I can’t help but notice when I mix up a 250 ml batch of Bergmans Seedling Boost @50% strength,(the girls just started drinking yesterday as they are but 8 days old) using water corrected to 7.0 after the addition of the nutrients and an EC of 0.74 mS that the next day it is no longer in that PH range,usually around PH 7.3 as if either:
1)Does the PH down solution and its effects degrade over night? OR
2)Does the plastic beaker possibly leach substances over time into the H20 to create the imbalance?(Should I either always mix fresh as needed or replace my cheapie graduated beakers,etc ?)
4) Is the solution over time naturally restoring itself back to its original state?
Anyone with factual answers…Lay it on me please.
We’re talking 6 hours or so,not a week or 3 days.just 6-8 hours.
I have noticed this on 3 occasions now and can no longer dismiss this as something random i have done wrong,
I do not intermix solutions while testing.
All instruments are cleaned and dried in between testing/results and the next test.all vessloes/beakers are washed in between uses,etc.
@Spiney_norman Sorry,
Well water PH-7.4/ EC-0.73 microsiemens
No chemicals of any sort.No softener.
Just a Pelican PC 1000 Whole House Carbon Filter.
on 80 acres/spring fed pond of PH7.3 and EC 0.11.
I’m 25 miles from chlorinated water.
This is why packaged nutrients are kept separate until mixed. This effect is lessened with a larger amount of liquid as well as when you reach a higher concentration.
I would also suggest a lower PH as cannabis sits in the same range as tomatoes. Also; what type of instrument are you using to measure PH and when last calibrated?
I have Apera instruments a PH20 and an EC20.Both were calibrated this morning.Calibration typically takes place every 3rd day or so with moderate use unless something indicates to me that I should calibrate sooner.
So you’re saying the solution isn’t stable enough for short term storage viability and mix what you’ll use at the time or be ready to correct the solution at the time of use.
Exposure to air and plastic doesn’t play a role?
Likely it does. You’ve introduced the salts into water, air is introduced etc. which all contributes to the mix being less stable than when in it’s package. With agitation and modest temps you will maintain enough stability for it to be usable.
Rather than calibrate every three days, I’d suggest picking up some ‘Standard Reference Solution 7.0’ which allows you to dip your probe and verify calibration. My Apera hold calibration for months FYI.
I bought the Apera PH20 and EC20 in kit form so I have all that. I have that calibration buffering solutions.Are they by any chance the same as PH up/down?
Welcome, you have a good PH meter you should not need to calibrate more than once a month. Good practice to keep a clean fresh bottle of 7 PH solution to verify if you feel like you need too. You can also buy a standard conductivity solution To verify or span your conductivity meter. Good luck
There are a lot of potential reasons why you’ll see increase in ph. Water temp increase is most likely reason. But could be from some elements coming out of suspension too.
Did i read correctly that you adjust ph of your water then add nutrients? I wouldn’t do this as your ph20 probably doesn’t accurately display ph if ec is only .11. Mix your nutrients then adjust ph.
I use RO water for general watering and it is corrected to a ph within range.(5.8-6.3) and has generally an EC of .00-.07 microsiemens… my tap water which is free of any treatments generally has an EC of .74 microsiemens and mixing anything at all with it puts my EC over the Bergmans recommendation of 1.0 so I wind up using my RO water to wind up in the proper range for EC and adjust ph as necessary.
If there’s a better means,newbie here is all ears.
