What is dropping out of my solution?

[TCH]

Ok, so here is what I did. For science sake, I used the CalMag again. 4 changes/differences

Change 1: I bumped up the MaxiGrow to bring the ppm up to ~581 This caused #2

Change 2: I did not use any pH up or down because my meter (won't calibrate, but I don't know how long that it has been like that, so I took the measurement just to see) read 5.6pH

Change 3: I mixed the ArmorSi, the CalMag, and the MaxiGrow into their own gallons of RO water, mixed, and let them sit overnight.

Change 4: I mixed up 6 total gallons (I was going to cut the CalMag out, so I added 3 gallons of RO instead of the 2. Then at the last minute, I decided to keep the CalMag in, so that's why it's 6 instead of 5)

6 gallons RO water
8mL ArmorSi
18mL CalMag
16.35g MaxiGrow




mix ArmorSi into 1 gallon water
mix CalMag into 1 gallon water
mix MaxiGrow into 1 gallon water
sit over night

pour 3 gallons ro water into reservoir
stir in ArmorSi
stir in CalMag
stir in MaxiGrow

The final numbers look like this:

~581ppm
5.6pH (BlueLab pen that won't calibrate)

There was no cloudiness or anything obvious happening as I mixed in the ingredients. I will keep an eye on it and keep this updated. 2 new pH meters come in tomorrow, so I will be calibrating them and comparing them side by side.

The plants have been doing so well, so regardless what was happening in the reservoir, I didn't want to change the contents up too much since I am trying to get it squared away before I leave for 5-6 days next week.

 

[calvin.m16]

Ok, so here is what I did. For science sake, I used the CalMag again. 4 changes/differences

Change 1: I bumped up the MaxiGrow to bring the ppm up to ~581 This caused #2

Change 2: I did not use any pH up or down because my meter (won't calibrate, but I don't know how long that it has been like that, so I took the measurement just to see) read 5.6pH

Change 3: I mixed the ArmorSi, the CalMag, and the MaxiGrow into their own gallons of RO water, mixed, and let them sit overnight.

Change 4: I mixed up 6 total gallons (I was going to cut the CalMag out, so I added 3 gallons of RO instead of the 2. Then at the last minute, I decided to keep the CalMag in, so that's why it's 6 instead of 5)

6 gallons RO water
8mL ArmorSi
18mL CalMag
16.35g MaxiGrow




mix ArmorSi into 1 gallon water
mix CalMag into 1 gallon water
mix MaxiGrow into 1 gallon water
sit over night

pour 3 gallons ro water into reservoir
stir in ArmorSi
stir in CalMag
stir in MaxiGrow

The final numbers look like this:

~581ppm
5.6pH (BlueLab pen that won't calibrate)

There was no cloudiness or anything obvious happening as I mixed in the ingredients. I will keep an eye on it and keep this updated. 2 new pH meters come in tomorrow, so I will be calibrating them and comparing them side by side.

The plants have been doing so well, so regardless what was happening in the reservoir, I didn't want to change the contents up too much since I am trying to get it squared away before I leave for 5-6 days next week.

View attachment 5307438

Try doing this instead of all that technical stuff.

Mix 5 ml/gal Armor Si
Mix 7 grams/gal MaxiBloom (Lucas Formula)
pH of your solution should be around 5.8-6.0 if you follow that recipe exactly, cause we don't have different water when we're both using RO filtration.

See how that works for you, that's the "lucas formula" that many very successful grows use in coco/soilless. Also, don't mix it all in separate gallons just simply mix all into 1 filled reservoir. Always mix in the order of Silica (Armor Si) first and then MaxiBloom after. You shouldn't need any pH adjusters using this recipe just simply increase/decrease Armor Si for desired pH.

p.s I used CaliMagic and Floralicious Plus with Maxi for a long time and cut it out a couple grows ago with no noticeable effects negative or positive. I think the base fertilizer has enough of what the plant needs to where adding those extra things aren't doing any favors, this is with over 6 different plants at scale. Just keep in mind, not allowing good runoff each fertigation can cause pH to crash in the rootzone, so always make sure especially in flower your more in the 6.0 range than the 5.8 range and allow a decent amount of runoff, at least some drops out of the bottom.

 

[TCH]

Try doing this instead of all that technical stuff.

