HydroSan

if EC is swinging from 1.7 to 2.4 you need to top up the res more often mate. That pH indicator kit is prolly the source of your problems too, it is just not accurate enough to monitor a res on a beanstalk where the res is being pushed (limited capacity for the size of the plant) to it's limits. I seriously recomend getting a digital pH meter mate

I also recomend reading JamesGang's journal, see how he manages those small bubbler res's with a giant beanstalk, it is not an easy mission, and you need all the tips you can get I think the clorosis is a pH issue, plus the instability of the res could be causing more stress

San

Hiy

Hi San,
Thanks for your reccomendations. Phoned to find my local hydro store was open on a Sunday, so I got me a digital ph meter. Its just having a pre-soak before testing. I`ve just done a a ph colour test to compare for accuracy to the meter, so I should have more idea if that might be the problem. I am aware though that it may have been a previous dropper kit that sent my tanks into dissarray. I had always been put off a meter because of complicated calliberations etc, (which isnt like me as a rule) silly me!!
I did a search under grow journals for JamesGang and it gave quite a few starts, many of them other peoples. I did`nt have any success finding one that had over capacity plants in bubblers. Perhaps I am far more dense than I ever imagined, but do you know what the name of said g/journal?
I could`nt get to sort my res levels as I would have liked to the last couple of days, I take your point on keeping the tank topped up more regularly.I will do better honest!
Tank 3 has the big girls in (7footers), Tank 2 has plants that are not as big (still, they are 5footers). The reason I mention this is that it appears that Tank 2 seems to be the one with more serious problems. The big ones are drinking fairly well, though they dont seem to want to take in much nutes, as the EC rises more than I would expect (new strain to me though so I cant be sure). Tank 2`s plants dont drink much at all though and you can see the difference. Ph on the colour test showed today an upward drift that I would expect when things are going well in tank 3 (big girls), so thats good, whereas Tank 2 remained the same but the res showed only a tiny drop in levels.
It does`nt look like things have worsened since yesterday, but I wonder how long Tank 2`s plants can go on before starting to wilt, with so little being drunk up.
Just one other thing I wondered about, is there a way I can transfer this thread to the Grow Journal forum. It seems like it would make a good start for a g/j, seeing as I`m this far through a grow now.
Sorry another point I was wondering about is, I am due to introduce PK13-14 to my tanks in the middle of this week. Do I still proceed with this in spite of the problems I am experiencing?
I must be a big pain in the ass , thanks for your effort and tollerence.

Indebted to ya, Hiy...

__________________
8 N/Lights, 1 Blueberry?? Current Hydro Grow Journal PICS Buds & Harvest from my last grow PICS First Bubble Hash Attempt 7 Foot Widows DisasterLostGrow/J
May Maryjane smile kindly on all those who help out here at H/C.com

Agent86

Here's the link to Jamesgangs Journal.
As to moving this to the Grow Journal forum, if you go a head & start a grow journal, I'll merge this thread into it.


86.

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Hiy

Cool 86. Thanks for that, it will be a great help. I got J/Gang`s G/J, I`ve just gotten to page 11, avoiding any temptation to skip to find specifics, I thought I`d better respond, then attempt to start my G/J up. It sure is interesting stuff, I`ll get back to finish his journal later once I`ve finished what I got to do my end.
Anyone following this thread so far please come and join me at my journal, as you can see I am not out of the woods with my problems and welcome any help and support on my quest to get my remaining 6 of 9 flowering plants to a bountyful harvest.
Referring to my previous post, my new ph meter gave pretty much as the test kit was providing, I was expecting to get a reading of about 6.1 & 6.3 and actually got 5.9 & 6.2. Mmm... Thinking about it though I have been accepting a stronger yellow in my testing upto now, so I`m wondering if I`ve been a little too hard in keeping ph down, not sure, I`ll try and do some comparison tests over the next few days. Oddly enough I experienced falling ph levels during my last grow for the first time, although it was a top grow (for me anyways, 33oz prime dried bud, and lots of hash and butter making goodies from 6 plants in 2 tanks), I`m wondering if once ph gets too low it starts the trend of falling instead of the normal upward drift. So pleased to have the meter, it takes the guess work out of setting levels and there will, I`m sure, be much greater accuracy in registering the drifts.
Hopefully see you all at my place :- "7 Foot Widows" in the hydroponics grow journals forum.

Hiy...

__________________
8 N/Lights, 1 Blueberry?? Current Hydro Grow Journal PICS Buds & Harvest from my last grow PICS First Bubble Hash Attempt 7 Foot Widows DisasterLostGrow/J
May Maryjane smile kindly on all those who help out here at H/C.com

Hiy

Just checked `em and the roots of one of the plants is starting to discolour quickly, the same one as has the nute deficient leaves showing.
Gonna have to make yet another visit to the hydro store for some H202, and get them treated today if possible. The thing I cant figure out is , is it a nute deficiency problem possibly, if not probably, down to poor ph control, causing the root rot or the root rot causing the nute d. problem. Also can I treat for them both at the same time? ie. Treat with H202 whilst at the same time flush them with a end of harvest flush to clean them out and open the root pours. Or do they need H202 and nutes at a low EC, to give them the oppertunity to absorb some as soon as they`re able?
I`m confused and to some extent panicking (Like a headless chicken!!!), as you can imagine the thought of losing another tank of these girls is unbearable .

whimper, whimper, Hiy...

__________________
8 N/Lights, 1 Blueberry?? Current Hydro Grow Journal PICS Buds & Harvest from my last grow PICS First Bubble Hash Attempt 7 Foot Widows DisasterLostGrow/J
May Maryjane smile kindly on all those who help out here at H/C.com

HydroSan

The trouble with the aquarium indicator kits is that anything below 6.0 looks exactly the same low pH can cause burning, deficiency's (lockout) and severe stress, which prolly allowed the pathogen to take hold.

Intensive care is required. I would raise humidity until the stress is over, just a week or so will help without risking mold. Do the root rinse thing with a spray bottle of pH adjusted H2O2 water, res change with a lower EC, (hazard a guess at around 1.2 EC for the larger plants, maybe 1.0 for the 4footers) keep the res toped up daily, and pH within range, dosed up with H2O2, and hope for the best

I wouldn't add PK 13/14 whilst the plants are stressed. And given a 10 week strain, it would be a bit early in week 4-5 IMO unless it's half dose all the way through flowering

I would continue with internsive care until the res indicates the plants are over it. That means a healthy pH rise, with corresponding EC drop, then up the nutes 0.2 EC a day (from 1.2ish) until the nute uptake levels out again. If you keep upping the nutes after recovery, you will get to the point where EC rises and pH drops slightly (indicating nutes are slightly too strong) where you can back off 0.4 EC and KNOW the nutes are at the correct strength for the size of plant It will take at least a week and maybe 10 days to two weeks, so patience is required
If you up the nutes too much too early or allow the ph to wander out of range again, or allow environmental issues to have an effect (like letting the RH drop), it will put you back to square 1 in recovery.

Obviously this setback will have an effect on yeald potential but, with some tender loving care, you can minimise the effects and turn these girls around for a good crop, pathogen withstanding.

Damn fungus

San