.....recently got a killer deal on 275g chitosan. Love the vinegar nose it has lol. My partner had the good (relative) idea to use more chitosan instead of pH down in our feeds. Seemed fine until he kept upping the amount. Seemed fine...
There is effects that look like too acidic, even though we pH to 6.4. Phosphorus, calcium and potassium lock up? Even though they get cal mag and Kelp/KOH. And top dressed with 4 20 0 fish bone. The first time at large volume used, I noticed a lot of precipitated solids at the bottom of the tank. Kelp, fulvic?
The second time we pHd a little lower to 6.2 and the feed was crystal clear! Not kelpy brown! Thought I had a stoner moment and hooked up to spigot. I stirred it up resumed feed and it looked like a slurry of coagulated solids like spoiled milk. Rechecked pH was still 6.2 so just rocked it. Plants looked excellent the next night so no damage to them.
Research says chitosan is used to clear turbid water and pull heavy metals out of solution. Testament to the clearing of water. But Im not sure where the heavy metal line is versus plant nutrients. Iron likely pulled out? Something pulled out of solution? Maybe I dont know.
Im now just watering it in by itself not mixing with nutes. And will likely try the fungal derived chitosan as research says it provides a stronger antifungal response in plants.