Question!!...nitric acid could be PH DOWN?????right??
- Thread starter airswipe
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Observe & Report
Well-Known Member
MSDS for Dyna-Gro pH Down says it's 33% phosphoric acid and 11.5% nitric acid. Rest is water. I assume GH and the others are similar.
nomofatum
Well-Known Member
From what I read it tends to not last as long as other acids. I would stick to sulfuric and phosphoric if I were you. Sulfur is your friend BTW.
Nitric is better if the tapwater has a high calcium carbonate content, the byproduct is calcium nitrate, CO2 and water. If you use phosphoric acid you run the risk of precipitating calcium phoshate which is pretty useless to plants. Calcium sulfate isnt much use either.
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nomofatum
Well-Known Member
I would think calcium sulfate would be just as useful though. It's a decision of sulfur vs phosphorus. I add bloom booster if I want more phosphorus, sulfur is harder to supplement so I use this opportunity. Both are good options just depends on what you want to feed more of than is in your nutes already.
nomofatum
Well-Known Member
Not true. The additional Ca is also available with sulfuric.The bonus of nitric is it makes the calcium that was unavailable..available. The additional Ca comes in handy for utilising the extra NWith phos and sulphuric acid you dont get those extra perks.
The N/Ca provided by the nitric are mutually beneficial. Sulphuric doesnt give the same mutual benefit, plants can tolerate a wide range of S but its not top of a plants essential element list
Its worth noting, calcium directly affects the availability of 7 elements (P,K,Mg,Fe,B,Zn and Mn). No other single element has that kind of impact on the rest.
Its worth noting, calcium directly affects the availability of 7 elements (P,K,Mg,Fe,B,Zn and Mn). No other single element has that kind of impact on the rest.
I thought gypsum is calcium sulfate and that gypsum is a good source of calcium. Is that not true?
GrowUrOwnDank
Well-Known Member
JUST GO BUY A BOTTLE OF PH UP AND PH DOWN! Damn. Don't be fucking with acid. Every day stoners come up with more shit. <SMH>
nomofatum
Well-Known Member
It is, it's one of the most common sources in Hydro Nutes. He doesn't know what he is talking about.
nomofatum
Well-Known Member
@RM3 Want to help straighten this guy out?The N/Ca provided by the nitric are mutually beneficial. Sulphuric doesnt give the same mutual benefit, plants can tolerate a wide range of S but its not top of a plants essential element list
Its worth noting, calcium directly affects the availability of 7 elements (P,K,Mg,Fe,B,Zn and Mn). No other single element has that kind of impact on the rest.
Sulfur is way up on the essential list for best results.
Try making a concentrated liquid solution using gypsum as the calcium source.
@ nomofatum
Nute manufacturers use calcium nitrate as the calcium source in just about everything.check the label
Calmag contains calcium nitrate and magnesium nitrate for good reason. Your argument says calcium sulfate/mag sulfate would be as good?
Mix a concentrated solution of calcium nitrate and magnesium sulfate (epsom) together and see if you can get the resulting calcium sulfate (cream cheese) to dissolve in water.
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
Yeah, some brands also throw in citric acid, acts as a bit of a buffer.
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
...available from your friendly local AutoZone, seriously. I've used it, works fine.
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
Really? So in hard water this would be the go-to choice, then?The bonus of nitric is it makes the calcium that was unavailable..available. The additional Ca comes in handy for utilising the extra N
In this area, our tapwater tests at .05 EC. That is not a typo...
ttystikk
Well-Known Member
Clearly, you know your chemistry. We should talk more...Try making a concentrated liquid solution using gypsum as the calcium source.
@ nomofatum
Nute manufacturers use calcium nitrate as the calcium source in just about everything.check the label
Calmag contains calcium nitrate and magnesium nitrate for good reason. Your argument says calcium sulfate/mag sulfate would be as good?
Mix a concentrated solution of calcium nitrate and magnesium sulfate (epsom) together and see if you can get the resulting calcium sulfate (cream cheese) to dissolve in water.
I don't know why concentration entered the conversation. I just want to be clear: if someone's treating a calcium def, gypsum (calcium sulfate) wouldn't be "much use?"
There was another thread recently where the consensus seemed to be that it would be useful.
(FWIW: I use eggshell dissolved in vinegar, and then dehydrated into a powder which readily goes into solution again. I don't have a reason to defend gypsum. I just want to know if it shouldn't be recommended to those who don't have a month to dissolve eggshells and dehydrate.).
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