Question on PH, Optimum reading and Hard Water

[godspeedsuckah]

Somewhere on this site I had read that an optimum ph reading for growing in soil would be between 5.5 and 5.7. Is this correct? It seems too acidic to my understanding.

Also, my well water is very alkaline. Can I run it through a brita filter to avoid any nutrient lock out, or should I just buy ALOT of distilled water for my next grow?

 

[godspeedsuckah]

Just bumping it up cause I am curious.

 

[Growdude]

Somewhere on this site I had read that an optimum ph reading for growing in soil would be between 5.5 and 5.7. Is this correct? It seems too acidic to my understanding.

Also, my well water is very alkaline. Can I run it through a brita filter to avoid any nutrient lock out, or should I just buy ALOT of distilled water for my next grow?

Soil is 6.0 -6.5 I believe, you have the PH for hydro.

If your water is alkaline just use some PH down, a filter wont help that.

 

[The Hemp Goddess]

If you have well water, you may also have a lot of undesirable things in your water--salts and dissolved minerals. I would recommend either checking your water or having it tested for EC. This will tell you whether you should install an RO or buy distilled water.

 

[Growdude]

If you have well water, you may also have a lot of undesirable things in your water--salts and dissolved minerals. I would recommend either checking your water or having it tested for EC. This will tell you whether you should install an RO or buy distilled water.

Thanks I should have mentioned that.
But if his TDS is low than there is no reason he could not use his water with the PH down.

 

[The Hemp Goddess]

Thanks I should have mentioned that.
But if his TDS is low than there is no reason he could not use his water with the PH up.

Absolutely (although it is pH down since his water is alkaline).
Thanks, I should have mentioned that, too.
:48:

 

[Growdude]

Absolutely (although it is pH down since his water is alkaline).
Thanks, I should have mentioned that, too.
:48:

Argh, had it right the first time

 

[godspeedsuckah]

Thanks growdude and hemp goddess, I will do a little research and find an ec meter (i think it's called a truncheon (spelling.))

 

[Dubbaman]

Hydro pH 5.5 to 5.9 at the most, soil is best between 6.3 and 6.8 and can get up to 7 but thats pushing it alkaline water is pH down acidic is pH up vinegar is a good down (1TSP/Gal) and man now I'm drawing a blank on what was good for the up it was right there eon the tip of my tongue and i lost it when i took that :bong: rip!!

 

[born2killspam]

Problem with vinegar is that it has no buffering capacity at all within our desired range.. The biggest bonus with phosphoric acid isn't the fact that plants need phosphorus regardless, its the fact that when neutralized in the solution, salts are created that 'buffer' the pH against fluctuation extremely well in our desired range..
When a solution is buffered well, it can absorb alot of H+ ions, or lose alot without actual pH being affected..
This is most evident in hydroponics at the seedling stage when you want to run clean pH corrected water.. pH flucuates most dramatically in that situation because there is absolutely nothing in the form of salts/ions to buffer any changes..