DIY PH Down from Sulfuric Acid. (Battery Acid)
- Thread starter Carthoris
- Start date
Dirty Harry
Well-Known Member
It worked!!!! LOL I mixed up a batch and tried it tonight, it took one capful too lower PH from 7.5 to 7.0 and another to lower it to 6.5. the stuff I used from store would have taken 300ml. Thanks for the tutorial. greatly appreciated Carthoris. I would like to report just one accident though, I cut my finger on the knife used to cut the nipple off the acid container.
The blood just adds a little extra to the mix Be sure to not squeeze the bottle when cutting off the nipple or you could get squirted. I loosen the cap before cutting to release any possible pressure and tighten after the cut.
applepoop1984
Well-Known Member
one advantage of acetic acid is that it dissolves insoluble calcium salts and if water is abundant they will leach away. So sulfur and iron sulfate amendments and occasional vinegar treatment may work for most situations. using sulfuric acid on your grow is blarney. you are not a chemist the two threads about this clearly support that hypothesis. measure 2 cups dumb dumb to 3 cups snark snark. yeah good luck with that. its all fun and games until someone loses an eye.
You aren't a chemist either, and most likely not even a high school graduate. You should stop arguing things you don't understand. I wear glasses when I mix mine. Have you ever got vinegar in your eyes? I got bleach in my eyes once and I didn't like it. Luckily, I was a foot away from an eyewash station.
waterdawg
Well-Known Member
LOL I had the cap off and in my hand. But still very happy with results so farThe blood just adds a little extra to the mixBe sure to not squeeze the bottle when cutting off the nipple or you could get squirted. I loosen the cap before cutting to release any possible pressure and tighten after the cut
I thought about that also but had not read of anyone using it, sulphuric acid on the other hand is used alot. As far as price, the battery acid was $8 for a litre, and the distilled water was $1, so for $9 I will have enough for quite some time. But battery acid is not that easy to get in my part of the country, trust me, lol. Oh and BTW dont be sowing your indian hemp seed near my purple sticky bud if you please lol!
No, not a chemist. If I was I could probably pay someone to grow this stuff and not come here for the nice, helpful, usaually friendy advice, and conversation. I really havent heard a reason not to use it other than it will do what any other PH down product will do if not handled with care, yes I know I fucked up and cut my finger! But I gotta ask why so rude and insulting to voice an opinion, bad day at the office? I've had those lol.
hotrodharley
Well-Known Member
It will work. It's used in pools.
cannabineer
Ursus marijanus
Bread is indeed made out of flour. Corned beef is made with boiling water but not of it. To make phosphoric acid, calcium phosphate is treated with a molar equivalent of sulfuric in water. Calcium sulfate precipitates, and the supernatant is dilute phosphoric acid. The technical product will contain trace sulfuric, but only trace. cn
It is ApplePoop:/Oh, and my god!!! Look at those paws!!! I wonder if he's available to dig some trenches for some water lines to the shed? lol. And that nose tip looks vaguely familiar....
applepoop1984
Well-Known Member
organicapple cider vinegar will benefit your grow 10 fold the results youd get from sulfuric acid. not only does the aerobic bacteria in the vinegar break down nutrients to be made readily available to the roots, it fights of anaerobic bacteria creating a highly oxygenated environment that your plants will thrive in. The following USDA website indicates that cider vinegar contains some essential mineral nutrients, including significant amounts of potassium (730 mg/liter), phosphorus (80 mg/liter), calcium (70 mg/liter) and magnesium (50 mg/liter).
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/
it contains calcium phosphorus magnesium copper zinc manganese and selenium.
if this isnt reason enough to switch over from diluted acid i dont know what to tell you. the benefits outweigh the extra 5$ your going to spend on it.
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/
it contains calcium phosphorus magnesium copper zinc manganese and selenium.
if this isnt reason enough to switch over from diluted acid i dont know what to tell you. the benefits outweigh the extra 5$ your going to spend on it.
waterdawg
Well-Known Member
I do appreciate all of the research you've done apple but I run a sterile res. and putting apple cider in it would not be beneficial IMO. I did find some stronger Phosphuric acid (85%) and will probably get a bottle to try as well. I think the purpose of a sterile res is keeping bacteria out not adding. Again I am real new at this and still learning so if wrong I appologize. And money was not an issue, I just wanted something that worked and I believe the sulphuric acid does work well in a non organic system. The plants seem to be doing much better BTW and the PH is 5.7-5.8 with out the need to add 400-500 ml of the crap I had. I have diluted it to about 3 to 1 and add 50 ml. Again thanks for all your interest and hope your having a great holiday!!!
applepoop1984
Well-Known Member
i appreciate your civility . i under stand your concern for a sterile res how ever i do believe acv will benefit your res and your plants. i ran into a guy who wanted to use guano in his res and i just shook my head so i feel you. however acv will add bacteria that will aid in keeping your res oxygenated and kill anaerobic bacteria that cause mold and fungus and root rot. it is actually sprayed on mold and fungus to kill it by amish farmers. its also cheaper sulfuric acid and since im assuming your using a fert in your res with potassium nitrate i would recommend not using sulfuric acid as it has a potential to react violently when the two are mixed. the phosphurus acid you mentioned is a much safer alternative even at the high concentration you listed but if your feeling adventurous acv would greatly benefit your grow, if nto for your main op maybe a side project with a dwc setup. good luck happy festivus
applepoop1984
Well-Known Member
reacting sulfuric acid with potassium nitrate can be used to produce nitric acid ,
nitric acid reacts violently with many organic materials and the reactions may be explosive.
