Emitters getting clogged???

MidnightSun72

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
What's a good way to clean these things out? Soak in CLR? Do they all come apart for cleaning? Are 1/gph less likely to clog than 1/2 gph?

Do you run any products like drip clean? Any cheap common household ingredient work? Someone help me out.
 
MidnightSun72 said:
What's a good way to clean these things out? Soak in CLR? Do they all come apart for cleaning? Are 1/gph less likely to clog than 1/2 gph?

Do you run any products like drip clean? Any cheap common household ingredient work? Someone help me out.
Click to expand...

Drip clean is phosphoric acid and potassium oxide. Pekacid is the same thing but much cheaper and in crystalline form. I got some when I started using Blumats because I heard they can clog. I never had that issue with clogging so I never used it. I suppose I can use it as pH down.

Drip clean has the same ratio but the PeKacid is much stronger because it hasn't been diluted with water and put in a bottle.

Drip Clean 0-0.18-0.6

PeKacid 0-60-20

"Features
This fully-soluble and highly acidic (pH=2.2) fertilizer is formulated for injection and fertigation applications. With “acid in the bag” PeKacid will clean lines and neutralize high bicarbonate content irrigation waters. It may be used for soil-less media as well as open-field horticultural fertigation applications. PeKacid is easier, safer and more effective than using the conventional application of phosphoric acid."

PeKacid - Master Plant-Prod Inc.

0-60-20
www.plantprod.com www.plantprod.com

"Anti clogging action Enhances nutrient uptake Provides acidity to neutralize and dissolve bicarbonates, avoiding clogging of pipes and drippers."



pekacid.jpg
 
Also you can soak things in white vinegar to remove the buildup. Vinegar works better than CLR. In fact I've never found CLR to do much of anything. Used almost a whole bottle of CLR on a clear shower door that had buildup on it. Didn't do anything. Took some white vinegar and all the buildup came off and left the shower door crystal clear.
 
xtsho said:
Drip clean is phosphoric acid and potassium oxide. Pekacid is the same thing but much cheaper and in crystalline form. I got some when I started using Blumats because I heard they can clog. I never had that issue with clogging so I never used it. I suppose I can use it as pH down.

Drip clean has the same ratio but the PeKacid is much stronger because it hasn't been diluted with water and put in a bottle.

Drip Clean 0-0.18-0.6

PeKacid 0-60-20

"Features
This fully-soluble and highly acidic (pH=2.2) fertilizer is formulated for injection and fertigation applications. With “acid in the bag” PeKacid will clean lines and neutralize high bicarbonate content irrigation waters. It may be used for soil-less media as well as open-field horticultural fertigation applications. PeKacid is easier, safer and more effective than using the conventional application of phosphoric acid."

PeKacid - Master Plant-Prod Inc.

0-60-20
www.plantprod.com www.plantprod.com

"Anti clogging action Enhances nutrient uptake Provides acidity to neutralize and dissolve bicarbonates, avoiding clogging of pipes and drippers."



pekacid.jpg
Click to expand...
Can I use the pek acid while my plants are during cycle? Or better remove all the emitters and cycle through into a bucket?
 
MidnightSun72 said:
Can I use the pek acid while my plants are during cycle? Or better remove all the emitters and cycle through into a bucket?
Click to expand...

It's used to keep lines clean during the growing cycle. It's extremely strong so a little goes a long way.

You can use it as pH down. I have always used phosphoric acid but PeKacid is just crystalized phosphoric acid potassium oxide. Keep in mind that the pH is around 2.2 so it probably isn't something to use unless you have a good understanding of mixing nutrient solutions.
 
I also want to put out there that using PeKacid should be left to more advanced growers that have an understanding of what they're using and why. Have done enough research to know how to use it. And are familiar with what they're using in their nutrient solutions. If you're already using a pH down product then you would replace that with the PeKacid which will lower the pH.

It's probably best for most to just not use it as it will cause serious problems when used incorrectly or in the wrong amount. I don't want some new grower to see this post and run out to get some PeKacid and fry their plants.
 
xtsho said:
It's used to keep lines clean during the growing cycle. It's extremely strong so a little goes a long way.

You can use it as pH down. I have always used phosphoric acid but PeKacid is just crystalized phosphoric acid potassium oxide. Keep in mind that the pH is around 2.2 so it probably isn't something to use unless you have a good understanding of mixing nutrient solutions.
Click to expand...
I use floraflex b1 and b2. Do I add before or after? I use 75% phosphoric acid as ph down right now.
 
MidnightSun72 said:
I use floraflex b1 and b2. Do I add before or after? I use 75% phosphoric acid as ph down right now.
Click to expand...

I don't know anything about FloraFlex. Does it require using a pH down product to lower the pH after mixing? If so then you would replace the pH down with the PeKacid after mixing the nutrient solution. If you're already using phosphoric acid for lowering the pH then you are already using the main ingredient in PeKacid.
 
MisterKister said:
You could also try using cleaner nutrients
Click to expand...

That's a big one right there. Some nutrients are going to leave a buildup no matter what you do. That's why I only run clean highly water soluble salts when running any grow that uses a reservoir or lines. Anything with any organics is going to have issues with buildup potentially clogging lines and drippers/emitters, etc... And some well known nutes that have no organics can cause problems as well. That sludgy GH Micro was one that I had to stop using years ago. Same thing with the one time I did a run with botanicare. Made a mess of everything.
 
rkymtnman said:
H&G drip clean wouldn't be a bad option either to help the keep clean.
Click to expand...

PeKacid is the same thing. Phosphoric acid and potassium oxide. It's just in a much more concentrated form and significantly less expensive. You can pay $20 a bottle for Drip Clean or $15 for a pound of PeKacid and make gallons and gallons of the same thing.

Drip Clean label

dripclean.jpg
 
xtsho said:
PeKacid is the same thing. Phosphoric acid and potassium oxide. It's just in a much more concentrated form and significantly less expensive. You can pay $20 a bottle for Drip Clean or $15 for a pound of PeKacid and make gallons and gallons of the same thing.

Drip Clean label

dripclean.jpg
Click to expand...
good call. once the nute companies get their hands on something, it goes up in price 110%. lol.
 
rkymtnman said:
good call. once the nute companies get their hands on something, it goes up in price 110%. lol.
Click to expand...

Sometimes much more than that. Another one is silica products derived from potassium silicate. You can buy a pound of Agsil 16H for the price of a couple of beers and make a 50 gallon drum full of solution or you can pay $20 for the same stuff mixed with water and put in a liter bottle.

I always read the labels and am not going to be paying for an easily obtained and inexpensive product when I can just skip the middleman and add water myself. Unless it's an organic product all these chemical salts come from the same factories. Cannabis nutrient companies just buy them in bulk, add water, and put them in a bottle. It's not rocket science.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

TCH
Drip irrigation with coco questions
2 3
Replies
46
Views
6K
Sk-one
Sk-one
jdog127
Lets see if I still got it.
Replies
2
Views
395
tuksu6000
tuksu6000
S
Easiest way to clone and hit 100% survival
Replies
7
Views
596
VaSmile
V
M
HVAC help Ducts popping during and slightly after furnace start up
Replies
18
Views
1K
kahoona
kahoona
RuggedWombat
Zyme- when to use in soilless mixes?
Replies
0
Views
317
RuggedWombat
RuggedWombat
Back
Top