Well water ph levels

Black Cough

Black Cough

Member
Recently I bought a digital ph meter. At first I just assumed that the calibration stamp was good for a spell, and my readings seemed consistent enough to develop a bit of trust in the device. Midway through my last round I noticed that claw leaf problem, and my plants seemed to stall. A buddy of mine used casting tea on his outdoor grow, and recommended it to me. Long story short I am amassed by what the tea did for the health of my plants and I don't trust my ph meter.

I should state that the water coming out of my tap is reads anywhere from a 4.1 - 5.0. I recently bought a reference solution, and I calibrate my device each time I use it, so I know that at least something is fucked up. After freaking out, and causing my wife to freak out we bought some spring water..... It tested 5.0.....:confused: After about two days of brewing my tea reads 5.8-6.2, . I'm sure my soil is healthy enough to deal, so my problem seems solved except for taking showers, drinking, watering the (regular) gardens, feeding our pets etc.

My plumber recommends installing a system that injects soda ash, or baking soda or something into the water inline before my well tank. He also said this would fuck up the hardness of our h2o.

Any ideas?
 
Black Cough

Black Cough

Member
DannyBlaze2 said:
Are you sure the ph meter is programed right? This is the one I'm using it's comes programed calibrated to 4.0 ph and you need to reprogram it so you calibrated with the 7.0 ph calibration fluid I had to call Oakton to do it~ :):):) http://www.amazon.com/Oakton-EcoTestr-Waterproof-Tester-Range/dp/B004G8PWAU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395501602&sr=8-1&keywords=ph+meter+oakton
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Thanks for the reply.

The device I'm using is the ph600 by Milwaukee instruments. It has a tiny screw that I dial while submerged in reference solution until I get a 7.0 ( not buffering as I wrote earlier..I blame the wakenbakin). I am willing to see if the unit passes the hammer test.
 
C

churchhaze

Well-Known Member
Don't get the system that injects soda ash, baking soda, or anything into your water. I've never even heard of such a thing. Usually in the US, people will get the opposite. Something that reduces hardness, but increases sodium.

Usually well water is hard, as it's filtered through sediment before it comes up so I'd be very suspect of your pH tester.

Black Cough said:
Recently I bought a digital ph meter. At first I just assumed that the calibration stamp was good for a spell, and my readings seemed consistent enough to develop a bit of trust in the device. Midway through my last round I noticed that claw leaf problem, and my plants seemed to stall. A buddy of mine used casting tea on his outdoor grow, and recommended it to me. Long story short I am amassed by what the tea did for the health of my plants and I don't trust my ph meter.

I should state that the water coming out of my tap is reads anywhere from a 4.1 - 5.0. I recently bought a buffering solution, and I calibrate my device each time I use it, so I know that at least something is fucked up. After freaking out, and causing my wife to freak out we bought some spring water..... It tested 5.0.....:confused: After about two days of brewing my tea reads 5.8-6.2, . I'm sure my soil is healthy enough to deal, so my problem seems solved except for taking showers, drinking, watering the (regular) gardens, feeding our pets etc.

My plumber recommends installing a system that injects soda ash, or baking soda or something into the water inline before my well tank. He also said this would fuck up the hardness of our h2o.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...
 
Black Cough

Black Cough

Member
I store it submerged in the reference solution.

I would love love to hear your thoughts on the claw leaf. I thought it could be cool nighttime temps, but I guess you would need more info to make a call.
 
Mellodrama

Mellodrama

Well-Known Member
Black Cough said:
I should state that the water coming out of my tap is reads anywhere from a 4.1 - 5.0. I recently bought a buffering solution, and I calibrate my device each time I use it, so I know that at least something is fucked up.
Click to expand...
You're leaving out some information here. Every pH meter I've worked with calibrates to three points. 4.0, 7.0, and 10.0. Calibration solutions are readily available for each of those steps. You said you bought some buffering solution, but you didn't elaborate. Was the solution you got 7.0? If so, was your meter wildly out of whack when you first dipped it?

