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Thomas wv

I haul water from a spring and I use 3 275 gallon tanks to a sprinkler pump ph of water is 6.3 my question whats everyone use to bring up thier ph in tanks. And amount of product per gallon.

3/24/2019 9:01:14 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Hey Kerry, I’m kinda surprised that nobody stepped up to answer this question (it’s been on my mind too) since I’ve heard a lot of growers adjust the PH of the water that they hold in tanks before using.

Weed (marijuana) growers target their watering solution at a PH 6.0, however they adjust the PH only after they have added any fertilizer to the solution, since a lot of the products we use on pumpkins affect the PH of the water in the tanks.

Can anyone else chime in here, and let us know the optimum PH of water for watering our giant pumpkins and what products you use to raise or lower that PH level?

Thanks/Glenn

4/2/2019 10:16:12 PM

Morgantown, WV

I believe Potassium Hydroxide is often used to raise PH, and phosphoric or citric acid is used to lower it. The ideal PH for outdoor growing is around 6.5 as that has a wide range of availability of all nutrients.

Cannabis growers, and any other soilless media hydroponic growers for that matter, will usually run a bit lower even to 5.5, as it has better availability without having to worry about aluminum toxicity that develops in normal mineral soil.

Hope it helps guys!

4/2/2019 10:28:49 PM

Grittyville, WA

Good answer Dustin. I like Calcium Hydroxide. Type S mason lime. But I dont know if that would work for you. Last time I calculated it... it was a half a cuo or a cup to raise 50 gallons 1 point. But I cannot remember exactly. Its not easy to calculate, for me anyhow, but I really ought to do that calculation again.

4/2/2019 10:52:42 PM

Springfield, VT

In the drinking water world, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and lime are used to raise the ph above 7 for corrosion control. Lime doesn't always dissolve and can show up downstream in pipes and tanks.

4/3/2019 11:36:52 AM

Lloydminster/AB

I lower mine to 6 unless I’m using rainwater.

4/3/2019 11:55:14 PM

Central Illinois

My notes say that Ron Wallace likes 6.2 but they dont say how he adjusts it

4/6/2019 7:56:57 AM

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=271120

I would really suggest reading the heavy hitters diaries. There are some helpful hints and why they are doing stuff.

4/6/2019 10:18:20 AM

Guelph, Ontario

The best pH would depend on pH of your soil. If basic you would want water a bit acidic. If acidic you would want it a bit alkaline.

4/6/2019 4:44:31 PM

Thomas wv

Spudfer I looked in his diary and few other clicked on link you showed seen where he brings his soil ph down but not water ph iv heard a lot say they adjust thier ph on thier water when they add a certain fertilizers I did do research just did not find anything

4/7/2019 9:42:03 PM

Lakewood, WA

Kerry, could you gradually add enough 'Montana sulfate' until your water gets to the PH that you want? The amount of sulfate you need would vary depending on your starting and ending PH and the strength of your modifier. Doesn't your ending PH depend on what you are trying to accomplish with your water?

Oh wait, I'm asking more questions than giving answers. I have no idea how much product you need.

I hope this helps, lol. Clear as mud. All the best to everyone!

4/8/2019 2:16:10 AM

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=288692
look at his may 2 entries. He shows 3 that gives what he does. There are 2 products available , ph up and ph down.

4/8/2019 12:21:33 PM

I believe they are natural products that can also do the trick.

4/8/2019 12:24:43 PM

Sorry , I meant to say there are natural ways to do it , just slower.

4/8/2019 12:29:13 PM