potassium nitrate just happens to be a main ingredient in many hydroponic grows, makes sense now why most ph downs are made from phosphoric acid. once again organic apple cider vinegar comes out the winner as the superior ph down. just a foot note citric acid is acceptable as well it is used in general hydroponics 2 pound bucket of ph down along with phosphoric acid. im still surprised people are buying battery electrolyte for there grow when 2.24 lbs of ph down is 6$ lol. so you spend 7 $ on sulfuric acid and get sic[300 gallons from one cup]
in conclusion sulfuric acid is a terrible way to ph down, not only can it cause blindness, burns and dehydration , it also negatively impacts organic matter even diluted and for this reason is not used in commercial ph downs. it causes violent reactions when exposed to potassium nitrate which happens to be a main ingredient in most if not all hydroponic fertilizers. it lacks the trace nutrients and minerals that acv contains.it doesnt kill of anaerobic bacteria. it doesnt add aerobic bacteria to help make nutrients available to the plants readily. it doesnt create a highly oxygenated environment in which your plants can thrive in. there are absolutely no benefits to using sulfuric acid over acv. balls in your court mr. chemist
nitric acid reacts violently with many organic materials and the reactions may be explosive.
potassium nitrate just happens to be a main ingredient in many hydroponic grows, makes sense now why most ph downs are made from phosphoric acid. once again organic apple cider vinegar comes out the winner as the superior ph down. just a foot note citric acid is acceptable as well it is used in general hydroponics 2 pound bucket of ph down along with phosphoric acid. im still surprised people are buying battery electrolyte for there grow when 2.24 lbs of ph down is 6$ lol. so you spend 7 $ on sulfuric acid and get sic[300 gallons from one cup]
in conclusion sulfuric acid is a terrible way to ph down, not only can it cause blindness, burns and dehydration , it also negatively impacts organic matter even diluted and for this reason is not used in commercial ph downs. it causes violent reactions when exposed to potassium nitrate which happens to be a main ingredient in most if not all hydroponic fertilizers. it lacks the trace nutrients and minerals that acv contains.it doesnt kill of anaerobic bacteria. it doesnt add aerobic bacteria to help make nutrients available to the plants readily. it doesnt create a highly oxygenated environment in which your plants can thrive in. there are absolutely no benefits to using sulfuric acid over acv. balls in your court mr. chemist
First, It is used commercially as a PH down, it is also sold as a fish PH down. If it really did all those horrible things, then the fish would die. This negates your premise.
Second,
MSDS for Acetic Acid:
Potential Health Effects
Primary Route(s) of Entry: Inhalation and ingestion. Skin contact. Skin absorption.
Effects of Acute Exposure: May be fatal by ingestion, inhalation or skin absorption. Corrosive.
LD50/LC50: CAS# 64-19-7: Inhalation, mouse: LC50 = 5620 ppm/1H. Oral, rat: LD50 = 3310 mg/kg. Skin,
rabbit: LD50 = 1060 mg/kg.
Eyes: Concentrated solutions are corrosive and can cause permanent eye damage, including blindness.
Skin: The degree of irritation depends on the concentration of acetic acid and the length of
exposure. Highly concentrated solutions or pure acetic acid can cause corrosive tissue injury with
deep burns, tissue death and permanent scarring. Less concentrated solutions can cause mild to
severe
irritation.
Ingestion: Causes severe corrosive injury to the gastrointestinal tract and stomach. Acetic acid
may be aspirated (inhaled into the lungs) during ingestion or vomiting. Aspiration of even a small
amount of liquid could result in a life-threatening accumulation of fluid in the lungs. Severe lung
damage (edema), respiratory failure, cardiac arrest and death may result. Ingestion is not a
typical route of occupational exposure.
Inhalation: Accidental inhalation of high concentrations may cause corrosive injury to the
respiratory tract, inflammation, nose and throat irritation,
shortness of breath, cough, wheezing, and reversible lung injury in people exposed occupationally.
Effects may be delayed.
Effects of Chronic Exposure: Repeated inhalation may cause pulmonary edema, bronchopneumonia, or
chemical pneumonitis. Prolonged or repeated exposure may cause dermatitis, erosion of teeth,
conjunctivitis and cumulative systemic injury. To the best of our knowledge, the chronic toxicity
of this substance has not been fully investigated.
Third, having used both of them, vinegar sucks. Vinegar doesn't come close to sulfuric acid. I would use vinegar or lemon juice if I was in a bind, but it adds things to the res that shouldn't be there. If you are trying to go all organic, OK. If you are talking which works best then comparing sulfuric acid to vinegar is like comparing a RC car to a Porsche. They just aren't in the same league.
cannabineer
Ursus marijanus
Just one if it's been in the onion patch. cn