Slight problem with ppms or not?

[urbanfarmerz]

What's up guys what will cause my ppms to rise and fall ?

DWC 5 gal Bucket
Lucas method 0-2-4
5xautos

Some insight all started around 300ppms
Within the last 5 days the ppms dropped to around 240 and are slowly working there way back up to the starting base.

When I notice these drops am I suppose to top off with nutes and bring it back up to were they started ?

When the ppms start to rise from what they were the previous day am I supposed to bring to what the were the day prior?

My ph is stable at 5.8
RO
GH 2 Part

And how do my ladies look for day 19 ?

 

[Los Reefersaurus]

Well I would guess that the first drop in ppm was due to residual water in the system diluting your ppms , them I would say that either the plants ate the food or your nutes either locked out and fell out of solution or reacted with the plastics and medium, then stabilized. Now the pppm is rising because of evaporation and transpiration

and the ladies look lovely and ready for stronger foods

 

[coreywebster]

@OldMedUser You know DWC like the back of your hand... Care to throw down some knowledge?

Not that I am inferring you don't Los!!

 

[urbanfarmerz]

@OldMedUser i should've known to just ask you lol

 

[urbanfarmerz]

Well I would guess that the first drop in ppm was due to residual water in the system diluting your ppms , them I would say that either the plants ate the food or your nutes either locked out and fell out of solution or reacted with the plastics and medium, then stabilized. Now the pppm is rising because of evaporation and transpiration

and the ladies look lovely and ready for stronger foods

So as they rise should I let them without topping off to see what they can handle but I know with ppm drop I'm unsure of what they are intact consuming lol

 

[Los Reefersaurus]

So as they rise should I let them without topping off to see what they can handle but I know with ppm drop I'm unsure of what they are intact consuming lol

How long do you intend to go between rez changes?

 

[urbanfarmerz]

How long do you intend to go between rez changes?

Only once before flower like Lucas describes

 

[Los Reefersaurus]

Only once before flower like Lucas describes

I am going to back out on this one, back when I did DWC I guess the rules were different.
I know not about this fancy new Lucas way of doing DWC.
My advice would be to change your rez and add in about 50% strength nutes, but I would be leading you away from what ever it is you are doing

Good Luck

 

[toaster struedel]

I would change every 7 days, a lot less problems that way. Topping off with just water in between. That's how I was taught. If you're not chilling everything an your Rez temps get above 75 you're just asking for trouble.

 

[urbanfarmerz]

How long do you intend to go between rez changes?

I'm using dist

I would change every 7 days, a lot less problems that way. Topping off with just water in between. That's how I was taught. If you're not chilling everything an your Rez temps get above 75 you're just asking for trouble.

temp is always 68 so just too off with ph corrected water that's it even tho they are consuming nutes

 

[OldMedUser]

What's up guys what will cause my ppms to rise and fall ?

DWC 5 gal Bucket
Lucas method 0-2-4
5xautos

Some insight all started around 300ppms
Within the last 5 days the ppms dropped to around 240 and are slowly working there way back up to the starting base.

When I notice these drops am I suppose to top off with nutes and bring it back up to were they started ?

When the ppms start to rise from what they were the previous day am I supposed to bring to what the were the day prior?

My ph is stable at 5.8
RO
GH 2 Part

And how do my ladies look for day 19 ?

I've never run into a situation where the ppm would rise other than the water levels were down so testing should always be done after topping up the rez first. If you are topping off with tap water then you have to take into account the ppm of your tap water when testing. This is why I always use RO or distilled so I don't have to factor in that part. Changing nutes weekly wastes a lot of nutes so even if using tap water you should keep track of how much water you add back until it is the same as the amount your rez holds then change nutes. You can grow from clone to a decent size plant before putting that much water back.

If nutes were precipitating out of sol'n you'll find a crusty substance on the bottom of the rez and/or pails and the ppm will go down faster as those nutes are no longer in sol'n.

I use syringes to measure out small amounts of nutes to bring my ppm back up to my target level as the plants eat them or to raise the ppm to a higher level as they grow. Measuring spoons will work too

Your plants are looking good but I don't know about using the Lucas formula in veg and if you are using two part nutes how are you doing that? With 3 - part nutes I'm going Lucas after the stretch to reduce N in later flowering. With the way autos keep growing throughout the flowering stage too low N might not be a good idea until the last 3 weeks or so. For vegging I've always gone with a 3-2-1 ratio of G-M-B but as autos start flowering I likely go with 3-2-2 or even 3-3-3 or a 1-1-1. The last two of course are the same ratio just different strengths.

I have no idea why your ppm would rise other than maybe some root rot starting and it adds to the ppm load?

 

[curious2garden]

Evaporation

 

[urbanfarmerz]

I've never run into a situation where the ppm would rise other than the water levels were down so testing should always be done after topping up the rez first. If you are topping off with tap water then you have to take into account the ppm of your tap water when testing. This is why I always use RO or distilled so I don't have to factor in that part. Changing nutes weekly wastes a lot of nutes so even if using tap water you should keep track of how much water you add back until it is the same as the amount your rez holds then change nutes. You can grow from clone to a decent size plant before putting that much water back.

