Okay I just did some reading and everybody says h.ell no hydroton does not raise pH.
There are no Stupid Weed Questions
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It should not once rinse real well to get all the dust off
It is only clay balls
Checked my rain water and it was about 7.
Pretty cool on how they are made
Expanded clay pellets (Hydroton) are made by heating the clay to over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The process is done in a rotary kiln. As the balls heat up, they fill with bubbles and form into small marble-sized units. While the clay can be used on its own for growing plants, it can also be mixed with soil and other growing media.
Expanded clay pellets (Hydroton) are made by heating the clay to over 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The process is done in a rotary kiln. As the balls heat up, they fill with bubbles and form into small marble-sized units. While the clay can be used on its own for growing plants, it can also be mixed with soil and other growing media.
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Good thread Hippie
Hippie is the Man as I envision him
They were well rinsed, so I'm out of ideas. The PH was above 8 when I checked, and that was barely two hours after I pushed it down to 6. The seedlings are big enough I went ahead and added some nutrients. That lowered it to 7, and then I added more vinegar to push it back down to 6. I did pull the top off and check one more time, but still no dead mice in there : )
What was the PH of the water that you rinsed the hydroton with? If the hydroton retained water with a higher ph, maybe it could have offset the ph of the water your running in it now. Just a thought.
It was tap water ~7.5, but it's just six 4" baskets of hydroton in 30 gal of water. That is, 30 gal of PH adjusted tap water.
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Yep! That's me and the Old Hen alright! You been spyin' on me?
I've always had good luck using phosphoric acid to lower PH. Find some milkstone remover at your local farm store. It's the same stuff the grow shops sell, but less than half the price and a little more powerful. It's even the same color.
joeb631a
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handsome ! which one is he?
Try rinsing some real well a few times and then load them clay with phed water over night and drain it and then use it. I bet it comes down closer to what you want.
be a good test with a small gallon size amount to prove .
Figures you be lusting him and not his Beautiful wife
Im digging her beard
joeb631a
Well-Known Member
you can tell the difference!?
Yes it is just like sexing an early weed plant
You have to check for the balls
joeb631a
Well-Known Member
I have been using lemon juice
That's a good idea. I can at least test if they are the cause. Seedlings won't be happy having their medium changed, but if that really is the cause it's better than dumping acid in the tank continuously...
I went to a local nursery and asked about the PH issue. As soon as I said vinegar he stopped me and said that's the cause. I said I was using it with tomatoes in a dutch bucket, and the PH wasn't doing the same thing. He said it was, but I just hadn't noticed it, and that the more I use the worse it will get.
I wanted to go look for milkstone remover, but I had taken up a lot of the guy's time asking stupid questions, so I bought a gallon of PH down. He also told me I didn't need to change out the water, but I would need to adjust it every day for a few days. That beats carrying 12 5 gallon buckets in and out.
I'm still testing the hydroton, though. Just in case.
I wanted to go look for milkstone remover, but I had taken up a lot of the guy's time asking stupid questions, so I bought a gallon of PH down. He also told me I didn't need to change out the water, but I would need to adjust it every day for a few days. That beats carrying 12 5 gallon buckets in and out.
I'm still testing the hydroton, though. Just in case.
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I'll bet the PH down you bought was kind of an orange color, right? You can get a gallon of the milkstone remover for $16 last time I bought it.
Great thread Hippie. Good job brother.
