ONE Produce LIME VS. 13 GALLONZ OF 6.5PH REZZY Replaced my Rezzy Nutes 2 dayz ago(set to 5.5ph);must have used too much eggshellz. Becuz My plants showed signs of chlorosis. Found out my Rezzy was currently at 6.5PH!OUCH! I ran outta Botanicare Ph Down!!! Oh No...what to do-what to do? Did an Internet Search becuz Distilled Vinegar is BAD fer Hydro. Discovered Lime. I squeezed One Medium Sized Lime mixed into a 13 gallon Rezzy. My Ph is hoverin' around 5.0PH now!!! Yes!!! But will it burn and spot my plants like that horrible distilled vinegar did? It'z been 3 hrz so far. I can actually see the chlorosis/yellowing suddenly transform into pale green. No spottin yet. No burnin yet. Conclusion:One Grocery Store Lime mixed with 12-15 gallons(distilled water)will drop your rezzy down to 5.2-5.8 PH. (Edited by hellostupid at 5:43 pm on Sep. 22, 2003)
That will work for a quick fix but will it work over the next couple of days? i heard usind vineger or lime dissipates over a couple of days.
greenthumb420...24hrs later...i can confirm your suspicions that produce lime doesn't last! Produce Grocery Lime did not burn my females;which was the only nice thing a i can say about it. I checked it and it'z back up to 6.4Ph in my rezzy...ouch... ...but i did get a hold of some new stuff...called Beckett Ph Lower WaterGarden Treatment. It'z 15% Organic Citric Acid(4X stronger than lime.Citric Acid'z a byproduct of fermented sugar cane/molasses.)!!! I doubt it will work better than my previous Botanicare HCI; but it says that itz safe for plants...and it'z a couple bucks cheaper also... Only needed 1 Tablespoon to drop it down to 5.0Ph(13gallon rezzy)!!! I hope it lasts/stabilizes...only time will tell... But the produce lime did prevent the chlorosis from spreading until i had time to get some Real Ph Down...(i hope itz real.)... ...i still have my reciept just in case this stuff sux(Beckett Ph Lower WaterGarden Treatment) (Edited by hellostupid at 10:27 am on Sep. 24, 2003)
Yeah the hydro PH down is the best.you'll even notice aquarium PH down isn't as good but it does work.
13 gallon rezzy PH Update: After using Beckett'z Ph Down;24hrz later ph rose back to 6.0PH...ouch. I had to add another Tablespoon of Beckett'z 15% Citric Acid to re-lower back down to 5.0PH...which really sux;becuz i actually hafta drain my system to mix my nutes/acids seperately from the Plants. I learned the hard way that its not good to mix nutes/acids while the plants are still submerged(spottz/burnz)... I still have my reciept from Home Depot; i guess itz back to the Hydroshop fer me(i still feel funny walkin into a hydroshop;so i try to find other stealth alternatives like HomeDepot/Star Nursery)! Botanicare PH Down HCI was still the best fer me so far. My hydroshop also offers Earth Juice PH Down...but it cost more so i didn't get it. Peace Greenthumb420...
What grow medium are you using? I hear rockwool doesnt PH stabilze very easliy, and tends to raise PH over time. Thats why i went with vermiculite/perlite.
I'm using 5" diameter hydropots/corn. with Botanicare Ph down,my rezzy ph remainz stable for at least 7-10 dayz!!! I can't think of any other chemical that can outperform it. With the other stuff i've tried...they all sucked sour eggz big time. (Edited by hellostupid at 6:30 am on Sep. 30, 2003)
HS, been following this thread a bit, just wanted to interject my $0.02... I prefer to use General Hydroponics Ph up and Down. It costs, $12.99 per quart, $24.99 per gallon. Its 30% HCl. I have used Ph down from Grow-More, (15% HCL) and I can burn up a quart in 2 days. It pretty much sucks. I have not used the Botanicare Ph products, but I do like Botanicare nutes. If you are having good success, and keeping a stable ressy, I would bet the Botanicare is 30% HCl also. Sounds Like maybe the Becketts (?) is only 15%..? IMHO, the 30% solution is a must, to save money, and head-aches! PS, good stuff on the Lime, have to remember that next time I'm in a pinch...
Thanx again Useless...so far... your invaluable advice has never let me down... ...my local neighborhood hydroshop only carry Botanicare/Earthjuice productz...not much else... ...there's 3 other hydroshopz in Vegas... ...i'm sure at least one of 'em got the stuff(General Hydroponics 30% HCl) you recommended Useless!!! I believe u...30% grade PH Down is Mandatory!!! The stuff you mention sounds alot cheaper than what i pay($9 fer a pint!!!)... ...this Growkind Forum is the Best!!! I probably frequent this website more than any other Marijuana Website...handz down!!! Thanx again Useless...hell yeah!!! (Edited by hellostupid at 6:15 am on Oct. 1, 2003)
ok dumb question here is 5.0 ph a little too low from all ive read or is it different for hydro im thinking of switching on my next grow to hydro so i would like to know thanks.
