OK so I have been seeing people say that things need to be added in a certain way. Instructions also say which order to add things in. My gut is telling me bullshit. I don't believe that any kind of major chemical reactions are going on that would require things be added in a certain order. It reminds me of one of Hempy's friend who did an old tutorial of him mixing Nutes and he dumped them all into a bucket before adding water. Everybody knows you're not supposed to do that either but he grew monster plants and nothing seemed to go horrible wrong. I personally tend to add things in a certain order just to not forget but I also use the same measuring cup/device without washing it out and tend to throw everything in and mix and use right away and have also never seen any bad effects from it. What is your take on it and has anybody actually seen any real evidence first hand that things went better for them after following "proper" mixing order?
Order to add nutrients - say wha???
- Thread starter DaFreak
- Start date
MrGreenFingers99
Well-Known Member
Just when I use silicon well at least the brand I use, you need to add it to the water first and then make sure the PH is below 7 before adding any other nutes, I did forget to PH down before adding the other nutes and the water went all curdled with bits floating around.
I do hear people saying you should always add calmag first which I've never found necessary myself.
I do hear people saying you should always add calmag first which I've never found necessary myself.
Dreaming1
Well-Known Member
When I first heard about Cal Mag, I always added it last. I didn't have any problems.
But...i can see how in high(er) concentrations, there might be enough free ionic stuff to react with other added stuff before getting diluted enough..? Idk.
This one seems easy enough to follow "the rules" on so I just do it in the order suggested by the manufacturer. I may just be doing a religious type going through the motions thing though.
But...i can see how in high(er) concentrations, there might be enough free ionic stuff to react with other added stuff before getting diluted enough..? Idk.
This one seems easy enough to follow "the rules" on so I just do it in the order suggested by the manufacturer. I may just be doing a religious type going through the motions thing though.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Lol. Add you're own order. See what happens?
cannabineer
Ursus marijanus
I’ve seen growers mix them every which way, and they all work. I add my silica last and haven’t had an issue.
The only real problems I’ve seen is when folks premix concentrates. Calcium and iron phosphates are dead rock.
The only real problems I’ve seen is when folks premix concentrates. Calcium and iron phosphates are dead rock.
I’ve added them in various orders over 20 years and never seen a difference.
Dontjudgeme
Well-Known Member
I don’t understand the whole order thing neither if it’s all gonna end up being together anyway. I do however stir what I put in before I add the next nute, but I don’t do it in particular order for any particular reason. And if I do, it would be out of habit, and not for any other reason.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Gond00s
Well-Known Member
@Airwalker16 im just good at knowing what's going to happen. 
lol I might pitch some dumb shit later just for the lols 
lol I might pitch some dumb shit later just for the lols 
Renfro
Well-Known Member
Wrong order can cause chemical reactions that will precipitate out nutrients. If you add something and suddenly everything gets cloudy then you fucked up. Often you can get away with a wrong order, but this is all it's designed to do is prevent these reactions and precip.
Sometimes you have to break the rules. Generally you always add the SI first before the calmag... When I switched to tap water I added Si, CM, Micro and then when I added the grow I had a lot of precip. I ditched the SI and no issues. I tried adding it last mixed with water first and that fixed the problem.
Sometimes you have to break the rules. Generally you always add the SI first before the calmag... When I switched to tap water I added Si, CM, Micro and then when I added the grow I had a lot of precip. I ditched the SI and no issues. I tried adding it last mixed with water first and that fixed the problem.
Kassiopeija
Well-Known Member
pH downers consist of acid(s) which engage into a chemical reaction with metals (Ca, Mg...). Some of these reaction even make it easier for plants to take up the solved product - e.g. citric acid is a natural chelator of Ca that is actually released by roots.
Other substances also have to be chelated otherwise a plant cant absorb them (Fe, Cu...).
But you dont want acids to work on already chelated ions.
The good news is that the macroelements, and esp. CaO3 in hard water, are quantitatively much more present in your solution (by several orders of magnitude - so most likely the reaction will target the right alcaline molecules.)
Keep in mind since we use different stuff results may vary. If plants are healthy youve done a good job regardless of any violation of the accepted theory...
Other substances also have to be chelated otherwise a plant cant absorb them (Fe, Cu...).
But you dont want acids to work on already chelated ions.
The good news is that the macroelements, and esp. CaO3 in hard water, are quantitatively much more present in your solution (by several orders of magnitude - so most likely the reaction will target the right alcaline molecules.)
Keep in mind since we use different stuff results may vary. If plants are healthy youve done a good job regardless of any violation of the accepted theory...
I know they can precipitate out mixed directly together, but even that amount has to be negligible because I know that guy who does exactly that and still grows monsters. So in my gh series I’m convinced it’s a whole lot about nothing. Order doesn’t mean anything when you’re mixing in gallons of water. Adding bleach and ammonia will have the same result regardless of which order you put them in.
DeepWaterDean
Active Member
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
That video is too funny. They would have you think you need a sterile steel spoon to mix etc. I very much doubt that if I mixed everything in the exact opposite of what they say I would see any difference. And as I said earlier, good friend of hempy used to mix them directly before water and still got awesome results. But I don’t know, maybe it’s the difference between a .7 gpw and .75 gpw grow.
fragileassassin
Well-Known Member
Both are still pretty bad for hydro imo. Pretty easy to get double that.