Ionic grow and bloom exp with flood and drain?

[Bluskadoo]

Wasn't sure where to put this post as I'm looking for anyone's experience with ionic grow and bloom but specifically in a hydro set up (If needed please move this to the nutes and fertilizer section)

From what I've read and understand ionic is a pretty stable ph nute for hydroponics just looking for anyone's input on their use of the product in flood and drain? Would this formula still need calcium and magnesium additives using straight tap water? I originally was going to go with house and garden lineup but for the price and simplicity of the ionic being a 1 part base for veg and grow and ph stability I'm going back and forth, what's your thoughts? Thanks in advance

 

[SuperiorBuds]

I've been a F&D grower for over 15 years now and have always just accepted pH adjustments as part of the process. The daily routine became so annoying that I finally invested in remote monitors and auto-dosers, but I always hated the extra crap I was adding to the water. After relocating we had pure water right from the ground -- perfect pH and near zero ppm so I wanted to avoid as much up/down as possible.

This last cycle I went ahead and decided to test the Ionic line after a recommendation from another local grower. I had heard the same things as you and having a pH stable single-part solution sounded perfect, them also being a Michigan company only sweetened the deal for me.

I have to say I was more than impressed and so far all of their claims have been on point. I followed their feed schedule exactly to eliminate my own bias, so I used no additional calmag. If you're using hard water you'll want their specific hard water solutions, but otherwise you should be good to go. (Though if you have extra calmag on hand you can always react to any deficiencies.)

My next run will be using Ionic again but I will be increasing the ppm over their recommendation -- my setup is dialed in enough I think the girls can handle it.

 

[Bluskadoo]

I've been a F&D grower for over 15 years now and have always just accepted pH adjustments as part of the process. The daily routine became so annoying that I finally invested in remote monitors and auto-dosers, but I always hated the extra crap I was adding to the water. After relocating we had pure water right from the ground -- perfect pH and near zero ppm so I wanted to avoid as much up/down as possible.

This last cycle I went ahead and decided to test the Ionic line after a recommendation from another local grower. I had heard the same things as you and having a pH stable single-part solution sounded perfect, them also being a Michigan company only sweetened the deal for me.

I have to say I was more than impressed and so far all of their claims have been on point. I followed their feed schedule exactly to eliminate my own bias, so I used no additional calmag. If you're using hard water you'll want their specific hard water solutions, but otherwise you should be good to go. (Though if you have extra calmag on hand you can always react to any deficiencies.)

My next run will be using Ionic again but I will be increasing the ppm over their recommendation -- my setup is dialed in enough I think the girls can handle it.

Awesome news, Yeah obviously I know no matter what setting ph is a absolute must no matter what but reading it was had more of a stability ph wise then other nute companies with its up or down non stop, I actually do have in mind to get around to getting the bluelab controller/regulator eventually just not ideal at the moment I'm currently getting to the finishing stages of my room build so it won't be long before I'm up and running, just got my ppm/ph combo meter in the mail I have to test my taps ppm here in a little while and see what I'm sitting at if it's anything over 250-300 I already had in mind to run the hard water lineup for sure/. Definitely won't hurt to have the extra cal mag on hand as you never know, do you supplement with anything other than ionic or just running straight veg and bloom? Being a MI company also was a Good deal for me (two thumbs up)

 

[SuperiorBuds]

The pH stability was amazing, I used to do daily adjustments to keep things in line but once I switched it was pretty much dead on the entire week between res changes.

The first run w/ Ionic was a baseline run, so I ran with no supplements. Since I was running known strains / conditions the only variable I had was the nutes. (I had to ensure I was getting at least the same yields as before -- and I was.) Next run we'll be reintroducing Mammoth P, Recharge, and a few other goodies.

 

[reddan1981]

Awesome news, Yeah obviously I know no matter what setting ph is a absolute must no matter what but reading it was had more of a stability ph wise then other nute companies with its up or down non stop, I actually do have in mind to get around to getting the bluelab controller/regulator eventually just not ideal at the moment I'm currently getting to the finishing stages of my room build so it won't be long before I'm up and running, just got my ppm/ph combo meter in the mail I have to test my taps ppm here in a little while and see what I'm sitting at if it's anything over 250-300 I already had in mind to run the hard water lineup for sure/. Definitely won't hurt to have the extra cal mag on hand as you never know, do you supplement with anything other than ionic or just running straight veg and bloom? Being a MI company also was a Good deal for me (two thumbs up)

Use a big res, for even more ph stability. Yes to hard water version if you have hard tap water(im assuming you are from uk).
Dont forget the pk boost aswell.

