New at hydro need alil advice to my question

L

l0cd0g

New member

• Aug 10, 2009

• #1

I have a question about maintaining a hydroponic reservoir ec level.
Say i have a 40 gallon rez starting ppm of 1000 ph 5.7. Next day i check rez before topoff and it read 850 ppm ph 5.9. Does this mean the plant need alil more nute? I read that you check ppm only after topoff is this correct?
If so then topping off then taking notice of ppm and ph is when this come into play right? if not then this mean take reading before topoff for this to take effect?
ec drop ph rise plant need more nute
ec rise ph drop too much nute
ec stable ph stable plant like it

I'm confused by this take reading before or after topoff for the above to be effective. thanks you ahead for your knowledge.

 

cocktail frank

Ubiquitous

Mentor

ICMag Donor

Veteran

• Aug 10, 2009

• #2

1.take a reading
2. adjust accordingly
3. take a reading

just that easy.

u want the ppm/ph to stay pretty stable.
its good to let the ph swing a bit tho to ensure all elements can be absorbed at their ph range.

just get the ppms to where they dont move as much, then let the plants tell u what they need.


Here is a basic guide:

Indica's
Seedlings and clones 300-400ppm 5.3-5.5 ph
early vegg 500-600ppm 5.3-5.6 ph
middle vegg 600-800ppm 5.4-5.6 ph
late vegg 800-1000ppm 5.5-5.7 ph
early flower 1000-1300ppm 5.5-5.7 ph
middle flower 1400-1600ppm 5.5-5.8 ph
late flower 1000-1100ppm 5.5-5.7 ph
ripening 300-500ppm 5.4-5.6 ph

sativa's
seedlings and clones 250-350ppm 5.3-5.5 ph
early vegg 300-500ppm 5.3-5.6 ph
middle vegg 500-700ppm 5.4-5.6 ph
late vegg 700-900ppm 5.5-5.7 ph
early flower 1000-1100ppm 5.5-5.7 ph
middle flower 1100-1300ppm 5.5-5.8 ph
late flower 800-1000ppm 5.5-5.7 ph
ripening 300-500ppm 5.4-5.6 ph

ive seen people let the ph swing all the way up to 6.0 down to 5.2 with no ill effects.
LET IT DRIFT A BIT

 

L

l0cd0g

New member

• Aug 10, 2009

• #3

so

so

so that means i take a reading before i add anything to rez and that will tell me what the plants are using? Just trying to clarify this. Because someone told me to topoff first then take a reading.

 

cocktail frank

Ubiquitous

Mentor

ICMag Donor

Veteran

• Aug 10, 2009

• #4

u need to take a reading first so u know how much to add back

 

L

l0cd0g

New member

• Aug 10, 2009

• #5

thank for the quick reply

 

FreezerBoy

Was blind but now IC Puckbunny in Training

Veteran

• Aug 10, 2009

• #6

EC and pH should move in opposite directions. So far so good. That much movement in 1 day is too fast. You want it to happen over a week or two. In this situation, top off should have a EC level sufficient to raise res ppm to, say, 1100 (this means top off itself is higher than 1100). Let it go a couple of days and measure again, adjust as needed.

Note that a small pH swing is better than none at all. No one pH reading allows absorption of all nutes.

 

D

DankHawk

Member

• Aug 10, 2009

• #7

I keep two 40 gallon reservoirs. I keep a 45 gallon trash can full of the same mix I keep in the res's, ph balanced. When I need to top off I use this mix. that way my ppms dont fluctuate much. I found when I dont do this I get deficiencies rather quickly.

I also use airstones in the trash can just like a res...

 

L

l0cd0g

New member

• Aug 10, 2009

• #8

only thing i was

only thing i was

Only thing i was confused about was do i take reading before topoff or after topoff. Cocktail frank answer that for me.
Now this is just to see if i got this right. Let say i start my 20 gallon rez at 1000
ppm ph 5.6. Two day later i check my rez lvl before topoff and it read 990 ppm
ph 5.7 water lvl at 15 gallon left. Does this mean that plant are eating right?
So i just topoff my rez to 20 gal 1000 ppm ph 5.6 and let her run?

 

L

lysol

• Aug 10, 2009

• #9

You can mix up nutes to the original EC, top off with that if theyre under fed or dialed in, if theyre over fed top of with the tap water, this way youre gradually moving in the right direction. Measure PH before & after topping off just so you know how much your drift is in case you get problems

 

R

REFUGEES32

Member

• Aug 10, 2009

• #10

10cdog u need info hit me up datz wuz up