kp gets her feet wet....

funny as my plants have been in the res a month and they look more than fine. my res is quite big though so I think I can change less often as salt build up would affect it less.
You see I was reading somewhere that it is possible to go through the whole grow with just full strength top ups.
I went a bit in between and am going to do partial water changes.
you think that would be a very bad choice?
 
gigi999 said:
funny as my plants have been in the res a month and they look more than fine. my res is quite big though so I think I can change less often as salt build up would affect it less.
You see I was reading somewhere that it is possible to go through the whole grow with just full strength top ups.
I went a bit in between and am going to do partial water changes.
you think that would be a very bad choice?
Click to expand...

yep, the reason for changing is that the plant will use what it needs, altering the amount of nutes in the water. by changing out, you're putting back the nutes the plants need. by not changing, you will eventually have probs with lockout, or def, or burn. ie, mine are slurping up the cal/mag right now, but not so much nitrogen. they are drinking 3-5 gallons of water a day (three plants) and not using a terrible amount of nutes.

change your res regularly.

kp
 
I get it now, the fact is that of the various nutes in the solution the plants won't use all of them but just what they need right?
So it can look like there are nutes in there but in fact part of it might be depleted is that right?
what's the benefit of cal/mag? do I need it to use it with the lucas formula?

thanks for all your help :)
 
gigi999 said:
I get it now, the fact is that of the various nutes in the solution the plants won't use all of them but just what they need right?
So it can look like there are nutes in there but in fact part of it might be depleted is that right?
what's the benefit of cal/mag? do I need it to use it with the lucas formula?

thanks for all your help :)
Click to expand...

i'm unfamiliar with lucas, though i've heard good things. cal/mag is something every hydro grower should have, if nothing more than a back up. cal defs do happen, and imo, this product is the easiest way to treat and prevent.

and you are right on about the nute uptake, this is the reason for res changing.

kp
 
ok time for a nute change then.
maybe you can answer this question, how come my ppm has been going up instead of down during this first month?
 
gigi999 said:
ok time for a nute change then.
maybe you can answer this question, how come my ppm has been going up instead of down during this first month?
Click to expand...

you said your topping off with nute water, right? that's why. you should only top off with plain jane water, as the plants use more water than nutes.

also, if you're chasing the ph, ph up and down will increase the ppms.

kp
 
Hey ,
thanks for the info. I have been reading this very interesting thread about the lucas formula. it seems that it is possible to actually go without res change until the last week or so but there is a calculation to be made for the addback water to keep the nutes at the right level.
From that thread it also looks like the lucas formula has enough mg not to need cal mag.
mmhh the more I read the more it gets confusing ;)

plants are looking good though aren't they?

G

forgot to say that the PH has been extremely stable, no need to chase it at all
 
gigi999 said:
From that thread it also looks like the lucas formula has enough mg not to need cal mag.
l
Click to expand...

ny concern is not with mg def's (epsom salts will fix those probs), but with ca defs. you can't add molasses to hydro systems (it mucks them up) so i will always have a calcium additive on hand for ca def's (which i find occur easily in hydro; course, my water is extremely soft too, 18 ppm from the tap...)

kp
 
ah, my water is quite hard around 250ppm you reckon that might help the for the ca?
I guess it depends what content of the water is...
 
gigi999 said:
ah, my water is quite hard around 250ppm you reckon that might help the for the ca?
I guess it depends what content of the water is...
Click to expand...

yep, hardwater usually contains ample amounts of ca, so you shouldn't have to worry. my water lacks almost all micros, so i have to use cal/mag every res change.
 
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