I recently started using General Hydroponics pH down and after leaving the pH'd water in a reservoir overnight, a film had formed on top of the water and the pH had jumped back up from 6.7 to the 7.4 that it was before I added the pH down in the first place. I know that this well water comes through a lot of limestone if that may be a factor. Does anyone know what this film could be? It doesn't dissolve when I mix it with the water and I suspect it is a salt formed via the interaction of acid and a base present in my water. I'm considering using RO water but would like to know what's going on first.
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pH down leaving film on water
- Thread starter weedape
- Start date
Is it an oily film or a crusty scale film?
If it is an oil film I doubt it is from your pH down or nutes. It is coming from your water supply, leeching from your res or tubing or something in your soil.
If it a scale type film it is probably due to the hardness of your water . Too much magnesium and calcium. Do you get scale on your cooking utensils, water heater elements etc?
If it is an oil film I doubt it is from your pH down or nutes. It is coming from your water supply, leeching from your res or tubing or something in your soil.
If it a scale type film it is probably due to the hardness of your water . Too much magnesium and calcium. Do you get scale on your cooking utensils, water heater elements etc?
I know for a fact that I have hard water. My EC from the tap is 0.6. I believe it is a scale type film but it only occurred after adding pH down. If I let just tap water in the reservoir it doesn't produce a film. Also I mentioned that the pH rises to the point where it was before any adjustment. Doesn't the addition of an acid (pH down) to a base (basic water) always form a salt? That's what we were taught in chemistry anyway.
ChemCat
Member
Hi weedape just use vinegar for ph down, I've been using it for years and it is excellent and a natural food source, watever you use if you leave it to stand over night the ph is always going to rise, you could buy ten bottles of vinegar for the price of 1 bottle of phosphoric acid try sprinkling that on your chips nasty stuff
Chemcat, thanks for your response. I actually started with vinegar and found two problems. The pH was very unstable and something called mother of vinegar began growing in my cloner reservoir. I really think RO water is the answer since I have water with an EC of 0.6. I still want to know what the film is and if their is a way to stabilize pH. If the pH in my hand watering reservoir goes back up to where it started overnight, then I assume the water in the soil will have its pH climb too. I feel like their is no point in pH'ing my water if that is the case.
No need for attitude man, you posted near gibberish that had no place in my thread and I was polite in advising you. I've seen some of your other posts and I would kindly ask you don't bring your aggressive tendencies into my thread. You know icmag has this incredible function where you can post your own threads. Try that.
"I need the taste in weed part" is what I called gibberish. I'm guessing you want to know how to grow flavorful flowers. Try googling taste or flavor and site:icmag.com This will allow you to search the content of threads instead of just thread titles like the search function provided by icmag. If anyone knows anything about pH down reacting with water to form an insoluble film, I'm all ears, or rather eyes here.
I wouldn't say it failed, as the pH was stable for at least an hour. But yes, the film formed the first time overnight and the pH was back to what it is out of the faucet. It does this every time. I use the water before it has a chance to happen but still think the same thing must be happening in the soil after being watered. I am just surprised no one else had the same problem because plenty of people have hard water and use pH down.
Again, I can't read your mind. You need to provide some context. Are you saying I failed? I know that it may be foolish to continue using a product after it doesn't work the way I expected it to but there is still a chance that it is beneficial. That is why I opened this thread, to seek advice. I have certainly failed to gain much in reading your posts because you have failed to express your thoughts clearly. Unless by chance you think the way you write, in which case I would advise you not to experiment with mind altering substances.
weedape the answer to your problem is defiantely R/O water.It's not an expensive investment and will improve your grows enormously.I've used GH ph up and down for over a decade my water out of the tap used to be about 350 PPM and 8-8.5PH.Mostly calcium as my dogs water bowl attests to.I never had to use PH down though except to soak my rocwool cubes,other than that a tiny bit of fertilizer would bring it within range.I would choose a skosh of fert over PH down until you get your R/O filter installed.Then you'll be rockin
Wow! I failed. That has me feeling awful. By the way, rape is a serious matter, not something to twist into an insult. What in your mind is the purpose of these forums? I'm using the forum to discuss gardening topics as opposed to making rude and half-baked comments in an attempt to put down people I've not even met without provocation of any sort. If I wasn't bored right now I wouldn't even respond, but it makes me curious what your point is. Is it that you are better than me? Ok I accept that you are awesome. Now can you answer my actual question? I asked if anyone knew what the film was and why pH returned to its original level. I did not ask if it was broken. I asked what was happening from a chemist's perspective in an attempt to learn something and then potentially fix it if I determined there even was a problem. I don't see you providing anything constructive and I know you won't be here for long.
