REASON FOR ‘2-PART' ‘A’ AND ‘B’ MIX.

To In order to combine all the elements commonly needed for plant growth into a concentrated form, the salts need to be mixed into 2 separate solutions. The reason for this is that, while in dilute solution all ions become soluble, in concentrated solution certain ions react together to form insoluble salts. If an ion is in an insoluble salt, it is no longer available for plant growth. Once ‘precipitated’ it can only very slowly dissolve back into solution when diluted again. Precipitation is simply the result of two ions combining in solution to form a salt which is insoluble, eg when calcium nitrate and magnesium sulfate are added to water in strong solutions the salts dissociate producing magnesium nitrate along with calcium and sulfate ions which then combine to form calcium sulfate or gypsum which ‘precipitates’. This occurs because compounds such as calcium sulfate have very low ‘saturation’ values and can not exist as concentrated solutions.

Generally it is necessary to keep the calcium separate from the sulfate and phosphate salts. Therefore the calcium nitrate and calcium chloride is kept separate from the magnesium sulfate, potassium sulfate, sulfates of trace elements, and monopotassium phosphate, all other salts can be mixed in either A or B. There are certain brands of nutrient which seem to combine all elements into a single mix, but the manufacture of these
products is beyond the reach of most growers.

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Ba da, ba da, Boom! It is as simple as that. Ba da, ba da, Boom!

actually, it appears Flora Nova isn't really that concentrated. The directions on the label, say for a 1300 ppm solution, mix 3 tsp per gallon (thats 15ml per gallon).

However, normal GH, non concentrated mix, Flora series, is 0-8-16 sso, 16 + 8 ml = 24ml per gallon.

So Nova Bloom is only 60% stronger than regular Flora series, which I guess may be better since it costs about 25% more than Flora series, and you pay less shipping if you order it delivered also.

Lets compare MaxiBloom now to Flora Nova Bloom
FNB is 3784 ml / gallon, calling 1 gallon a serving, thats 252 servings per gallon
MB is 6 g / gallon, 75 servings per pound

lets compare cost now,
FNB is $192 for 2.5 gal = $76.8 / gal
MB $90 for 16 lbs = $5.62 / lb

now, the ratio for strength in gal/lb is 252 / 75 = 3.36 gal / lb so, FNB is 3.36 stronger
ratio of cost is 76.8 / 5.62 = 13.6 gal / lb so, FNB is 13.6 more expensive


so, on a cost per bang basis, FNB is 13.6 / 3.36 = 4 times more expensive

This doesn't factor in shipping costs, FNB is 30 lbs, MB is 16 lbs. So MB costs roughly half of the shipping cost of FNB.


Overall, MaxiBloom (MB) looks like the costs winner by huge margins.




also, can anyone help me to get a good approximation of Lucas formula from using MaxiBloom/MaxiGrow?
MaxiBloom is 5-15-14
MaxiGrow is 10-5-14

Lucas is 5-10-9

so, lets say we use 2/3's strength of MaxiBloom
(2/3) * (5-15-14)= 3.333-10-9.333 (this looks similar to Lucas, only low on Nitrogen)

so, then lets say we add 1.666 nitrogen, we get 5-10-9.333 , which is damn close to Lucas. So, if I simply add Nitrogen, I can get Lucas from MaxiBloom?




Also, @ Fatman. I know you mix entirely your own nutrients and don't buy a thing premixed. I have to ask, how are your yields? Are they competitive with people who do use top name brand nutrients?

Perhaps this will help you. First remember Microbloom is a 1:1 ratio of 1:1 micro and bloom. Microgrow is a 1:1 ratio of micro and grow formula. Lucas is a 1:2, ratio micro and bloom.

