Newbie here, but Ive been mixing my own fertz for awhile now. Unfortunately non of these batches have turned out well. I think my confusion is over the Container size field. Can anyone explain to me like im a 2year old as to why Rotala Butterfly bases calculations on container size rather than amount of water used? Could this field just be miss labeled? Im a bit hesitant to blindly just 'fill to the line' as instructed on most of the dry fert suppliers websites and waste yet another batch.
Container Size
- Thread starter JoeQ
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Welcome to the forum! Put in the final volume of your solution ( in mL) under "Container size". Typically one would use a graduated container, add a part of the water ( say half for example).Add the dry salts and mix. Add water until you hit your targeted final volume and continue mixing until the salts fully dissolve.
What issues did you encounter with your solutions and what/how much were you trying to mix together?
Solubility of salts and the common ion effect can affect how succesful you are making the solution and preventing precipitation. If you want to try out new mixes it's always worth doing a small volume first. Often just adding more water ( making a more dilute solution) will solve issues. Tap water can also cause issues , especially if it is hard with high KH. If you still have issues try using distiled or RO water.
Lastly, microbiological contamination can become an issue. For macronutrients, using clean measuring and holding containers and boiling the water before mixing is enough. Micronutrients can be more problematic.
What issues did you encounter with your solutions and what/how much were you trying to mix together?
Solubility of salts and the common ion effect can affect how succesful you are making the solution and preventing precipitation. If you want to try out new mixes it's always worth doing a small volume first. Often just adding more water ( making a more dilute solution) will solve issues. Tap water can also cause issues , especially if it is hard with high KH. If you still have issues try using distiled or RO water.
Lastly, microbiological contamination can become an issue. For macronutrients, using clean measuring and holding containers and boiling the water before mixing is enough. Micronutrients can be more problematic.
Thank you for that reply, as I think about i think my problem might be precipitation or contaminates? My past recipes (copied from my recipe book) are as followed:
3-13-23 EI Macro
Stored in Green Nilocg 500ml bottle with 1ml pump.
Kno3 – 58.2g, K2HPO4 – 11.4g, 500ml Purified H20, 10ml Ez carb
A dose of 1ml per 2.5g every other day will add
NO3-7.4ppm, PO4 -1.29ppm, K-5.72ppm.
Do a 50% water change & add GH Booster on Sundays,
Repeat the process starting on Monday
3-13-23 EI Micro
Stored in Brown Nilocg 500ml bottle with 1ml pump.
CSM+B – 36.7g, 500ml Purified H2O,10ml EZ Carb
Dose 1ml Per 2.5g every other day, alternating between Macro
And Micro
****This mix was fine just too small of a dose for larger tanks******
5-17 PPS-Pro Macro
Stored in Nilocg 500ml dosing bottle.
Kno3 – 19.7g, K2HP04 – 1.8g, K2S04 – 17.5g
MgS04 - 12.4g, 296ml H2O, 6ml Ez Carb
1ml per 10g at lights out, daily
Dose will add:
NO3-1.06ppm, PO4 -0.09ppm, K-1.44ppm
S-0.42ppm, Mg-0.11ppm, dGH-0.02
5-17-23 PPS-Pro Micro
Stored in Nilocg 500ml dosing bottle.
CSM+B – 17.2g, 296ml Purified H2O, 6ml EZ Carb
Dose 0.5ml Per 10g daily while lights are off
***This dose was fine, I just didn't like the PPS-Pro method***
8-04-23 EI Macro
Stored in 1L Polar Seltzer water bottle with non close-able 2ml pump head.
Kno3 – 118.0g, K2HPO4 – 23.0g, Mgso4 - 25.0g, 500ml Purified H20, 10ml Ez carb
A dose of 2ml per 10g every other day will add:
NO3-7.50ppm, PO4 -1.30ppm, K-5.27ppm,
Mg-0.26ppm, S-0.34ppm, dGH-0.06
This is the batch that im having trouble with which seems to be less concentrated than previously calculated. Could the problem be how I'm storing it rather than the recipe its self?
