Quantrill
- 235
- 93
Bangarang, were you able to open the nutrient calculator I uploaded?
Attached to this post are pics of the Alkcalc results for your water, with a comparison of the different acid types and the amounts required calculated and the corresponding nutrient ppm added by the three acid types(phos, sulfuric, nitric).
The JR Peters hydroponic special has more than enough nitrogen in it, so that is why they generally recommend sulfuric acid. As Coir has said it is cheap, easy to obtain, and effective. Battery acid is around 35% sulfuric acid, and is relatively safe to handle, the nitric has to be diluted to about 15% before it is as relatively safe to handle.
The electrolyte grade(virgin battery acid) is more than pure enough. It is the most used pH reducer in horticulture including food crops. What you want to avoid is the stuff the sell commonly as drain opener. It is industrial grade, and generally not virgin.
My water has about 180 ppm CaCO3 equivelant and a pH of 7.9. I use sulfuric acid primarily.
this is incorrect. please see the attached Alkcalc results.
Attached to this post are pics of the Alkcalc results for your water, with a comparison of the different acid types and the amounts required calculated and the corresponding nutrient ppm added by the three acid types(phos, sulfuric, nitric).
The JR Peters hydroponic special has more than enough nitrogen in it, so that is why they generally recommend sulfuric acid. As Coir has said it is cheap, easy to obtain, and effective. Battery acid is around 35% sulfuric acid, and is relatively safe to handle, the nitric has to be diluted to about 15% before it is as relatively safe to handle.
The electrolyte grade(virgin battery acid) is more than pure enough. It is the most used pH reducer in horticulture including food crops. What you want to avoid is the stuff the sell commonly as drain opener. It is industrial grade, and generally not virgin.
My water has about 180 ppm CaCO3 equivelant and a pH of 7.9. I use sulfuric acid primarily.
Coir said:One thing to remember is that you will need a lot more of it than Nitric and you will be adding similar amounts of sulfur to your feed just like you were adding phosphorus before which may or may not cause you more issues.
this is incorrect. please see the attached Alkcalc results.