Saturday I refreshed my res and balanced the water to 5.9 PH, came in at about 2.4 EV and 1250 PPM and was in line with the recommendations of the Athena feeding chart.
Next morning my PH was down to 5.6. I applied Athenabalance to get back to 5.9
This morning I’m back to 5.6
Researching, it looks like the most likely culprits are either root rot or over feeding. If EC and PPM are staying roughly the same but water level is going down, would that indicate a likely over feeding issue?
Pics attached. Which solution would you guys try first?
So is your water level going down or staying the same? Do you use RO water to start with?
Technically the PH should be going up not down at this point in the cycle. There are a few things that can cause this
I see three things that you should review for best practices. Leave a gap between the bottom of net pot and the water line 1/2” to an 1” to let the substrate above have dry back periods. You should be using something to stabilize your reservoir. Whether that be beneficial or sterile, you should definitely pick one and be using it. Two things to consider with pH dropping. Generally, PH droping means the EC or PPM is too high. This will cause pH drop consistently. It’s really a precursor or warning the resivor is not right. There is a second part of this equation once you are far enough into bloom the natural tendency is to have pH drop instead of rise. You are a little bit too early into bloom for the PH to be drooping naturally IMO. My concern would be the EC or PPM maybe a bit high. hard to tell, but is there slightly burnt edges on the newer growth ? That would also mean the feed is a little bit too aggressive. To be honest, that’s a really high number for DWC for early flower. Cheers @Bunklyscrungus
I’ve had some suggest lowering the EC. I have a res change tonight and might try going to 1.6-1.8
Athena feed chart I’m going off of recs and EC of up to 3.0, and I’ve been running the same dosages/general EC and PPM ranges as I was during Veg when I had no PH issues (sans swapping Athena Grow for Athena bloom) so I thought I was okay
I will say since entering flowering I had become a little more “relaxed” about leaving an air gap between the root base and the water line as my thinking was “well it’s gonna drink the water quickly so it’ll the air gap will come back pretty fast…” and am now wondering if that is contributing.
I think you’re right on track about the water level. Just make sure you keep a small gap from time to time. It doesn’t have to be 24/7 . I definitely fill it up knowing the plants will use a certain amount in the next 24 hours creating a nice little gap between the net pot and waterline. These are all just early warning signs you’re doing great. Cheers !!!
The plants look fine now but the PH going down is a sign something isn’t right. I agree with the others that it might be too high of a EC for deep water. Their bloom formula mix is more acidic than the veg formula in general. So adding more than the plants can use will act like a PH down buffer when everything dissolves and stabilizes. The roots should be actively raising the PH of the feed water in accelerated growth hydro environments
Another thing to do if you don’t want to lower the EC is to PH the water higher by a few points and then when it lowers like it’s doing. The PH will be where you want it
OK if you are using a buffer, be careful of adding ph up/down due to the fact you will be fighting with the buffer. I’ve seen people make toxic brews that way.
Thanks for the heads up. Actually had someone on a discord recommend I use Athena balance to make the mix and ph down/up to make in res adjustments so glad I read this!
Athena balance is basically their silica. I would treat it more as a silica than a buffer. I would add it first in my resivor as it can ruin the bonding chain of other nutrients. Especially if Cal Mag or calcium and silica are used. The nutrient bonding chain must be in a specific order or you’ll have nutrient fallout. Silica then calcium or cal mag Then your micro nutrients. Then your grow and bloom nutrients. Then pH adjust. Your nutrients are not buffered they are cleated… Cheers @Bunklyscrungus
