like making sure your using enough water volume for the amount and size plants your growing. As well as making sure you provide enough root space for the full grown plants etc.. But for the most part I say have fun experimenting with everything else, just make sure to fallow the basics if you don't want to spend a lot of time trying to figure out what went wrong later. Citrus acid is a hydroponic pH adjuster. However I have only got it through a earth juice, and cant say if there is any difference between them and other suppliers that sell it for other purposes.

"Muriatic acid can be bought at most pool supply stores"
I did not know that, good to know, I have a concrete patio that needs cleaning ;)

"Battery acid (Sulfuric acid) is sold at most auto part stores"
I know the stuff (used to be a mechanic as well) and don't like it. Seen what it can do to a car and have gotten it on me as well.

I completely agree with your set of guidelines.