AdvancedBioHydroponics
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The 2nd big change we made several years ago after trying almost all brands on the market was switch to a 2 part nutrient base called Shiva by Crop Nutrients. This stuff is like no other nutrient out there and is one of the ONLY formulas that is ammonia free!
PURE does not even come anywhere close to describing this stuff, you can run low levels of PPM like 400 max and provide FULL nutrition! Both parts A&B are as clear as water. The formula also contains proper amounts of chlorine (less than 2%). Also you use the same 2 parts for grow and flower cycles.
This is huge because what we found which was linked to our bacteria/water issues was that most all nutrients on the market use up to 25% (sometimes much more) ammonia based nitrogen to make the TOTAL percentage of there nitrogen content.
The only other formula we found was called Veg+Bloom as they offer a ammonia free formula for some extra cash.
Ammoniacal Nitrogen is not plant ready and must be broken down first by a special breed of bacteria called "Nitrifying Bacteria". These guys turn ammoniacal nitrogen into nitrate nitrogen which the plants can use. In this process of doing what they do they also cause a ion change that relates to low ph levels.
Now if a grower is trying to run sterile but there nutrient formula promotes bacteria growth and in fact MUST have bacteria growth to be processed then this would be counter productive, no?
Ammonia and UREA are fine for soil applications but can cause MAJOR problems in water culture systems.
What is more annoying is that nutrient makers do not seem to be aware of this at all, Advanced Nutrients being one of the biggest offenders as they STILL use UREA (mammal urine) for a nitrogen source in there formulas claimed to be made for hydroponics.
We tried the new CS Nutrients and were VERY excited at first only to find that they contain even MORE ammonia based materials (they even use a form of ammonia based calcium) than most in there formula specially made for the UC system?? Then they suggest using UC Roots which is a sterilizer? This type of logic in nutrient formulations must be corrected IMHO. Not trying to bash anyone or any products here especially the UC guys as we love those guys, just stating some facts here.
If nobody speaks of these "non popular" subjects how will things ever get any better right?
It seems there is still lots to be learned as far as what is best for water culture systems.
Anyhow once we installed the Ozone/UV treatment to our water supply and switched to this ammonia free formula Shiva, we stopped experiencing bacteria out breaks that were largely in part or "inspired" by the ammonia based content in our nutrient solutions.
The bigger point is that these "outbreaks" of biology produced to "fix" the ammonia based nitrogen content can spawn with them lots of troubles for the grower if the right environment conditions pre-exist (like water culture seems to create). Seen it first hand and it is UGLY!!
If you really want to run sterile, get rid of the ammonia based materials.
We also noticed that things like burnt leaf tips, loss of older leaves also all went away. We like to credit this due to the pure materials used in the base formula at correct ratios. I will never forget our very first test plant started from seed using Shiva 2 part base and our new "Hospital Grade" water, at the end of the test, the plant STILL had its original first two leaves that sprout at germination! I was amazed that they were still alive and still as green as the day the seed germinated! Keep in mind this was after 9 weeks of veg cycle followed by 9 weeks of flowering!
PURE does not even come anywhere close to describing this stuff, you can run low levels of PPM like 400 max and provide FULL nutrition! Both parts A&B are as clear as water. The formula also contains proper amounts of chlorine (less than 2%). Also you use the same 2 parts for grow and flower cycles.
This is huge because what we found which was linked to our bacteria/water issues was that most all nutrients on the market use up to 25% (sometimes much more) ammonia based nitrogen to make the TOTAL percentage of there nitrogen content.
The only other formula we found was called Veg+Bloom as they offer a ammonia free formula for some extra cash.
Ammoniacal Nitrogen is not plant ready and must be broken down first by a special breed of bacteria called "Nitrifying Bacteria". These guys turn ammoniacal nitrogen into nitrate nitrogen which the plants can use. In this process of doing what they do they also cause a ion change that relates to low ph levels.
Now if a grower is trying to run sterile but there nutrient formula promotes bacteria growth and in fact MUST have bacteria growth to be processed then this would be counter productive, no?
Ammonia and UREA are fine for soil applications but can cause MAJOR problems in water culture systems.
What is more annoying is that nutrient makers do not seem to be aware of this at all, Advanced Nutrients being one of the biggest offenders as they STILL use UREA (mammal urine) for a nitrogen source in there formulas claimed to be made for hydroponics.
We tried the new CS Nutrients and were VERY excited at first only to find that they contain even MORE ammonia based materials (they even use a form of ammonia based calcium) than most in there formula specially made for the UC system?? Then they suggest using UC Roots which is a sterilizer? This type of logic in nutrient formulations must be corrected IMHO. Not trying to bash anyone or any products here especially the UC guys as we love those guys, just stating some facts here.
If nobody speaks of these "non popular" subjects how will things ever get any better right?
It seems there is still lots to be learned as far as what is best for water culture systems.
Anyhow once we installed the Ozone/UV treatment to our water supply and switched to this ammonia free formula Shiva, we stopped experiencing bacteria out breaks that were largely in part or "inspired" by the ammonia based content in our nutrient solutions.
The bigger point is that these "outbreaks" of biology produced to "fix" the ammonia based nitrogen content can spawn with them lots of troubles for the grower if the right environment conditions pre-exist (like water culture seems to create). Seen it first hand and it is UGLY!!
If you really want to run sterile, get rid of the ammonia based materials.
We also noticed that things like burnt leaf tips, loss of older leaves also all went away. We like to credit this due to the pure materials used in the base formula at correct ratios. I will never forget our very first test plant started from seed using Shiva 2 part base and our new "Hospital Grade" water, at the end of the test, the plant STILL had its original first two leaves that sprout at germination! I was amazed that they were still alive and still as green as the day the seed germinated! Keep in mind this was after 9 weeks of veg cycle followed by 9 weeks of flowering!