Mix 5 ml/gal Armor Si
Mix 7 grams/gal MaxiBloom (Lucas Formula)
pH of your solution should be around 5.8-6.0 if you follow that recipe exactly, cause we don't have different water when we're both using RO filtration.

See how that works for you, that's the "lucas formula" that many very successful grows use in coco/soilless. Also, don't mix it all in separate gallons just simply mix all into 1 filled reservoir. Always mix in the order of Silica (Armor Si) first and then MaxiBloom after. You shouldn't need any pH adjusters using this recipe just simply increase/decrease Armor Si for desired pH.

That definitely sounds easier. I just wanted to use the same ingredients as before to see if it will happen again. Once I get back in town, I can try something a bit different, but until then the plants look good and I'd like to keep.it that way while I'm gone. Does the pH drift with that system?

 

[calvin.m16]

That definitely sounds easier. I just wanted to use the same ingredients as before to see if it will happen again. Once I get back in town, I can try something a bit different, but until then the plants look good and I'd like to keep.it that way while I'm gone. Does the pH drift with that system?

The pH can drift downwards if your not regularly feeding and allowing decent runoff, calmag wont help with pH much. I feed once every 1-2 days with that recipe in 10 gal pots of coco/perlite and as long as I give them good runoff and occasionally run plain water through for 1 feeding every week or two things stay stable. My theory on that is the rootzone gets build up of the more acidic compounds and by giving a one time "flush" occasionally should help wash out any excess sodium and prevent toxicity of certain elements in the fertilizer.

If pH is a big concern and you've had issues with crash you can always up your Armor Si a little, I know 5 ml/gal is the max recommended strength but you could probably push it to 7-8 without issues, I just wouldn't use calmag even in RO cause I learned you don't need it with personal experience after being a religious calmag user. Maxi has a lot of calcium in it.

I've done Soil Slurries (1 part coco : 1 part water) mixed for a few mins then tested pH and it's always in the yellow/light orange range which is a 5.8-6.0 range, also runoff reflects similar numbers.

 

[calvin.m16]

All you need to accomplish this, also a 50 lb bucket of maxibloom to show how much I believe in it and use it. xD

 

[TCH]

I wish I had a whole room I could grow in. To have space and room to work would be amazing.

 

[calvin.m16]

I wish I had a whole room I could grow in. To have space and room to work would be amazing.

I take it for granted quite often.

 

[TCH]

Ugh, now my solution is just dark. PH has drifted up a bit to about 6.3 which i thinknis normal for the first 2 days. Ppm has stayed pretty close. Nothing is clumping or falling out like the last time. I think I'm going to mix up a batch the same as my smaller res and then just add ro water to bring the ppm down to the level I need for the smaller plants. Is there any reason that won't work?

The picture is shit, but I tried. Lol

 

[TCH]

Or do I let it ride?

Or do I just add the bleach and see if it clears it up?

I think the plants look happy as it is, but who knows? But there may be a slight discoloration on the leaves.

 

[calvin.m16]

It looks like dirty water to me, contaminated water with algae or bacteria including iron bacteria will take a while to show, but as the water sits, even with airstones it will get cloudy/murky. I would add at least a prefilter to your water and throw one of these in your water tank.

UVC Filter: https://www.amazon.com/COODIA-Internal-Aquarium-Submersible-Disinfection/dp/B07V26V5MS
Camco Pre Filter/Carbon filter: https://www.amazon.com/Camco-TastePURE-Flexible-Protector-40043/dp/B0006IX87S/

 

[TCH]

It looks like dirty water to me, contaminated water with algae or bacteria including iron bacteria will take a while to show, but as the water sits, even with airstones it will get cloudy/murky. I would add at least a prefilter to your water and throw one of these in your water tank.

UVC Filter: https://www.amazon.com/COODIA-Internal-Aquarium-Submersible-Disinfection/dp/B07V26V5MS
Camco Pre Filter/Carbon filter: https://www.amazon.com/Camco-TastePURE-Flexible-Protector-40043/dp/B0006IX87S/

It's clear ro that has never gotten cloudy or murky ever. That said, I just dumped it into a white bucket and it does have little specs in it like it is starting to fall out again.

