why is my ph in dwc always going down so much?

Renfro said:

Using air stones creates carbonic acid as CO2 in the air bubbles reacts with your water. That's why the pH drops. If you run a RDWC with waterfall oxygenation you won't have that issue.

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If it was the air stones/aeration causing the CO2 changes, then levels would stabilize at equilibrium levels within 12-24 hours at most. So after the first day, there should be very little to no drift due to changing CO2 levels. It wouldnt start up again until after the next rez change.

I dont see how water falls would or could be any different. Both cause basically the same amount of aeration and have the same exact effect on CO2 and O2 levels.

Aeration is aeration and CO2 concentrations will change or not change the same way no matter how you do it.

Johnbear16 said:

Hugh ph swings point towards bacterial infection.

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I agree, but in my experience, bacterial/algae infections generally push the PH up, not down.

he should check the rez for smell, slime, cloudy, etc and smell the roots. If that all looks good, then its something else - like a nute imbalance maybe.

GBAUTO said:

I let the plants tell me what they need...most nutrient guides are for selling more nutes.

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Same here.

JSB99 said:

But that takes a lot of practice.

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I dont think its that hard. If the plants look pale, especially yellow, then it probably too low. If the plants are really dark green, or especially burning, then its too hi.

It only takes a couple of days to see changes usually.

GBAUTO said:

I let the plants tell me what they need...most nutrient guides are for selling more nutes.

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I tell the plants what time to wakeup, what time to sleep and what to eat.
And when Im done I kill them and feast on their lifeless mass.
If you could really here your plants, they would be saying "Pollinate Me"

bernie344 said:

I tell the plants what time to wakeup, what time to sleep and what to eat.
And when Im done I kill them and feast on their lifeless mass.
If you could really here your plants, they would be saying "Pollinate Me"

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Makes me one of those dads that would go ballistic if the girls got pregnant. lol NO seeds! lol