High Iron Well-Water killing my plants?

[Justin Freidman]

Hi Guys,

I think the high iron content of my well water is killing my plants by locking out other nurtients. This is my first grow, so please go easy on me.

Where I grow I only have access to well water. I didn't even think about the high iron content, I only saw the deposits today when I checked the roots as I suspected root rot.

The well water has a pH of 7.5 and is 200ppm.

I'm running a bucket ebb and gro system with Ionic grow nutrient. I'm running an EC of 1.6 and let the pH drift between 5.6-6.2. The resevoir temp is 24 degrees C and I run a couple of airstones in it.

I switched to 12/12 5 days ago. I flood and drain the system during light on time (10pm-10am) every 4 hours with one feed half way through the dark period.

What looks like defiency issues showed up a few weeks ago, I played around the nutrient solution a little but the issues remained.

Is there anything I can do to help the plants? In about a week I can have some sort of filter system fitted, I'm just researching the options available now, possible a full RO system or something that can just filter the high iron.

Can anyone help or advise?

Cheers,
J.

 

[im4satori]

first let me say..those plants look pretty nice..roots healthy

I do see the yellowing and agree you've got something going on with either iron zinc or P

I don't think you need to invest an an RO and don't think it will solve this issue

first thing I can say for sure is EC 1.6 is too high
it not high enough to cause obvious clawed leaves or burned edges.. but its high enough to casue lock out, increase stretch and reduce yield.
first thing to do is lower your EC down to 1.2 with a balanced nutrient solution

I need to know what nutes your feeding and how much of each per gallon

 

[im4satori]

if your not already,try and practice these rules when managing your resevior/nute solution


Originally Posted by OldPhart
Basic cheat sheet:
Ec goes up, PH goes down=plants require less nutes.
Ec goes down, PH goes up=Plants require more nutes
Ec stable, PH goes up=Equilibrium=Good thang.

 

[im4satori]

it for sure far better to have your EC going down and your ph going up or on the rare occasion you get it spot on and its stable

either of those options are fine

but you don't want the EC inn your res. to climb thru the week

if you add fresh nutes on Monday at 1.6 EC by Friday it should be lower, if its higher your feeding too much

the good news is whatevers going on it should be easy to keep those plants looking great

 

[Justin Freidman]

Hi There. Thanks for the reply!

I'm using Ionic Grow in a 150L reservoir.

http://www.growthtechnology.com/product/ionic-hydro/

I thought I had the EC spot on. I've been monitoring it each day. I started at 1.0EC and checked each day, each day the EC was lower, so I increased the EC until it remained the same each day. 1.6EC seems perfect as it's the same each day, only the pH rises.

Before I was keeping the pH at 5.8. Each day I would add a small amount of pH down to keep it there. Then I read about "chasing the pH" so decided to let it drift by setting it at 5.6 and then adjusting it back down when it got to 6.2 - every 4-5 days.

 

[im4satori]

Hi There. Thanks for the reply!

I'm using Ionic Grow in a 150L reservoir.

http://www.growthtechnology.com/product/ionic-hydro/

I thought I had the EC spot on. I've been monitoring it each day. I started at 1.0EC and checked each day, each day the EC was lower, so I increased the EC until it remained the same each day. 1.6EC seems perfect as it's the same each day, only the pH rises.

Before I was keeping the pH at 5.8. Each day I would add a small amount of pH down to keep it there. Then I read about "chasing the pH" so decided to let it drift by setting it at 5.6 and then adjusting it back down when it got to 6.2 - every 4-5 days.

sounds like your doing everything right
yes let the ph swing..set it at 5.4 and let it rise to 6.2

let me take a look at those nutes for a minute

 

[im4satori]

im looking thru the web page at the nutes i cant find any reference to the ingredients or % amounts

can you tell me whats on the bottle

itll say something like

N...........5%
P...........2%
K...........11%
Mg .........05%
Fe----.0001%

and so on

 

[Justin Freidman]

Sure, here you go.

 

[im4satori]

how many mls are you adding per liter?

 

[Justin Freidman]

I'm not sure. I just add it and keep checking the EC until it gets to 1.6.

 

[im4satori]

I'm not sure. I just add it and keep checking the EC until it gets to 1.6.

ok
I understand
for me to give you more specific info on your nutes I need to know how much your feeding as in how many mls per gallon or liter your adding per gallon or per 150 liters

im still thinking your EC is too high... and I can show it too you if I get that info

second
the label for your nutes doesn't list many of the nutes required such as magnesium, iron, sulfur, zinc, calcium

it only gives me the macro nute NPK
do you find that info anywhere?

 

[im4satori]

 

[im4satori]

here is an example above

using only the info we have and dosing 5ml per liter per the manufacturers directions

N 159ppm super super high
P 23 actually low unless your ph adjusting with phospuric acid frequently
K 219ppm super super high

 

[Justin Freidman]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, I really appreciate it! The bottles are in my grow room and the lights are currently off. I'll go there tomorrow when they're on and grab some bottles and check them.

I've searched all over the web and can't find a breakdown of the ingredients.

Next time I do a reservoir change I can measure exactly the amount of solution I will add.

Shall I lower the EC to 1.3 tomorrow and see how that fairs?

 

[im4satori]

 

[im4satori]

at 3.5 mls per gallon your N is about right for veg... your P still very low and K extremely high

I would switch nutrients

 

[Justin Freidman]

here is an example above

using only the info we have and dosing 5ml per liter per the manufacturers directions

N 159ppm super super high
P 23 actually low unless your ph adjusting with phospuric acid frequently
K 219ppm super super high

Damn - so these nutrients are no good? These are the only ones I can get here unfortunately.

 

[im4satori]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, I really appreciate it! The bottles are in my grow room and the lights are currently off. I'll go there tomorrow when they're on and grab some bottles and check them.

I've searched all over the web and can't find a breakdown of the ingredients.

Next time I do a reservoir change I can measure exactly the amount of solution I will add.

Shall I lower the EC to 1.3 tomorrow and see how that fairs?

I would mix a batch at 3.5 mls per gallon and see what the EC ends up reading

im guessing around 1.3 yes

 

[Justin Freidman]

OK, no worries. I'l drop it down to 1.3. I'm still running grow and haven't switched to bloom yet. I guess I need to order some different bloom nutrients!?...

Can you recommend brands? It looks like Canna is one available to me.

Is it worth getting a RO filter installed, so I don't need to worry about the contents of the well water? I have the money to spend, it's no issue.

 

[im4satori]

correction... 3.5mls liter...sorry I said gallon