PH Down ??

[jamromhem]

That is a similar reason I was looking at it. The only hydroponics around here is the virtigrow office and they have very little as far as the accesories.

The package of battery acid will make me about 2 1/2 to 3 gallons of PH down and with only using about 10ML for 4 gallons of tap water (this will drop as I up my nutrient strength) it will last me a long time. Not to mention it is the same cost as a thing of PH down anyway lol

It is also the route I went because it doesnt react with the other choices I made for the system. I wanted to use bleach as my sterilizer due to the low cost and high availability of it. I was going through a lot of H2O2 trying to fight that infection and having owned a pool I am more confident in my ability to manage chlorine levels.

[T'Mater]

Just learned that White Vinegar seem's to do a pretty decent job at being a PH Down.

Again just looking for a bandaid till i get my bag of PH Down here.

[GpsFrontier]

In a pinch I've also herd of people using lemon juice too. But I have no idea how well it works, or if it react with the mineral elements in the nutrient solution.

[fintuckyfarms]

I used White Vinegar when my PH down was backordered. It will work for about a day, but it jumps right back up then next day. I have not tried lemon juice but would think you would get the same result.

[T'Mater]

Not sure about you all, but it seem's i have to lower my PH every morning. By the end of the day my ph will go from around 5.8 to over 6.5. I also feed about every 2 hr's and i'm thinking of switching that down to every 4hr's.

[GpsFrontier]

If you can find something called "Sour salt" at the grocery store, it's nothing more than citrus acid. Thus the same stuff used in some hydroponic pH adjusters (like the one I use). Or if you have a restaurant supply place, health food store, food specialty shop etc. they may carry citrus acid also, and even at a much better price.

P.S.
If you are adjusting your pH every day (regardless of watering cycles), something is wrong.

[T'Mater]

Like what bro. Please preach to me or give me a link. My PH goes up to the point i have to lower every day. Now i do have to say at the same time my plant's are growing decently every day too.

I know i had read that when your plant's start to bloom your PH should start to drop??? But it seems everything i read is backwards.

Could i not be using enough H202 and algae on the Sure to Grow cubes is causing it to go up so quick?

Or is it the high temps i'm getting, i better start watching my tank water temp closer...

[GpsFrontier]

Algae and other things growing in your nutrient solution can cause pH to change, but I cant say up or down for sure. However it would need to be a fairly good amount, or small water volume to really notice. The water temp itself shouldn't change pH, but could cause something in the water to grow more rapidly. Though if your using a electric meter to test your pH, water temp will affect its calibration/reading (check your manufactures instructions). The amount of mineral salts in your nutrient solution can change the pH, and if I remember correctly you said your EC/TDS/PPM rises. If so, that may be the problem right there. But because I cant remember, or keep straight the details about everybody elses setups, I need to ask some questions before I have any ideas.

1. Exactly how much does the pH change regularly?
2. What nutrients are you using?
3. How often do you change your nutrient solution?
4. Do you completely flush the system between nutrient changes?
5. What growing medium are you using?
6. Are you using a pH meter, or drops to test your pH? And if your using a ph meter, are you double checking your readings with pH drops as well?
7. What pH adjusters are you using?
8. Are you adding any additives to your nutrient solution?
9. Are you spraying the foliage with anything that might drip down into the growing medium?
10. What type of water are you using for your nutrient solution.
11. does the pH ever reach a certain point then stop rising on its own anymore?
12. Does your EC/TDS/PPM rise along with pH? And if so do they rise and/or stabilize together?
13. How many gallons of water does your system hold?
14. How much water is your plants drinking daily/weekly?
15. Are you replacing the water the plants drink with straight water, or nutrient solution?
16. Does it look like there's anything growing in your nutrient solution.