High PH

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My tap water is all over the place - ranging from a pH of 7 to 9+. I'm using AN Sensei in Lightmix, and Lightmix + coir(40%). I've had loads of issues but now I know about my tap water my plants are much better. As I use a lot of water ( but not so much I have run off ), can I store ph'd water for a few days? What's the best general pH down? I've been using calmag ( not good apparently), molasses, lemon juice, and malt vinegar. Got some citric acid in the post and a cheap pH pen which my pal's going to calibrate for me - (I tried,failed.) Here's a pic of my grow - this is bigger and more buddy than my other attempts - what is the best way to deal with fluctuating source water PH issues? Thanks.
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My tap water is all over the place - ranging from a pH of 7 to 9+. I'm using AN Sensei in Lightmix, and Lightmix + coir(40%). I've had loads of issues but now I know about my tap water my plants are much better. As I use a lot of water ( but not so much I have run off ), can I store ph'd water for a few days? What's the best general pH down? I've been using calmag ( not good apparently), molasses, lemon juice, and malt vinegar. Got some citric acid in the post and a cheap pH pen which my pal's going to calibrate for me - (I tried,failed.) Here's a pic of my grow - this is bigger and more buddy than my other attempts - what is the best way to deal with fluctuating source water PH issues? Thanks.View attachment 1300319
My municipal water can come from different sources during the year depending upon water availability and the pressure in the grid. It can be well water PH about 8 and PPM 200+ or from surface water PH7.4 and 80 PPM. I have to test my starting water every time I mix nutrients. No way around it.
 
Once you've got that new ph pen, just mix your water and nutes, then hold the pen in there and get a reading before you start adjusting. ph up/down kits are nice to have on hand. I ph my water everytime before I give it to my plants. I also only mix up what I'm going to use right then. The ph can swing depending on what you're using. Especially if you're using things like vinegar or lemon juice that break down quicker.

The AN Sensi line should be getting the ph pretty well adjusted for you. I think you'll really need to just ph your tap water, then add 1ml of A/B and check it again. See how much it takes to pull it in range. However, that stuff is extremely concentrated and it's easy to over dose your plant. I used the autobeast guide on my first one and burned the heck out of it. Although your current pics look pretty darn good!

For reference my tap water is usually between 7.8 - 8.1 and almost always just over 200ppm. Using 1ml of Sensi bloom brings it right around 6.0 for me but again, depending on what minerals are in your water, you will need to add and adjust.

I did a little test one night out of curiosity on how strong the AN Sensi line is:
(yes, distiled water has no buffers in it so it ph's down or up real easy)

1L distilled water @ 7.1pH and 0ppm
Added 1ml Sensi Bloom part A, then part B

results
A - 5.7 pH and 161 ppm
B - 5.4 pH and 423 ppm



Another point of reference for you. I know you've gotten some solid advice but if you're not interested in ordering a ph kit from say amazon, I have the general hydroponics ph control kit. The chemicals they use if you just want to find your own:

pH UP is Potassium Carbonate

pH Down is Phosphoric Acid
 
My municipal water can come from different sources during the year depending upon water availability and the pressure in the grid.
OMG. I feel lucky with my watercompany all of a sudden... whole year around 8.something...
 
Thank you ManO Green, I think I'm gonna get a decent pen and constantly monitor the water and take it all down to ph6.5 ish. I may even get a water distiller as I have other plants that are suffering. I can't wait as all mine have suffered and look good considering - my next plant is going to have its whole life wlth decent water.
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So the plan is pH down to 6.5 ish the water that I stand for a day or so (to remove chlorine and to bring up to room temperature.) Citric acid has been delivered and will be played with tonight ( along with the AN food) now a pals been and sorted my pH pen out. I'm using just shy of 4L in my . tent a day - its not a problem. Surely as I get better at handling ph'd liquids my plants should be healthier. I also read the Autobeast method wrong and have been giving them double what I should it should have been (in my setup) 2x1L @5ml a+b Bloom - I gave them 2x2L a week - for the last 2 weeks! It may be some time for me before I have a problem free grow. Me and my plants are much happier now I'm pH aware.
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@henry50 Why don't you just get some GH PH Down?

An RO system would work much better than a distiller at about the same price. I have a distiller also and it takes forever to distill water.

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Have been looking at an ro system- definitely doable, I'm putting in a decent sized tropical fish tank and there's no chance of keeping fish healthy if they had to endure severe pH fluctuations - not matter how much tap safe you chucked at it. I'm wary of pH down because of price - I'm sure the citric will last ages - the reaction isn't very aggressive - for me it isn't a problem - after the initial faff of working out what's a usable concentration after that its the same as any pH management problem - only cheaper - though as you advise it. I'll certainly take a look at branded pH downs - I can get it as the citric is very cheap - if its a lot easier I'll do it.
 
So a bit of faff later - 5g of citric acid melted into a litre of 7.2 water will give you a pH down of 0.9 in a litre of water. Easy to make and very very cheap. Let's see if it works!
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Nice work! But.... what's up with that melted clock there? Borrow something from Salvadore Dali? If you're universe is melting you.. um... I don't know. Can you run from the surreal?
 
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