 

[Bluskadoo]

The pH stability was amazing, I used to do daily adjustments to keep things in line but once I switched it was pretty much dead on the entire week between res changes.

The first run w/ Ionic was a baseline run, so I ran with no supplements. Since I was running known strains / conditions the only variable I had was the nutes. (I had to ensure I was getting at least the same yields as before -- and I was.) Next run we'll be reintroducing Mammoth P, Recharge, and a few other goodies.

Good to know for sure! I plan on just running the base nutes the first go as well see how they react to just that and adjust from there or if absolutely needed, thanks for the input it's greatly appreciated

 

[Bluskadoo]

Use a big res, for even more ph stability. Yes to hard water version if you have hard tap water(im assuming you are from uk).
Dont forget the pk boost aswell.

I have a 40 gallon res to start but I plan on changing it every week to a week and a few days I'll find out here in a few hours what my water is like out of tap but I'm guessing I'll need the hardwater lineup, no I'm far from the uk lol I'm in MI

 

[ThaMagnificent]

I'm running Veg+Bloom right now and I really like the all in one simplicity too. Not too much swing over the course of a week. Was thinking about trying Canna next, but Ionic has my attention too...

 

[SuperiorBuds]

Use a big res, for even more ph stability.

The last few runs I had been using a 50gal res but I hated doing my weekly flush knowing I was sending unused, expensive nutrients down the drain. I'm actually going to try something entirely new in this room next cycle to try and address this issue.

How do you handle excess nutes in the water when it comes time to change? Do you just consider it waste or are you getting the ppm's low enough prior to each res change?

 

[reddan1981]

I used to chuck it on the garden, as it would save a big mission for me.
It depends on the medium you are flood and draining in and the rate you flood per day cycle.
I have recirculated using lucas and top up method but as the ppms drop ph rises (nitrogen lowers ph i think). Which becomes a ball ache when you cant get to it for a bit (uk gorilla) lol.
So i went back to drip rings, with plants in 80% coco 20% perlite, and lowered my feeds. Drain to waste. I could then set it and forget it, lol.

 

[Bluskadoo]

Did a Ppm test today turns out my Ppm was wayyyyyyy Lower than I thought it would turn out after all, straight out of the tap at 80 Ppm

 

[reddan1981]

Did a Ppm test today turns out my Ppm was wayyyyyyy Lower than I thought it would turn out after all, straight out of the tap at 80 Ppm

Did you calibrate your meter? If not have a quick look if you still have the box to see if it was calibrated. If it was, that is clean water compared to mine, straight out of tap 350!

 

[Bluskadoo]

Yeah that's the first thing I did as it was brand new was clean and calibrate I got the bluelab growers toolbox with the 2 meters, I was honestly shocked it was that low tbh

 

[reddan1981]

Dont forget storage solution for the cap! Lol the probes are prone for drying out. It only needs a little bit of solution to dry out, for it to actually absorb what ever you dip it in.

 

[Bluskadoo]

Dont forget storage solution for the cap! Lol the probes are prone for drying out. It only needs a little bit of solution to dry out, for it to actually absorb what ever you dip it in.

For the ph meter you are talking right? The Ppm meter has an open end cap and if I'm correct you don't have to store those in a solution?? Or do you

 

[reddan1981]

For the ph meter you are talking right? The Ppm meter has an open end cap and if I'm correct you don't have to store those in a solution?? Or do you

Yes sorry. There is a sponge inside the blue cap of the ph pen keep that moist. (If we're talking about the same bluelab meters)
The ec pen just needs the tip cleaned.

 

[Bluskadoo]

Yes sorry. There is a sponge inside the blue cap of the ph pen keep that moist. (If we're talking about the same bluelab meters)
The ec pen just needs the tip cleaned.

Ok yeah I noticed that in the cap It's the same pen you're thinking of, I checked every piece of paper for storage of the Ppm meter just to make sure it didn't need to be stored a special way