I've gotten feedback from this and other sites that bubbler systems should ideally be run in the 300 PPM range for early - mid vegetative, with a max in the 600 PPM level at late veg and bloom. However, if you follow directions on Botanicare's nutrients and supplements for hydrogardens, it would put you well over 1000 PPMs, even in early vegetative stages. For example, in a 5 gallon bucket, if you put 1/5 strength in 5 gallons of water (recommendations for 1 gallon of R/O water) it immediately gets you into the 250 ppm range, 2 gallons worth gets you to 500 range, and so on. I've experienced toxicity even at half strength of recommendations.

My question is, how can the manufacturers be so off on their recommended amounts? And what's really crazy is that they even have recommendations for "Agressive" veg and bloom, which kick the nutes up even higher!!!

It probably has something to do with the more nutes you use the more nutes you buy. Listen to your plants about how much nutes to use - that is your best bet. If they can take it, bump them up. if they don't like it - back it off.

Also most nutes are really supposed to be used in veggie gardens etc. Weed needs about half the nutes tomatoes need so the dosage usually applies to tomatoes not weed so they aren't off, they aren't giving you PPM numbers for cannabis

I have NEVER had toxicity from Botanicare NEVER. I also don't understand what you mean when you say 1/5 of the recommended into 5 gallons and then add another gallon to it, I'm confused by that. I think you mean that if a gallon calls for say 5ml then 5 gallons would be 25ml, 1/5 of that is 5ml, no way 5 ml in 5 gallons of water is going to create toxicity. Which products do you use by them? Anyway I go half strength with the Pro Blend and my PPM is fine.

my ppm in my res start artoun 800 and can get up to 1600 ppm with fox farm nutes

Sorry if that caused confusion, I thought it might. But your assumption is exactly what I meant. Check out my thread on the exact experience I've had with Botanicare nutes: Need Help/Advice for DWC (w/pics)

Also, I know that their recommendations are broad and not exactly meant for Cannabis, but there no fooling who and what these companies primarily manufacture for. With a name like "Liquid Karma" it leaves little doubt the audience they're targeting.

Gygax, assuming you use the bubbler method, what types and ranges of Botanicare supplements do you use? I've been using Pro Grow (and Bloom), CalMag, Liquid Karma, Hydroguard, and Sweet.

I used the same exact stuff plus some Vegan Compost Tea and I am not that high PPM wise when I dose them at 1/2 strength and my plants do great. Do you know what the PPM of your water is? Not that it matters cause you said your plants weren't doing too good I'm just curious....

I start with R/O water that reads 000 - 003 PPM. They are looking better now since I did the Clearex flush yesterday and ran for 7 or 8 hours with pure R/O water. Nutes got to 250 ppms at the 1/5 strength I was talking about earlier. However, I added another 1 tbsp. of Pro Gro to each and both are in the 350ish range now.