Water, pH & EC

Why does my pH keep dropping in my DWC reservoir?

GrowDealz team · Updated

Short answer

A steadily dropping pH usually means the plants are taking up ammonium and cations, or the root zone is too warm or infected. Check water temperature first.

In hydro the pH shifts as plants take up different ions: a lot of nitrate pushes pH up, while ammonium-heavy feeds and root activity push it down. A reservoir that falls fast, along with brown slimy roots, can also mean bacteria or Pythium, and warm water makes that worse. Keep the reservoir around 18–22 °C, light-tight, and well-aerated.

Small daily drifts are normal, so just correct pH regularly. If it swings hard every day, clean the system and check the roots. A decent pH/EC meter makes daily checks quick.

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