Crazy Lights!

[MIMedGrower]

I'm curious what you are using to buffer the RO water? I'm wonder if you ph swings

Why would you need a buffer? The base nutrient solution is complete. In this case even includes all popular additives.

 

[Hurrl]

I'm curious what you are using to buffer the RO water? I'm wonder if you ph swings

No my PH does not swing and I do not buffer when using Megacrop. This new formula seems especially stable. A while back I was using the Dutch Masters Aqua line. That stuff would swing 2-3 points a night. Tried using House & Garden PH Osmosis Stabilizer, but that stuff was just ridiculous. It took so much PH down to get my water within a decent range I did not feel comfortable using it at all. And on top of that, I was still getting PH swings like crazy. So no, no buffers. I didn't even buffer with the original Megacrop. And it always worked fine for me.

 

[Aqua Man]

Why would you need a buffer? The base nutrient solution is complete. In this case even includes all popular additives.

IME and i do have the version one. I think they use Calcium nitrate. When i did it in RO water the PH was wild and i used potassium bicarbonate to stabilize it

 

[Aqua Man]

I just seen they make a hydro A and B now?

 

[Hurrl]

I just seen they make a hydro A and B now?

Megacrop? Yes they do. For injectors, it is supposed to dissolve better since it is in 2 parts.

 

[Aqua Man]

Ahhh maybe they upped the silica too? IDK i'm gonna have to look into this new stuff

 

[Hurrl]

Ahhh maybe they upped the silica too? IDK i'm gonna have to look into this new stuff

I got a small bag just before the 2 part was released. I was thinking about trying the 2-part out after I'm done with this.

 

[Aqua Man]

Yup i just looked calcium nitrate so the buffering must come from increased silica

 

[Aqua Man]

And I just ordered it... This is awesome I can tweak my nutes easier now

 

[Hurrl]

And I just ordered it... This is awesome I can tweak my nutes easier now

Did you get the 2-part? If so let me know how it mixes.

 

[Aqua Man]

Did you get the 2-part? If so let me know how it mixes.

Will do. Yes 2 part and will be using with autofeed in coco next grow

 

[Hurrl]

I'll give a little update here in a couple of days. Just moving the light up and turning it down seemed to have dramatic effects. Both my plants perked up and I swear they grew another inch just over the last several hours .... Nah, but seriously they really perked up a lot. Res flushed and re-occupied with fresh nutes and only about 90ppm of GH CalMag. I also sprinkled my nutes into my mixing container slowly, like GLN recommends, instead of pre-mixing in a bucket with 2 gallons of water (I run a 20 gallon Res). And damn if that Megacrop powder didn't fully dissolve in minutes compared to hours. I normally try dissolving as much as possible in 2 gallons then pour that into my mixing container where I have a couple air stones and a pump going. This new formula always leaves solid sulfur behind when mixing like that. Takes almost a day before it all dissolves. Slowly sprinkling the dry nutrients into the full 20 gallon mixing container has immediate effects. It all dissolved right away. Guess I should learn to follow directions.....

@Aqua Man I think the reason I never really saw much PH fluctuation with the original Megacrop formula is because I was running a larger Res and only growing two plants. I was adjusting almost daily, but I was always within range 5.5-6.3 . My previous setup held 30 gallons. I downsized when I started using that Dutch Masters line a while back. Stuff was expensive. And another note about that new MC formula. If you even use it, I don't think their feed-chart has been updated to support it. Anytime I try going off their chart my PPM is way lower than it should be for the amount of water I use.

Thanks to everyone that chimed in with these tips tonight. I saw quite a bit more leaf damage just in the few hours I was here. I think if I hadn't flushed and changed out that Res tonight, along with adjusting my lights, things would have been real bad in the morn. This place has been a wealth of knowledge just in the few days I've been around. Much appreciated.

 

[Hurrl]

So this is from 2 days after the last picture. The first picture I posted above was from the day before my original post so not all the leaf damage was visible. Since following everyone's advice I do not see any more damage than what had happened the day I posted here. Things were really ramping up and starting to get bad then. Also, since the first picture only one big fan leaf was removed that had been blocking a bud site. Since it is now flowering I'm not going to be cutting or bending unless something can't be tucked away. All in all I think she is recovering pretty well. I moved my lights a little closer today as well. I've got them sitting in the 45K range now instead of the 30k-35k range I moved them in when I changed thee Res out the other night. That Dr.Meter Lux meter has been a blessing with these new quantum boards.

I also turned the deep red/far red led off for this latest pic so the color comes through a little better.