Lower Water pH - Best Method
- Thread starter bbates
- Start date
SuicidalGuy
Active Member
My water from my tap was at about 6.8, which was cool, but when i tested it again it was up over 8.0, I went to home depot and got some ph down for ponds. it was on clearance i guess and it was only 3.50. I have a 30 gallon resevior and it took 2 cap fulls (about 10ml) to get it from over 8 to 5.8, this was a couple of days ago, it was up to 6.0 today, so ill have to adjust it again. I figure that this home depot stuff will last me for quite a while. Im gonna go down and get the rest seeing as it was so cheap. Hope that helped. Maybe not.
krustofskie
Well-Known Member
Pet stores or grow stores will all have some PH up and PH down formulas. You will want both. Remember to measure the PH AFTER you have added nutrients as your nutrients will change the waters PH also. Some People are concerned about using chemicals and such, but unless you growing strictly organic dont worry about what type of PH up and down you use, after all when the plants ready you would have flushed it for a week or so which washes all the chemical taste out. You will waste money on lemons and such as PH up and Down are not expensive but fruit can be.
bbates
Member
thanks everyone for your idea.... Actually I'm trying to go organic so I'm not keen on using chemicals plus I don't have any grow shops around here, only a garden store, I also don't live near a Home Depot in USA.
I will check my PH again after I add nutes. I also purchased a PH kit recently but it came with nothing to change the PH, only how to read it.
What I'm hoping to know is if I can use something common to lower my PH. I was thinking lime but I guess that would make the PH higher.
vinegar, I did read about that someone else, has anyone got anymore info on that?
I will check my PH again after I add nutes. I also purchased a PH kit recently but it came with nothing to change the PH, only how to read it.
What I'm hoping to know is if I can use something common to lower my PH. I was thinking lime but I guess that would make the PH higher.
vinegar, I did read about that someone else, has anyone got anymore info on that?
Cr8z13
Well-Known Member
It'll work. Make sure you test every day because vinegar isn't as stable as pH Down, which you can get at pet stores near the aquarium supplies.
bbates
Member
I'll check out that pH down/up from the local petshop as don't have Wal-Mart here either.
I also found something a bit shocking, after I add my nutes to the water it was at 9.2 so I guess that is why I had a few problems recently. Well I have added vinigar to the water and it brought it right down to 4.3 so I gave them a water with that.
I will write about this more in my grow diary....
I also found something a bit shocking, after I add my nutes to the water it was at 9.2 so I guess that is why I had a few problems recently. Well I have added vinigar to the water and it brought it right down to 4.3 so I gave them a water with that.
I will write about this more in my grow diary....
krustofskie
Well-Known Member
4.3 is still low but better than 9.2. I think in soil you aim for 6.8, check this first im not in soil myself.
Once you start using the ph up or down of your choice its best to stick with it so you get to know how much of each you need to change the ph to your desired level. I have sat there for ages before trying to get the balance right, ph up ph down ph up ph down ph up ph down. It can be very frustrating. Best advise to do it in little amounts so you dont over correct.
Best of luck
henleyhaze
Well-Known Member
i use baking soda and water for my ph up and i use vinegar for my ph down but after I add nutes i'm normally at 5.8-6.2
Old Fat Hippy
Member
bbates
Member
Ok great, so I just use vinegar to bring it down and baking soda to bring it up. Yes I think 6.8 is ideal and I will aim for that each water. I just used the low PH mix yesterday since they had a high 9.2 dose of nutes. For my soil I use a mix of 40% Perlite, 20% potting mix, 25% vermilite and compost with a handful of B&B.