To monitor and control erratic fluctuations in pH levels of your nutrient solution, you need to understand the chemistry of nutrients and other chemicals used in your hydroponics system. When the nutrient solution fluctuates towards high pH value, it indicates presence of surface active basic sites which act like buffer and readjust the pH of your nutrient solution to their own preset levels. While the buffers in root zone media work on the same principle on which the minerals work to control the pH of soil, they work against the nutrient solution. Substrates like Rockwool, river bed gravel show strong pH buffering effect due to their composition. So be careful when you are using these as growing media and follow simple tips to control pH levels.
wild pH swings comes from an understanding of the chemistry behind everything within your hydroponic system. Generally these swings towards high pH values are caused by media which has surface-active basic sites which act like “buffers” and readjust the pH of your nutrient solution to their own “preset” pH level. This is very much like the mechanism used by soils to naturally control pH, only that this time the minerals are playing against you. Substrates that have been made at high temperatures which have basic potential – such as rockwool – show this kind of behavior. Other media such as river bed gravel also show strong pH buffering effects due to their natural mineral composition.
Reference: Media and Bacteria affect pH Fluctuations in Hydroponics
Crazy pH Swings – How Media and Bacteria Affect pH in Hydroponics
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