Once you have vigorously mixed the solution the final thing you need to do is check and maybe alter the PH level. Depending on if your water is soft or hard you
will need to stabilise your PH using either PH Up or PH down. Most plants like a PH of around 6.0 but again this varies from plant to plant. Add the PH stabiliser in
small amounts, checking frequently with your PH meter. Once you have the desired PH you can then circulate the solution to your plants. See further info on PH
below. In NFT and other hydroponic systems it is recommended that the PH is checked and adjusted on a daily basis to maximise nutrient uptake by the plants.
Nutrient Maintenance
On a NFT system and all Hydroponics system’s it is recommended that you totally replace all the solution at some point during the grow cycle, I strongly
recommend that this is done on routine intervals once a week. Replacing the solution every week means that you replenish everything within the tank or
reservoir and are keeping the solution clean and fresh which should mean a healthier plant and bigger yields.
Check then check again
It is worth taking time to get your solution correct before you circulate it, remember that although you can add some additives in between the weekly pump out
and clean cycle like Oxygen and PH stabiliser and even fresh water to your solution after you have circulated it, you cannot add nutrients once the nutrient
solution has been mixed and circulated, so if it’s too low you cannot adjust it mid-week, to adjust a low nutrient level (CF) you will need to replace the whole
solution. After circulating the solution for a few days it’s possible that the nutrient level will rise, often due to the plant taking up the water and leaving the
heavier salts in the tank and perspiration. If this is the case fresh water can be added to lower the level back to an acceptable one, you will also need to re adjust
the PH level.
Nutrients will not breakdown if you add them afterwards, even by one day later, adding nutrients to a circulated solution will usually give you a nutrient
imbalance and quite possibly a high and possibly toxic amount of salts to the plants. So rule of thumb is to get it right before circulation.
About CF’s and PH in Nutrient solution
When you add the nutrients to the solution you are basically adding salts, these are measured in PPM or parts per million. Different plants thrive at different CF
levels so it’s important that you do