I'll assume you bought some 7.0 solution. A meter that's functioning properly should come pretty darn close to 7.0 when exposed to the solution if it's being used regularly. What I mean is, if you calibrated it a month ago, it shouldn't have drifted very far in that month. If your meter sez 5 one time, then 8.8 the next time, something's not right.

Seems to me the obvious thing to do is beg, borrow, or steal another meter for a week or so and follow right along behind yours. See if they're agreeing. An important test instrument like your pH meter is worthless if you're constantly second-guessing it.

BTW, just to mess with y'all out there, when it comes to scientific data, do you know the difference between "precision" and "accuracy"?
 
Black Cough

Black Cough

Member
I can't seem to post a pic from this computer. I'll work on verifying the results of my ph test, and get more info on my plumbers proposed remedy. And oh yeah, my lack of precision may be affecting my accuracy lol.
 

Attachments

Black Cough

Black Cough

Member
image.jpgLooks like I figured out how to upload pics. So, if you stand on your head maybe you can find some claw leaves. Sorry about the hps photo in advance
 
Black Cough

Black Cough

Member
The strains in this grow are Black Jack and Raspberry Cough......hence my name. I should mention that this is a legal medical grow.
 
R

rcfunker

New Member
Black Cough said:
Recently I bought a digital ph meter. At first I just assumed that the calibration stamp was good for a spell, and my readings seemed consistent enough to develop a bit of trust in the device. Midway through my last round I noticed that claw leaf problem, and my plants seemed to stall. A buddy of mine used casting tea on his outdoor grow, and recommended it to me. Long story short I am amassed by what the tea did for the health of my plants and I don't trust my ph meter.

I should state that the water coming out of my tap is reads anywhere from a 4.1 - 5.0. I recently bought a reference solution, and I calibrate my device each time I use it, so I know that at least something is fucked up. After freaking out, and causing my wife to freak out we bought some spring water..... It tested 5.0.....:confused: After about two days of brewing my tea reads 5.8-6.2, . I'm sure my soil is healthy enough to deal, so my problem seems solved except for taking showers, drinking, watering the (regular) gardens, feeding our pets etc.

My plumber recommends installing a system that injects soda ash, or baking soda or something into the water inline before my well tank. He also said this would fuck up the hardness of our h2o.

Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Most tap water is crap. I would suggest to buy bottled water for the plants. Do you measure also the TDS of the water or only the PH?
 
Black Cough

Black Cough

Member
rcfunker said:
Most tap water is crap. I would suggest to buy bottled water for the plants. Do you measure also the TDS of the water or only the PH?
Click to expand...
I live in a very rural area. My back yard may be the largest in the state as I abut massive state forests. The aquifer I tap into should've the best water available. We had it tested about two years ago for potability. The person at the testing lab told me I should bottle and sell it. I am going to have it professionally tested again.

i would buy bottled water, but using the casting tea has prevented me from over fertilizing.....which may be my issue....and if I can see evidence of microbic activity in my tea, than it's safe for my plants.

thanks for the suggestion!
 
Black Cough

Black Cough

Member
kinddiesel said:
what about a pic ? claw stunt growth . usually over fertilized . no pics though:confused:
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You see the pic I posted? You are probably right about over fertilization. I stopped using nutes about 4 weeks ago. I'm growing in a mix of roots organics and Masshole supersoil. I was using fox farm nutes.

Thanks!
 
Mellodrama

Mellodrama

Well-Known Member
Black, I'm a newb so please forgive me, but I think you're using the wrong terminology.

Do a search on Google Image for "marijuana claw". Claw refers to the tips curling downward and back towards the stalk. Claw is a classic symptom of N toxicity. It probably indicates a couple of other things, too, but N tox is the only one I know of off the top of my head.

Now Google Image "marijuana leaves tacoing" or "marijuana leaves canoeing". Does that look more like what you're seeing on your plants? AFAIK canoeing is usually the plant's response to the lights being too close. The leaves are trying to retain water.

BTW, we're on a well too, and the county's water office said our water was pretty darn good. But pH runs in the high 7's and even into 8 at certain times of the year.
 
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