General Hydroponics Ph Down: How To Use This Product?

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ebgms

Active Member
If there's one thing that really grinds my gears with regard to nutrient products, it's vague or incomplete instructions.

This product, General Hydroponics Ph Down, really takes the cake in that department.

The "instructions" just say to add the product "sparingly" until the desired ph is reached. Wth does that even mean?

Is one drop per gallon "sparingly"? How about one teaspoon per gallon? A tablespoon? A cup? Half the bottle?

Specifically, I would like to know from anyone who's familliar with or used this product before can tell me how much of this stuff to add to a gallon of nutrient water to make the nutrient water ph equal to 5.5 ph.

If there's a table posted somewhere that would be excellent. For example, if you want ph 6.9 add *this* much per gallon of nute water. For 6.8 ph, add **this** much, for 6.7 ph add ***this*** much etc etc etc.

TIA. And happy Friday.

Link to product page:

generalhydroponics.com

pH Down (Liquid)

The acid formulation uses food grade phosphoric acid to lower the pH to the proper level. Widely recognized as a consistent and reliable product.
generalhydroponics.com generalhydroponics.com
 
MickFoster

MickFoster

Well-Known Member
No way they can tell you how much to add because the pH of everyone's water is different. Plus everybody uses different nute brands which will have different starting pH's. Additionally, whenever you change your nute strength or use additives, it changes the pH of the solution. Therefore requiring less or more of the pH down to achieve your desired pH. It's a matter of trial and error at the beginning........once you have it figured out you'll know.
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
I think you need to realise that there's no single answer to your question.

Because the ph of your water will vary and even if you use RO the ph will change depending on everything you put in and how much of it.

I might use the base nutrients only, you might use the whole range.
I might like it 1.2 ec, you might want to use 1.8ec.

So the ph value after adding all that is going to be different and therefore the amount of ph down required will be different for me than it is you.

Even If we used the same nutrients in the same measure in the same starting EC of water,
My water might have more buffers in it and require different amounts of ph down.


So, use sparingly, a few drops.. a dash.. a pipette .

It won't take you long to learn how much you need and you will do it without thought.
 
Drop That Sound

Drop That Sound

Well-Known Member
A single drop can be enough to ruin a whole batch in some circumstances.. Just go easy is all they are saying. Adjusting PH requires some amount of precision, so don't just go sloshing it in.. You can be a little more liberal when dosing a larger res for sure. You don't wanna be adding Up and Down together either, trying to balance things out that way..
 
curious2garden

curious2garden

Well-Known Mod
Staff member
ebgms said:
If there's one thing that really grinds my gears with regard to nutrient products, it's vague or incomplete instructions.

This product, General Hydroponics Ph Down, really takes the cake in that department.

The "instructions" just say to add the product "sparingly" until the desired ph is reached. Wth does that even mean?

Is one drop per gallon "sparingly"? How about one teaspoon per gallon? A tablespoon? A cup? Half the bottle?

Specifically, I would like to know from anyone who's familliar with or used this product before can tell me how much of this stuff to add to a gallon of nutrient water to make the nutrient water ph equal to 5.5 ph.

If there's a table posted somewhere that would be excellent. For example, if you want ph 6.9 add *this* much per gallon of nute water. For 6.8 ph, add **this** much, for 6.7 ph add ***this*** much etc etc etc.

TIA. And happy Friday.

Link to product page:

generalhydroponics.com

pH Down (Liquid)

The acid formulation uses food grade phosphoric acid to lower the pH to the proper level. Widely recognized as a consistent and reliable product.
generalhydroponics.com generalhydroponics.com
Click to expand...
You need a pH meter and you add pH down until the meter registers the pH value you want.
 
E

ebgms

Active Member
curious2garden said:
You need a pH meter and you add pH down until the meter registers the pH value you want.
Click to expand...
I have the ph drops where you fill the test tube 1/2 full of water, add 3-5 drops of test fluid, then compare to a color chart. It's in 1/2 unit graduations ie 5.5, 6.0. 6.5 etc.

Would it work to just keep adding the Ph Down to a gallon of nute water until a sample turns the color of the ph I want it at?Then remember that exact amount of the stuff and use that amount to make each subsequent gallon?
 
amneziaHaze

amneziaHaze

Well-Known Member
ebgms said:
If there's one thing that really grinds my gears with regard to nutrient products, it's vague or incomplete instructions.

This product, General Hydroponics Ph Down, really takes the cake in that department.

The "instructions" just say to add the product "sparingly" until the desired ph is reached. Wth does that even mean?

Is one drop per gallon "sparingly"? How about one teaspoon per gallon? A tablespoon? A cup? Half the bottle?

Specifically, I would like to know from anyone who's familliar with or used this product before can tell me how much of this stuff to add to a gallon of nutrient water to make the nutrient water ph equal to 5.5 ph.

If there's a table posted somewhere that would be excellent. For example, if you want ph 6.9 add *this* much per gallon of nute water. For 6.8 ph, add **this** much, for 6.7 ph add ***this*** much etc etc etc.

TIA. And happy Friday.

Link to product page:

generalhydroponics.com

pH Down (Liquid)

The acid formulation uses food grade phosphoric acid to lower the pH to the proper level. Widely recognized as a consistent and reliable product.
generalhydroponics.com generalhydroponics.com
Click to expand...
I have the powder one and it says 1g/6L
But because nobody has the same water you have to adapt.my case water is 7-8ph and i use 1.5g/12L allways get the 5.8

Just a noob tip but if 1g lowers ph by 0.5 doesnt mean next gram will do zhe same
 
curious2garden

curious2garden

Well-Known Mod
Staff member
ebgms said:
I have the ph drops where you fill the test tube 1/2 full of water, add 3-5 drops of test fluid, then compare to a color chart. It's in 1/2 unit graduations ie 5.5, 6.0. 6.5 etc.

Would it work to just keep adding the Ph Down to a gallon of nute water until a sample turns the color of the ph I want it at?Then remember that exact amount of the stuff and use that amount to make each subsequent gallon?
Click to expand...
Good thinking, but you need to test each time.
 
Budzbuddha

Budzbuddha

Well-Known Member
ebgms said:
FF Ocean Forest.
Click to expand...
Guess what - you literally could run tap water in it , No PH nonsense. Its basically a living soil with natural buffering. Treat any weed plant in soil just like ANY plant in soil. No measuring squat , its precharged soil , water it and go. Literally for a few weeks on it alone.
 
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poker909

Well-Known Member
There is no way to be specific about how much to add because every water source is different, and every nutrient source can raise or lower pH in its own way. That’s why you also need pH UP if you go too low. Best way is to get a pipette for $0.15 and add in tiny amounts at a time. You can also use citric acid from the bulk spice section of your grocery store as pH down - way cheaper.
Your nutes need to be in a proper pH range even for organic gardening in soil or they won’t be able to use them as food. Organic gardeners put a lot of effort in making sure the soil is within a proper range as well.
 
shiva71

shiva71

Well-Known Member
I have a 0.5L coke bottle i put about 10ml of the pH up/down and fill it up and use that to adjust my DWC bucket. Neat, pH up/down is way too strong. Its much easier to work with if you dilute it down. But you need a pH pen, its an essential bit of kit.
 
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