Question about Nutrients

hydro, 7 gal res, using distilled water

This is a simple question. When I begin to mix my nutes I go in this order.

1. 7 gal Distilled H20
2. Botanicare Cal Mag Plus - up to 150TDS
3. 70ml Hygrozyme - 10ml per gal

I go on to add some other nutes, but those are irrelevant to this question. Anyway, upon adding the hygrozyme, the PH drops like crazy. So there must be a reaction occurring.

Could it be impurities in the distilled water that are causing a reaction with the hygrozyme?

Or is it something in the CalMag?

I know that this is not normal, but have yet to determine why.

Cal-Mag Plus contains EDTA, which weakens cell walls of microbes, eventually undoing most of what that Hygrozyme is designed for. Cal-Mag Plus is great in hydroponics, but the moment you add any organic supplement to the mix (like microbe enhanced root supplements) you are wasting your cash. Organicare (Botanicare's other side) offers a system. Calplex, Huvega, and Humega will work much better than the Cal-Mag Plus for what you're trying to do.

Distilled water has no pH because there are no impurities to displace Hydroxide and H+. The slightest bit of stuff will cause the solution to quickly change pH. I am surprised the Hygrozyme is so acidic but this sounds normal.

Great answer... So if I were to switch to Advanced Nutrients Cal Mag, would that help? Is the problem with the cal mag or the hygrozyme? This is by no means an organic grow. I haven't made that commitment yet.

The problem is with the EDTA, it's a chelating agent in the Cal-Mag Plus (keeps the stuff from bonding). It will break down into a compound that is used as a biocide which even in low concentrations can damage the cell walls of smaller organisms to the point that they rupture.

You have to pick one or the other, both will work (not like it's going to kill your plant) but the Hygrozyme in this situation isn't giving you all that it could. Not like some terrible, OMG I fucked it all up, situation though. Things will work out fine, it's just that very few people know what EDTA is or how it reacts in your system. Cal-Mag Plus is a great product, don't get me wrong, but there is a time and a place for every nutrient.

I'm not sure about that AN Cal-Mag. I like the Organicare line and the Humboldt Nutrients line. I don't like buying my Calcium with Magnesium mixed in because that locks me into a specific 3:1 ratio for the whole grow. There comes a time in Flowering when Magnesium is in EXTREMELY high demand. Having your stuff separate allows you to dial in the nutrients just right. It's a little more expensive up front, but the stuff lasts longer when you have 2+ liters.