Bubbler ph issues

Good day. I'm having some interesting issues with ph going up much faster than normal. I'd really appreciate some feedback.

I've searched the forums for the right info that I've looking for and could not locate anything other than answers I've already tried.

I am using Botanicare Pro Blend Grow with Liquid Karma, Aquashield, CalMag, Sweet Grape, at 75% strength and Humboldt Roots at 50% strength in a 5 gallon buckets filled with 4 gallons. Small airstones in each bucket. Sunleaves Rocks as the medium (like hydroton balls but not shaped to roll on the ground when they drop).

PH rises from 5.8 to 7-7.5 within 2-3 hours and from 5.8 to 6.2-6.7 within an hour. I am constantly having to adjust the pH Down. I have tried both Omri Organic pH down and GH pH down with close to equal results. I've also tested the medium but that comes out neutral. Other tests include using only Pro Blend Grow and Calmag which resulted in equal results, and also just pH balanced water which went up but not as drastically. Every test has been with airstones on.

I have a friend that has a friend that has a friend that knew someone that does the exact same thing using the Technaflora (BC Bloom, etc...) line and does not have the same spikes in pH. His results are very good quality. I began a plant I started in Technaflora and switched to Botanicare after a couple of weeks and that is when the problem started.

So..the only conclusion I can come to is the use of organics in a bubbler can create rapid pH increases and must be tended to every couple of hours. Does anyone have some good opinions on this?

I've observed two things in my grows:

1) Organics can be slow on the uptake, so plants often not only handle but need a bit higher concentrations compared to salt based nutes.

2) When nutrient concentrations in the water go down the pH should go up, except when using high phosphorous salt nutes and/or the res needs flushing.

I use a TDS meter, and maintain my res daily. When ppm goes up I feed less, if it goes down I feed more. I find under these conditions the pH slowly transitions from 5.3 to as high as 6 between my daily adjustments. This seems to be ideal for my ladies.

Also, I don't know if this is relevant, but I don't use those cheap blue stones I use micropore ceramic stones now but have used that fibrous bubble wall stuff before, both with great results.

I hope this helps you.

vh13 said:

I've observed two things in my grows:

1) Organics can be slow on the uptake, so plants often not only handle but need a bit higher concentrations compared to salt based nutes.

2) When nutrient concentrations in the water go down the pH should go up, except when using high phosphorous salt nutes and/or the res needs flushing.

I use a TDS meter, and maintain my res daily. When ppm goes up I feed less, if it goes down I feed more. I find under these conditions the pH slowly transitions from 5.3 to as high as 6 between my daily adjustments. This seems to be ideal for my ladies.


Thanks, vh. Unfortunately, I do not have a meter for ppm at the moment. I just figured at 75% of what the feeding schedule says and then lowering it to half with just Grow would suffice until I got me a new one








Also, I don't know if this is relevant, but I don't use those cheap blue stones I use micropore ceramic stones now but have used that fibrous bubble wall stuff before, both with great results.

I hope this helps you.

Click to expand...

Thanks, vh. Unfortunately, I am not in possession of a meter for ppm so I just figured 50-75% of the feeding schedule would suffice in being pretty healthy and stable but the pH just goes sky high. I plan on getting me a new meter within the week. Are you using Botanicare by chance? I'm curious to know a good ppm for the pro blend schedule. Thanks.

yakman said:

Thanks, vh. Unfortunately, I am not in possession of a meter for ppm so I just figured 50-75% of the feeding schedule would suffice in being pretty healthy and stable but the pH just goes sky high. I plan on getting me a new meter within the week. Are you using Botanicare by chance? I'm curious to know a good ppm for the pro blend schedule. Thanks.

Click to expand...

Ideal PPM is strain dependent mostly, but environment heavily influences. Also, the ideal PPM will vary throughout flowering too, the girls eat noticeably less in the last stages of flowering.

You don't need a meter, I'm just a geek.

The best thing to do without a meter is to slowly increase the concentration of your nutes each feeding until you see the first signs of nutrient burn, the tips of the leaves will take on a dry crispy appearance, then step it back a little bit. This is your ideal concentration for your girl, feel free to adjust as necessary.

No, I haven't tried Botanicare yet. I planned on testing them out in my next cycle.