If nutes were precipitating out of sol'n you'll find a crusty substance on the bottom of the rez and/or pails and the ppm will go down faster as those nutes are no longer in sol'n.

I use syringes to measure out small amounts of nutes to bring my ppm back up to my target level as the plants eat them or to raise the ppm to a higher level as they grow. Measuring spoons will work too

Your plants are looking good but I don't know about using the Lucas formula in veg and if you are using two part nutes how are you doing that? With 3 - part nutes I'm going Lucas after the stretch to reduce N in later flowering. With the way autos keep growing throughout the flowering stage too low N might not be a good idea until the last 3 weeks or so. For vegging I've always gone with a 3-2-1 ratio of G-M-B but as autos start flowering I likely go with 3-2-2 or even 3-3-3 or a 1-1-1. The last two of course are the same ratio just different strengths.

I have no idea why your ppm would rise other than maybe some root rot starting and it adds to the ppm load?

The Lucas method says 0-8-16
8mil micro 16mil bloom

I'm at quarter strength 0-2-4
Was going to raise next week
I just don't get it seems like they barley drink I haven't topped up at all my ppms drop then rise then drop the fluctuate just not sure if I'm doing this right

 

[OldMedUser]

I can't explain the fluctuation. For me it just goes down as the plants eat. If you top up first then you should be able to tell how much per day the plants use and that number should get bigger as the plants get bigger. I always topped up every 3 days using a rubbermaid tub to grow in.

The Lucas formula is a ratio and 0-8-16 is the same ratio as 0-1-2 just stronger. The ratio is 1:2/M:B so like using nutes in the regular way you just use those two in that ratio and make it what strength you want and still be using the Lucas Formula.

Your plants aren't that big yet so they aren't drinking much but once they get 4x that size they'll go through a gal a day.

I wouldn't fuss with them but would raise the ppm a bit. I'd be at 500 for that size. What type of ppm pen do you use? I have a Hanna and others use different scales to show ppm. I have a chart for that if you need it.

 

[urbanfarmerz]

Just a knock off eBay pen 500 conversion so with autos you run that high without burning ? This is what I found today looks like cal def I'm thinking ? Just topped them n bumbled them up to 330 some are wilting I'm thinking I might be under feeding so scared to burn them

 

[urbanfarmerz]

I can't explain the fluctuation. For me it just goes down as the plants eat. If you top up first then you should be able to tell how much per day the plants use and that number should get bigger as the plants get bigger. I always topped up every 3 days using a rubbermaid tub to grow in.

The Lucas formula is a ratio and 0-8-16 is the same ratio as 0-1-2 just stronger. The ratio is 1:2/M:B so like using nutes in the regular way you just use those two in that ratio and make it what strength you want and still be using the Lucas Formula.

Your plants aren't that big yet so they aren't drinking much but once they get 4x that size they'll go through a gal a day.

I wouldn't fuss with them but would raise the ppm a bit. I'd be at 500 for that size. What type of ppm pen do you use? I have a Hanna and others use different scales to show ppm. I have a chart for that if you need it.

See wat I posted ?

 

[urbanfarmerz]

I can't explain the fluctuation. For me it just goes down as the plants eat. If you top up first then you should be able to tell how much per day the plants use and that number should get bigger as the plants get bigger. I always topped up every 3 days using a rubbermaid tub to grow in.

The Lucas formula is a ratio and 0-8-16 is the same ratio as 0-1-2 just stronger. The ratio is 1:2/M:B so like using nutes in the regular way you just use those two in that ratio and make it what strength you want and still be using the Lucas Formula.

Your plants aren't that big yet so they aren't drinking much but once they get 4x that size they'll go through a gal a day.

I wouldn't fuss with them but would raise the ppm a bit. I'd be at 500 for that size. What type of ppm pen do you use? I have a Hanna and others use different scales to show ppm. I have a chart for that if you need it.

Must have been I never topped up

 

[OldMedUser]

Same as my Hanna pen.

To get an accurate reading on your real ppm you have to top up to the same level before each reading and let it circulate a while so it's evenly dispersed after adding nutes before another reading.

I ran a tub full of autos and fed them like regulars except to use more of a 1-1-1 ratio with 3 part nutes as soon they started to flower then increased the ratio of Bloom as they went along. Used Big Bud too. Can't find my notes but I'm sure I went over 1000ppm when they were growing their fastest.

I don't see anything wrong with that leaf in your pic. Or the plant as a whole. A little bump or two on a lower leaf is nothing to worry about.

 

[urbanfarmerz]

Cool nice they picked up doing better now on the slight adjustment I'm going to flush and go 0-4-8
Around 473ppms and see what happens I didn't go the clear tube way to see how much water their drinking any useful tips so I can get accurate ready until I'm inbetween grows ?
Dude thanks so much for the help

 

[OldMedUser]

I'd just lift the corner of the tub's lid to check the level if I couldn't see it good enough thru the inspection hole. When I set up a new tub I put no holes below the water line and never have leaks to worry about.

You have a main rez for that setup don't you?

If you are going to run Lucas for veg keep an eye out for yellowing in the lower fan leaves when the plants get really going. If you got lots of light they might want more N.

They're at that size now where they should take off.