MICRO BLOOM GROW HWMICR
NO3 Nitrate 4.7% 0.00 1.75% 3.7%
NH4 Ammoniacal 0.3% 0.00 0.25% 0.3%
NH2 Urea 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.0%
Total N 5% 0.00 2% 5%
P (as P2O5) 0.00 5% 1% 0.00
K (as K2O) 1% 4% 6% 1%
Mg 0.00 1.5% 0.5% 0.00S 0.00 1% 0.00 0.00
Ca 5% 0.00 0.00 1%
Basically to turn Microbloom into Lucas formula you would need to add mono potassium phosphate and Magnesium sulfate. 78 ounces of monopotassium phosphate and 51 ounces of magnesium sulfate added to the retail GH Microbloom will supply you with The Lucas formula. Mono pottasium sulfate is expensive though so your talking $35 combined it and the Magnesium sulfate at Crop King. http://www.cropking.com/HydroponicSu...a71f92a1ecc04f Mono pottassium Phosphate is the most expensive fertilizer used in all the quality nutrient formulas

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just to clarify, which is 1:1, and which is Lucas?

I had this one in my records, but not sure which formula it is?

It is a 1:1 ratio of GH Micro and Bloom. It is what GH is now selling as Microbloom in a dry formula. It is a 5 gallon x100 concentrate formula.

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Ba da, ba da, Boom! It is as simple as that. Ba da, ba da, Boom!

So AK, at what point will you post the grow part? Are you going to do similar to what BC does and make a microgrow to go with the lucas two part that you gave the recipe for?

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Lucas Formula - Hydroponic Grow Journal

MicroGrow powder:

Part A:

<The below numbers denote ounces>

Calcium Nitrtae 114.5
Pottasium Nitrate 24.6
Iron Chelate 3.38

Part B:
Mono Pottasium Phosphate 15.8
Pottasium Nitrate 24.6
Magnesium Sulfate 50.6

Trace Nutrients Part B:
Manganese Sulfate 0.672
Boric Acid 0.147
Zinc Sulfate 0.437
Copper Sulfate 0.147
Ammonium Molybdate 0.0054

That is approximattely 14.68 pounds of fertilizers. It will make two 2.5 gallon batches of concentrate mixed 0.5 gallon of each part to 100 gallons of water or a total of 500 gallons. (14.68 pounds equals 234.88 ounces) (234.68/500) = 0.469 ounces of mixed powder to each gallon.

It would be better though to keep the trace nutrients seperate as it would be a PITA to have to mix the powdered fertilizer constantly to make sure they remained evenly mixed. Just put them in a two liter bottle and fill with water. The other posts gives the dosages per gallon. The powders for Part A and Part B can just be mixed together as long as they remain dry. Thy can not be made into 5 gallons of concentrate after they are n mixed as many precipitates woy uld form to the point of the bottom of each jug being covered with powder.

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Ba da, ba da, Boom! It is as simple as that. Ba da, ba da, Boom!

Final question on using your formulas. Just so I have it correct: Each 5 gallons makes 500 gallons (250 gallons of A & 250 gallons of B) concentrated to what we pay out the ass for in Hydro shops? So if we use a pint of each A and B, we would mix them each with 12.5 gallons (100 pints) of RO or Distilled water to make 25 total gallons of diluted concentrate like that we buy in the stores?

Oh, and eternal thanks for posting these formulas!

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Lucas Formula - Hydroponic Grow Journal

There are a few formulas floating around now, and just wanted to clarify since it seems there is some confusion. Also, Fatman can you recommend any software for getting nutrient ratios that you come up with?


1:1 Bloom:Micro
5-5-5


Lucas
5-10-9

MicroGrow?
There seems to be a bit of confusion, since GH doesn't have "MicroBloom" or "MicroGrow" products. Their 2 dry products are
MaxiGrow 10-5-15
MaxiBloom 5-15-14

Thanks for the clarification 1 part GH Micro and 1 part GH Bloom combined is called Maxibloom not Microbloom by GH, and as well 1 Part GH Micro and 1 Part GH Grow is called Maxigrow not Microgrow by GH. However, by calling them Microgrow and Microbloom GH really has no grounds for complaint have they now. No since in having them complain about a name copyright violation now is there. As is if you look back at what I have written there is no grounds g for GH to lodge a legal compliant as to what I have posted as I have not expressly said anything or psosted anything that gives them grounds. I could just get more specific with and then just say closely resembles such and such.

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Ba da, ba da, Boom! It is as simple as that. Ba da, ba da, Boom!