How I Greatly Reduced My Waste of Liquid Nutrients While Measuring Small Amounts

[Tom Farmer]

I hate to waste. I have based much of my career on reducing waste.


I have a small perpetual soil grow using the full line of Foxfarm soils and nutrients (both concentrates and solubles). I mix a half gallon or gallon of feedings at a time and therefore need to measure liquid amounts of 2.5 ml up to about 1 tablespoon. I was wasting much too high of a percentage of my liquid nutrients due to spillage while trying to measure such small amounts. I have been working on how to minimize waste all along and I think I finally have come up with a decent method of reducing my waste of liquid nutrients so that is almost zero and I wanted to share.


The first item I bought was a shot glass measuring cup from my local hydro shop similar to this one: http://www.htgsupply.com/viewproduct.asp?productID=47773
It has measurements for teaspoons, tablespoons, ounces and milliliters so it made it easy to mix all the different recipes that I have seen. But I found I was still having trouble filling to the proper level and wasting too much of those rather pricey nutrients/additives in the process.


Then I found the sisters of these great little babies in my local grocer:
http://www.amazon.com/Arrow-Plastic-066-Mustard-Dispenser/dp/B0010L3YY2


I am currently using five of them, one for each of the 3 FoxFarm concentrates, one for Cal-Mag and one for pH Up. I wrote on the side of each with a Sharpy to make sure I knew what is in them, although I can also now tell by sight of the contents as well.


The big stuff in the bottom of the Big Bloom can kind of jam up the dispenser at times but I am sure I am dispersing this big stuff to my girls more consistently now that I am more aware of it. The almost clear sides of the dispensers allow you to see what settles out of your nutrients. The first time you fill the dispensers it is VERY IMPORTANT that you keep the bottles you are pouring from well shaken in order to ensure you get a fair representation of the bottles contents into the dispersers, read the labels. After setting still for a few hours in the clear dispensers you will know which ones need to be kept shaken when you are dispensing (and filling). In my case the Foxfarm Big Bloom MUST be shaken VERY well and the Tiger Bloom needs to be shaken well. The Grow Big gets shaken because the label says to but I can't see much settlement. My Cal-Mag and pH Up do not need to be shaken.


The dispensers are made of a soft and pliable plastic. I am still concerned that the plastic could break down due to prolonged exposure to the various chemicals, primarily in the Cal-Mag and pH Up - as they seem to irritate my skin the most. But after about two months of use I do not see any signs of deterioration of the dispensers upon close inspection. I will continue to keep a close eye on them.


I bought my dispensers from a local grocer and I was able to buy three different colored lids – red for ketchup, yellow for mustard and green for dressing, I have attached a picture which show the UPC codes in case it can help anyone. They each cost me $1.29 and I am sure my grocer under priced them.


I now hit almost the exact amount of required nutrient each time with almost zero spillage due to using the dispensers and shot glass measuring cup. I hope others can reduce their waste with similar methods.


Tom

 

[Murfy]

this is a great idea-

put a pic of a leaf on the side and sell it right next to the shot glasses in the shop, million dollar idea

 

[Dirty Harry]

You can also use animal care syringes (Shoppers Supply or any Farm animal supply store). Big ones can measure up to 60ml at a time and only cost a few bucks. I use piece of fish air tube on it to suck up what I need and then unhook the tube to let the extra go back into the bottle. Be sure to rinse everything with water between parts so you don't have lock up problems with the parts mixing in concentrated form in the syringe.

 

[Tom Farmer]

You can also use animal care syringes (Shoppers Supply or any Farm animal supply store). Big ones can measure up to 60ml at a time and only cost a few bucks. I use piece of fish air tube on it to suck up what I need and then unhook the tube to let the extra go back into the bottle. Be sure to rinse everything with water between parts so you don't have lock up problems with the parts mixing in concentrated form in the syringe.

Your method is attractive because it has a lower initial cost. But it has more waste due to the amount of additive/nutrient that is clinging to the inside and outside of the tube that must be washed away.
The real reason why I have decided I would not use your method though is the chance of cross pollution of additives/nutrients is too high with your method, it is nil with mine.

