pH Down

What kind of pH down should i use, currently i use API ($5 from pet store) which is 9.6% Sulfuric Acid. Should i be using a different kind of acid as this stuff seems to be raising my EC almost .5 with every ml i add?

I saw a youtube video where the guy uses a lemon to lower the ph. Should I link it?

Go get some GH pH down from the grow store.

SnapsProvolone said:

Go get some GH pH down from the grow store.

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I did...It was $10 for 16 oz....I takes about 2 oz to dial in my 4 gallons of water. The cost is way too high. I read vinegar or lemon juice is a cheap alternative. I'm not trying to spend $200 a year on ph down.

DarthBlazeAnthony said:

I did...It was $10 for 16 oz....I takes about 2 oz to dial in my 4 gallons of water. The cost is way too high. I read vinegar or lemon juice is a cheap alternative. I'm not trying to spend $200 a year on ph down.

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Whoah... that's way too much. I use about 3 ml for 5 gallons of full strength nutes.

Your meter fucked up?

Seriously, did the bottle have an orange liquid and was the foam seal under the cap intact?

You are doing your pH correction after adding nutes?

i never have to use ph down, it's always up...

The one time I thought I needed ph up I found my meter was wrecked and was reading way lower than reality.

i don't use any of it normally since i use the veg n bloom dirty.. I'm telling you guys its one stop drop.. no need to jack with anything....

SnapsProvolone said:

The one time I thought I needed ph up I found my meter was wrecked and was reading way lower than reality.

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shoot..I have added like 25 ml at least. Went from 8.1 to 6.5. WTF!!

I emailed the online retailer that their ph down was weak and they responded this today "No complains on the pH down or up, it would show up on my feedback if it wasn't working. The price flex is due to competition, NOT because of quality. I try to keep my pricing few cents or dollar cheaper than the cheapest competition. Have you tried my product before? I know in some cases it is not as strong as some others for sale but mine is food grade and safe for fish and plants and competition may be using stronger industrial formula but it can be toxic. What makes pH down barely work is if you have high carbonates in your system. Any rocks, sand, decoration made from plaster or if you use tap water. These listed have high content of carbonates (added by the city water district). Each time you add a pH down those carbonate will counter the reaction and bring it back up. Those carbonate will maintain your pH between 7.5 to 8.5 and it doesn't seem to go down no matter how much pH you add and even if it goes down, it goes back up within hours. That is a sign of high carbonate"

Calibrated meter? You checking it with a simple ph test kit with color changing sauce?

Ahh, I recommend ro h2o for hydro.

How can I reduce high cabonate?

SnapsProvolone said:

Ahh, I recommend ro h2o for hydro.

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I want to use RO water for sure. I thought I could use tap though.

Everyones tap water is different. Hell mine changes seasonally (pueblo reservoir).

DarthBlazeAnthony said:

How can I reduce high cabonate?

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save your money on ro and try www.hydroponic-research.com

SnapsProvolone said:

Everyones tap water is different. Hell mine changes seasonally (pueblo reservoir).

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hey i posted a few photos here tell me what you think http://rollitup.org/t/roseys-grow-check-out-my-plants.704530/page-124