Enigma
Well-Known Member
One more time guys, and with a little less bunk banter.
Just for you BBB:
Supplies:
(1) 2 L bottle - Labeled as BASE - $1
(1) Funnel - $1
(1) 2 lb dry sodium hydroxide by Roebic - Lowe's - $12.98+ tax
(1) Set of measuring spoons - $1
(1) 1 gal of distilled water - $1 (FREE! with a clean dehumidifier or reverse osmosis filter on a water outlet.)
Grand Total: ~$18.00
Precautions:
SODIUM HYDROXIDE CAN KILL!!!
So use safety glasses, rubber gloves, and well ventilated areas.
NEVER POUR WATER INTO A BASE!!!
IT WILL EXPLODE!!!
Always pour SMALL amounts of base in LARGE amounts of water, SLOWLY!!!
Procedure:
Fill the 2 L bottle with about 3/4 full with distilled water. This bottle should already be labeled for its intents and purposes.
Prepare your caustic base (sodium hydroxide, or lye) and measuring spoons.
SLOWLY pour (1) 1 tbsp of your base into the 2 L bottle. Slowly swish the solution to ensure a good mix of the dry granules. After all of the base has been mixed in slowly add more distilled water until nearly full.
Remember, if you mix this stuff too fast it will explode.. and possibly kill you.
Now, get an eye dropper and use three drops at a time on a test gallon to figure out the concentration. Unless you have the equipment to measure the granules by mass and calculate molarity of the aqueous solution you will have to test the strength of every batch. The good thing is, this is so cheap and effective it will be worth it.
Now you have enough pH Up for 2 years of constant use. This means 2 years for heavy hydroponics, a decade for soil if you ever need it.
Now, there is a better option than the sodium hydroxide. There are plenty of aquatic shoppes that stock calcium hydroxide, which would be a better choice since plants need the calcium anyways. You can also use potassium hydroxide.
E
Just for you BBB:
Supplies:
(1) 2 L bottle - Labeled as BASE - $1
(1) Funnel - $1
(1) 2 lb dry sodium hydroxide by Roebic - Lowe's - $12.98+ tax
(1) Set of measuring spoons - $1
(1) 1 gal of distilled water - $1 (FREE! with a clean dehumidifier or reverse osmosis filter on a water outlet.)
Grand Total: ~$18.00
Precautions:
SODIUM HYDROXIDE CAN KILL!!!
So use safety glasses, rubber gloves, and well ventilated areas.
NEVER POUR WATER INTO A BASE!!!
IT WILL EXPLODE!!!
Always pour SMALL amounts of base in LARGE amounts of water, SLOWLY!!!
Procedure:
Fill the 2 L bottle with about 3/4 full with distilled water. This bottle should already be labeled for its intents and purposes.
Prepare your caustic base (sodium hydroxide, or lye) and measuring spoons.
SLOWLY pour (1) 1 tbsp of your base into the 2 L bottle. Slowly swish the solution to ensure a good mix of the dry granules. After all of the base has been mixed in slowly add more distilled water until nearly full.
Remember, if you mix this stuff too fast it will explode.. and possibly kill you.
Now, get an eye dropper and use three drops at a time on a test gallon to figure out the concentration. Unless you have the equipment to measure the granules by mass and calculate molarity of the aqueous solution you will have to test the strength of every batch. The good thing is, this is so cheap and effective it will be worth it.
Now you have enough pH Up for 2 years of constant use. This means 2 years for heavy hydroponics, a decade for soil if you ever need it.
Now, there is a better option than the sodium hydroxide. There are plenty of aquatic shoppes that stock calcium hydroxide, which would be a better choice since plants need the calcium anyways. You can also use potassium hydroxide.
E
(pretty cheap too and wont kill you like that other stuff will 
)
