Amen to that. I knew the mixing order. Armor si always first, then calimagic, then micro, grow, bloom, ph to range then add hydroguard in my case since I chose bennie's over sterile. I use real growers recharge also 1 to 2 times a week. Never heard to ph it first though before adding anything else. That's new to me.
I think it's a good idea to use less on smaller plants and adding more when they get bigger and more established. Maybe start off with .5 to 1 ml per gallon and work it up to 2ml per gallon when they're a few weeks old to a month old maybe
Some Si stuff can raise the pH over 10 and at that level it can cause some nutes to precipitate out of solution so it's a good idea to knock it down some before adding anything else.
that is more concentrated, has no buffering and sets it's max level at 1/4ml/L. Thick like glue.
I have some DE but it gets wet and funky on my hydroton so I don't use it. I top feed 1 to 2 times a week with real growers recharge. So that doesn't work for me unfortunately. Money wasted. Bags been sitting there since I got it and tried it. Did nothing for the gnats I got it to try and killSome Si stuff can raise the pH over 10 and at that level it can cause some nutes to precipitate out of solution so it's a good idea to knock it down some before adding anything else.
I use Rhino Skin which has some buffering built in and says to use 2ml/L but have one by CannaMax Labs View attachment 4261732 that is more concentrated, has no buffering and sets it's max level at 1/4ml/L. Thick like glue.
The Rhino at half strength or 1ml/L only raises the pH to around 8.5 while the other gets it up to over 10 at half strength.
Adding diatomaceous earth to your soil/soilless grows is a good way to get extra silica to your plants and offer some protection from insects like fungus gnats or root aphids. Good to eat as well.
Yep this is the way i do it to and my PH is fine with very little fluctuations day to day
I've never used DE with my DWC runs. Never had gnats in any of them but have a few times in my soilless grows.
Doesn't have to be 7 dead on or anything. Even 8 would be OK and wouldn't interfere with the other nutes.
I do not pH my nutrients until after finishing mixing. I have always read that it is wrong to pH prior to finish mixing, which makes sense since your nutrients will alter your pH. Silica is super alkaline so yes, it will raise pH initially. My nutrients always bring it back down to an almost perfect level - I use almost no pH down ever and I have never had to open my pH up. I would imagine pH'ing before adding my nutrients would absolutely create an acidic environment and require me to use pH up, which makes no sense - you don't want to be adding both pH up and down into your solution if possible.
If I already know how much pH up or down is required based on mixing previous batches, I will add it or most of it prior to adding the nutrients. I figure that this way it's reaacting with crap in the water before it reacts to the nutrients. Just my theory anyways.
That's what I do too except I add hydroguard last cuz it dont affect ph and I don't want the ph up or down to kill the good stuff in the hydroguard
I just got a new bottle of it. Its a blue tint liquid. Haven't seen anything floating or chunky in it. It's always a good idea to shake your bottles well before use anyways regardless.