IMHO,
Tom

 

[Dirty Harry]

...The real reason why I have decided I would not use your method though is the chance of cross pollution of additives/nutrients is too high with your method, it is nil with mine.

IMHO,
Tom

I can't argue with that. Separate syringes and tubes for each part will probably push the cost over your idea...and to be honest, having syringes around in the event of a raid would probably not look good.
Your idea is very good and sound.

 

[RikoSuave55]

I can't argue with that. Separate syringes and tubes for each part will probably push the cost over your idea...and to be honest, having syringes around in the event of a raid would probably not look good.
Your idea is very good and sound.

I added the perfect amount to a cup and found optimum Veg BC Boost and BC Grow is a cup and 1/4 .

At a couple inches i start um on a Qrtr cup eachVeg . Two weeks in they can go on a Cup of Boost and A cup and a Qrtr Veg. That equates to about 3 tspns per gallon. For my set up.

 

[drew k.420]

im going to buy some of those.great idea...+rep

 

[Tagh]

Whats wrong with a plastic syringe?

 

[Tom Farmer]

As I mentioned above, the chance of cross contamination of additives/nutrients is too high with the plastic syringes, it is nil with the condiment dispensers.

I forgot to mention that for measuring liquid amounts less than a teaspoon/5 ml I use the 5ml testing tube from a previous pH test kit. It is easy to estimate fractions of the 5ml/teaspoon and it stands up nicely on the counter while I pour into it.

Tom

 

[cowboylogic]

Good idea. You can get 2ml droppers at most hydro shops for 25 cents each. They work pretty good also.

 

[Phloem]

I found this thread while trying to solve this problem for myself, here’s what I bought:

* 8oz HDPE squeeze bottles marketed for “pancake art”, which have a much smaller hole in the spout than condiment bottles. On Amazon the item I bought is called “Tovla Plastic Squeeze Bottles With Leak-Proof White Cap”. I bought the 8-pack.

* An LDPE “lab wash bottle” in 500mL with a wide mouth for easy filling. These are used for washing glassware in chemistry labs, they are squeeze bottles with a downward facing spout which I use to rinse my measuring device between each nutrient.

* A graduated cylinder - lab style measuring cup. I got a polypropylene one to avoid breakage. Actually I got two, 50mL and 100mL for my 4-plant setup.

* You’ll also need a funnel to fill the bottles. Rinse inside and out between each filling!

* Finally, I used a label maker to label the bottles. Don’t skip this step.

Total cost was around $40. With this setup I have eliminated spills, waste, and cross contamination, and increased accuracy!

 

[xtsho]

Hmm, I just use a set of measuring spoons. But I'm only mixing a few dry nutrients and not a dozen or so things with different ratio's every week. Seems to work. Absolutely no reason to spend so much effort to mix some nutes.

 

[charface]

Pretty cool idea.

When I open the lid of my nutes the first time there is a secondary seal with what looks like a punchout hole for a syringe.

Not sure if that is what it is or not.
But some of the shit I use is so clumpy its not an option anyway.

 

[MichiganMedGrower]

I transfer my gallon nute bottles contents to a shampoo or conditioner bottle. Mrs. MMG is a cosmetologist and has plenty of empties. They are opaque. I don’t want light getting into my hydro organic nutes. Pure Blend Pro in my case.

Just a caution about the clear condiment bottles. And the organic part of the fox farm trio.



Easy to push top with 1 finger and pour exact amount into measuring shot glass.


I almost bought red and gold colored condiment bottles at the restaurant supply store like shown in the op but colored opaque. But these were free. I replace them when they don’t simply wash out clean anymore.

 

[OldMedUser]

Your method is attractive because it has a lower initial cost. But it has more waste due to the amount of additive/nutrient that is clinging to the inside and outside of the tube that must be washed away.
The real reason why I have decided I would not use your method though is the chance of cross pollution of additives/nutrients is too high with your method, it is nil with mine.

IMHO,
Tom

If you're wasting a drop using syringes you're doing it wrong.