 

[lusidghost]

Regardless of the cause here, you should jacket your res in panda film. It has made a huge difference in keeping mine sterile. Especially the one in my veg room that sits longer.

 

[TCH]

Regardless of the cause here, you should jacket your res in panda film. It has made a huge difference in keeping mine sterile. Especially the one in my veg room that sits longer.

My res is dark. I didn't have this much issue when I had a white bucket like the one pictured as a res. That said, I just mixed up a fresh res after cleaning this out. The sterile route is working for my smaller res, so I figure I will go that route with this one and hope it's alright.

5 gallons
10mL calmag
22.5g maxigrow
20 drops bleach.

 

[Drop That Sound]

Try another barrel, or mix up a smaller batch in a bucket if you can. When you said it smelled like what was in it before, you mean it was recycled from somewhere? I got large 55g barrels that still smell like olives and whatnot, imported from italy I think. Also got 20-30g blue barrels kinda like yours from my buddies brewery shop, that used to have molasses like liquids.. I could see it leaching or possibly reacting with nutrients/additives, and I only use my recycled barrels outside usually (the ones that still smell anyway).. Just a guess really..

EDIT: Nothing will get rid of the smell either on some of my recycled barrels I intended to use btw. I've done multiple different types of soaks with different chems/ingredients. Sucks!

 

[TCH]

Try another barrel, or mix up a smaller batch in a bucket if you can. When you said it smelled like what was in it before, you mean it was recycled from somewhere? I got large 55g barrels that still smell like olives and whatnot, imported from italy I think. Also got 20-30g blue barrels kinda like yours from my buddies brewery shop, that used to have molasses like liquids.. I could see it leaching or possibly reacting with nutrients/additives, and I only use my recycled barrels outside usually (the ones that still smell anyway).. Just a guess really..

EDIT: Nothing will get rid of the smell either on some of my recycled barrels I intended to use btw. I've done multiple different types of soaks with different chems/ingredients. Sucks!

Yeah. This may turn into a rain barrel or something. I will see how this batch does and if it gets questionable by tonight, I will just pick up a black trash can to use and whip up a fresh batch Saturday morning.

 

[lusidghost]

A dark res holds heat. Panda film, dude.

 

[TCH]

24+ hours later, the res is still crystal clear and no odor. Fingers crossed that we are good to go now.



Separate question. If I am only running calmag and MaxiGrow with pH up and bleach, can I just add more to the res and top it off? Or do I need to empty it and make a whole batch at once? I would like to get 8 or so gallons in there for the next 5 days instead of just the 5 gallons I mixed up last night.

 

[calvin.m16]

It's clear ro that has never gotten cloudy or murky ever. That said, I just dumped it into a white bucket and it does have little specs in it like it is starting to fall out again.

View attachment 5308084

That looks like piss. You need a water filtration system. Your water sucks, there is no solution other than filtering it.

A good place to start is look into Hydro-Logic RO-150 or similar system.

^ Above video applies to any size reservoir.

 

[calvin.m16]

It's clear ro that has never gotten cloudy or murky ever. That said, I just dumped it into a white bucket and it does have little specs in it like it is starting to fall out again.

View attachment 5308084

You know Iron Bacteria will look clean for a day or so in a bucket/barrel then after 24/48 hours you get a piss color and or brownish film on your container, this is reason to have your well shocked with bleach which I have had to do recently.

Here's what my unfiltered well water looks like after it sits overnight.


Here's how I cobbled together my system in about 5 mins recently. Serious changes are coming soon in the water system so this is just how I do it for now. Hydro Logic pressure booster pump, Hydro-Logic RO-300 System, 50 gal barrel, 32 gal brute bucket with rollie wheels that I can mix my nutes in and keep my clean water, clean.

Note the water in the barrel doesn't look like piss.

 

[TCH]

That looks like piss. You need a water filtration system. Your water sucks, there is no solution other than filtering it.

A good place to start is look into Hydro-Logic RO-150 or similar system.

^ Above video applies to any size reservoir.

It looks like piss because that is the nutrient solution that I continue to have issues with. I dumped it into the white bucket so I could see the color and get a better look at it and get a picture. Now the solution is nice and clear after 24+ hours since omitting the ArmorSi from the mix. My well water goes through a softener and an ro system. The water that comes out of the ro system can sit for a week or more and doesn't change color at all.