3-13-23 EI Macro
Stored in Green Nilocg 500ml bottle with 1ml pump.
Kno3 – 58.2g, K2HPO4 – 11.4g, 500ml Purified H20, 10ml Ez carb
A dose of 1ml per 2.5g every other day will add
NO3-7.4ppm, PO4 -1.29ppm, K-5.72ppm.
Do a 50% water change & add GH Booster on Sundays,
Repeat the process starting on Monday
3-13-23 EI Micro
Stored in Brown Nilocg 500ml bottle with 1ml pump.
CSM+B – 36.7g, 500ml Purified H2O,10ml EZ Carb
Dose 1ml Per 2.5g every other day, alternating between Macro
And Micro
****This mix was fine just too small of a dose for larger tanks******
5-17 PPS-Pro Macro
Stored in Nilocg 500ml dosing bottle.
Kno3 – 19.7g, K2HP04 – 1.8g, K2S04 – 17.5g
MgS04 - 12.4g, 296ml H2O, 6ml Ez Carb
1ml per 10g at lights out, daily
Dose will add:
NO3-1.06ppm, PO4 -0.09ppm, K-1.44ppm
S-0.42ppm, Mg-0.11ppm, dGH-0.02
5-17-23 PPS-Pro Micro
Stored in Nilocg 500ml dosing bottle.
CSM+B – 17.2g, 296ml Purified H2O, 6ml EZ Carb
Dose 0.5ml Per 10g daily while lights are off
***This dose was fine, I just didn't like the PPS-Pro method***
8-04-23 EI Macro
Stored in 1L Polar Seltzer water bottle with non close-able 2ml pump head.
Kno3 – 118.0g, K2HPO4 – 23.0g, Mgso4 - 25.0g, 500ml Purified H20, 10ml Ez carb
A dose of 2ml per 10g every other day will add:
NO3-7.50ppm, PO4 -1.30ppm, K-5.27ppm,
Mg-0.26ppm, S-0.34ppm, dGH-0.06
This is the batch that im having trouble with which seems to be less concentrated than previously calculated. Could the problem be how I'm storing it rather than the recipe its self?
What do you observe with the solution? Try to omit MgSO4*7H2O from your last mix and see how well it does. There is a lot of K in the water already and adding sulphates can cause some precipitate. If it works with no MgSO4*7H2O you can try a lower amount or MgCl2... or just add Mg seprately after a water change.
If you have issues with fungal or bacterial growth omit the EZ carb... cleanly prepared macro solutions rarely need such biocides... plus in time they become the source of carbon for the bacteria .
Bottles with mixed macronutrients can be kept in a dark place at room temperature with no issues. Lower temperatures may lead to more precipitation.
If you have issues with fungal or bacterial growth omit the EZ carb... cleanly prepared macro solutions rarely need such biocides... plus in time they become the source of carbon for the bacteria .
Bottles with mixed macronutrients can be kept in a dark place at room temperature with no issues. Lower temperatures may lead to more precipitation.
My water has a very low amount of magnesium, I added the MgSO4*7H2O after noticing GH booster produced great aerial roots but they slowly died over the week. The small amount used keeps the roots lively between water changes. As for the Ez carb I would like to eliminate it, but I was under the impression it was necessary to prevent mold.
My next batch will probably be a 296ml batch, similar to my 3-13 Marco batch, but without the Ez Carb. I'll also be keeping the MgSO4*7H2O, but ill be storing it in a 500ml Nilocg bottle with a 2ml pump head.
Edit: which wouldn't be a huge loss if its another disappointing batch.
My next batch will probably be a 296ml batch, similar to my 3-13 Marco batch, but without the Ez Carb. I'll also be keeping the MgSO4*7H2O, but ill be storing it in a 500ml Nilocg bottle with a 2ml pump head.
Edit: which wouldn't be a huge loss if its another disappointing batch.
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