I have a variety of syringes, most plastic but some glass, and follow standard laboratory procedure for quantitative analysis.

I keep a small container of clean RO handy, (coffee mug), to flush the syringes between different nutes. After drawing up the amount I need and shooting that into the container I'm mixing in I suck up about 10% of what the syringe holds of RO, Pull the shaft all the way back, give it a shake and squirt that into the mix container. 1 more time then on to the next nute. Takes seconds and not a bit gets wasted. No chance of cross contamination.

I kept the blunt needles from a couple of ink cartridge refill kits for years back that I use on the smaller syringes but for my nice glass 30ml and the plastic 60ml ones I have tubing on the ends. Needed a bit of shrink fit tubing to keep the tube on the metal end of the glass one but not on the plastic ones.

Can buy needles and syringes from our local farm supply in almost any size so a long big bore one would work well too. If they are nosy just tell them you use it to measure paints for your airbrush or something.

 

[OldMedUser]

I transfer my gallon nute bottles contents to a shampoo or conditioner bottle. Mrs. MMG is a cosmetologist and has plenty of empties. They are opaque. I don’t want light getting into my hydro organic nutes. Pure Blend Pro in my case.

Just a caution about the clear condiment bottles. And the organic part of the fox farm trio.

View attachment 4120266

Easy to push top with 1 finger and pour exact amount into measuring shot glass.


I almost bought red and gold colored condiment bottles at the restaurant supply store like shown in the op but colored opaque. But these were free. I replace them when they don’t simply wash out clean anymore.

Crap from the stuff that was in those bottles permeates the plastic and is now leaching into whatever you put in there. Not likely going to hurt anything tho.

I use empty peroxide bottles about 350ml. I fill them from my gal jugs and keep them in the grow room with the big jugs in the cold basement outside. Good for storing my homemade colloidal silver in too. Couple winters ago we didn't have an aerator on the dugout so when you filled a tub with water it was grey and smelly. Saw all these bottles of 3% peroxide at a bargain store for a buck each and bought 20 of them. 1/4 cup in the bath and the water was fine. Nice and clean inside and brown too to keep light out.

 

[MichiganMedGrower]

Crap from the stuff that was in those bottles permeates the plastic and is now leaching into whatever you put in there. Not likely going to hurt anything tho.

I use empty peroxide bottles about 350ml. I fill them from my gal jugs and keep them in the grow room with the big jugs in the cold basement outside. Good for storing my homemade colloidal silver in too. Couple winters ago we didn't have an aerator on the dugout so when you filled a tub with water it was grey and smelly. Saw all these bottles of 3% peroxide at a bargain store for a buck each and bought 20 of them. 1/4 cup in the bath and the water was fine. Nice and clean inside and brown too to keep light out.

The product that was in the bottles was peroxide actually. I just said shampoo bottles because they are all like these.

But cleaned out properly I have not smelled any residue or seen any problems.

But I hear your warning.

 

[Lucky Luke]

I use a syringe and an eye dropper. I also have a small medicine cup for the larger measurements if needed.

 

[OldMedUser]

I found this cool measuring glass in the kitchen dept at Canadian Tire.

Holds 5oz/150ml and measures in ml, oz, tsp and Tbsp. About $4

I used a 100ml glass graduated cylinder to check it's accuracy and it's almost dead on the ml scale which is the only one I need anyways. Got a Texas Shot Glass at the thrift store graduated in 1/2 oz to 4oz but haven't checked it's accuracy. Yet.

 

[MichiganMedGrower]

I found this cool measuring glass in the kitchen dept at Canadian Tire.

Holds 5oz/150ml and measures in ml, oz, tsp and Tbsp. About $4

I used a 100ml glass graduated cylinder to check it's accuracy and it's almost dead on the ml scale which is the only one I need anyways. Got a Texas Shot Glass at the thrift store graduated in 1/2 oz to 4oz but haven't checked it's accuracy. Yet.

View attachment 4120709

I have measured shot glasses labeled hydrofarm like that. 4 different measurements though I only ever use ml.

I also have plastic eye droppers with ml marks.