FLORA SERIES 3 part hard water
- Thread starter CikaBika
- Start date
Renfro
Well-Known Member
You don't need calmag when you have hard water (calcium). If the calcium / magnesium ratio in the tap water is off then you will have lockout. A RO filter is always best, then use cal mag and know the ratio is correct.
I used the hardwater micro a long time ago before I went to RO filtered h2o. It worked ok, but it will vary depending on the tap water.
Armor Si is a good additive, add to mix first.
I used the hardwater micro a long time ago before I went to RO filtered h2o. It worked ok, but it will vary depending on the tap water.
Armor Si is a good additive, add to mix first.
Renfro
Well-Known Member
Could very well be. Whats the PPM on your tap water?
CikaBika
Well-Known Member
ec is 0.8 ppm 400
Renfro
Well-Known Member
With that much overhead in your tap water it's very likely that excess calcium is locking out magnesium. Potassium and Calcium can do this, it is unlikely that you have much potassium in the tap water but Calcium is generally what makes water "hard".
If you don't get good results using the hardwater micro you will probably need a water filter of some nature.
Good luck and happy growing!
HellValley
Active Member
Are you using well or city water? If city water or a municipal water source you should be able to gain access to a ppm breakdown of what is in your water, public information will be free. If well water most health departments and water softener companies can test water and give you a ppms breakdown, this usually runs $50 to $75. Would be able to help you decide best route for watering or if ro system is needed
CikaBika
Well-Known Member
I'm using tap water, I let her sit in bubble aired bucket at least 24hrs..I give up on GHE and decided to stick with AN.. I muat go and take my water sample to my water company to get whats inside.. I decided for this grow to mix my tap water with destiled water.. 50:50 st least on feeding days.. I ussualy do autos in pre fert soil so I'm good first 30days,only watter..I also bought sensyzym and some mcrrorhoze and trying to figure it out how to apply it..
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MichiganMedGrower
Well-Known Member
i have read frequently that .3 or 150 ppm water is ideal. I would likely mix your water half and half with ro water before using. And i would still water to excess runoff to help wash away calcium buildup. That is the biggest reason for blocked roots.
It is good to know what is in the water. Even a 20 dollar test kit from home depot can help.
What is the PPM of your tap. I use GH 3 part and my PPM is roughly 250. I still add CaliMagic, GH's Ca/Mg additive at 5 ml/gallon.
Every two weeks I flush heavily with just my tap water to avoid excess nutrient salt build up, works great for me.
MichiganMedGrower
Well-Known Member
Why with that high alkalinity in your water?
I never add cal mag without problems and my well water is only .3 or 150 ppm.
And mine is mag deficient and iron heavy. But plenty of mag in soil and nutes.
According to greenhouse guides i have read your water is max ppm for safe gardening. After 250 ppm mixing down or acidifying is recomended.
MichiganMedGrower
Well-Known Member
I normally feed a light to medium dose of nutes from about week 2-3 to close to the end. When i see leaf stress or damage and know it is from buildup i simply give fresh unadjusted well water at the same volume as normal. A gallon to the 3 gallon pot. It gives me about 20 -25% runoff to continually clear out the roots.
Unless i accidentally overfeed i never run more than a gallon or two through to see clearish runoff.
And i measure ppm in and out and record it to see trends over time. Another way to see the build up happening.
I don't usually mess with ph. Just check new soil mix. But if i have problems i check that too
CikaBika
Well-Known Member
My dumb ass stopped watering until 20% runoff and I have fed them every time last grow...Boy Did my problems sky rockeyed Very fast!! Since I started growing under led I always add csl mag, to avoid problems,why is that a must with my hard tap water I dont know, but I always had cal mag def if I didnt do It. @curious2garden i wrote it.. 400ppm, ec 0.8
You grow in soil right? I'm in 50/50 coco/perlite so pH makes a huge difference as I really don't have much of a micro herd. We all develop different habits that work well for us. Pot is very adaptable to growing conditions. Do what is easiest and gets you to the end
I'm smoking through a new table. I miss stuff here and there
Thanks for repeating.
MichiganMedGrower
Well-Known Member
You grow in soil right? I'm in 50/50 coco/perlite so pH makes a huge difference as I really don't have much of a micro herd. We all develop different habits that work well for us. Pot is very adaptable to growing conditions. Do what is easiest and gets you to the end
Coco. Got ya. Didnt think about coco needing extra cal mag. Sorry. I wrote too soon.
I follow the same things for pro mix but never tried coco.
HellValley
Active Member
I use the gh flora series. I have hard water as well, it's actually well water. Out of faucet in runs 300 to 350 ppms, with a ph value of 6.8. I do not use the hard water gh series. I add cal mag usually 5 to 6 ml every watering. I do not water to run off, I water when pots are light and about 1/2 gal each pot. I am using 5 gal smart pots. I feed a very heavy ppms, most waterings the ppms run 1600 to 1800. I ph the water down to 6.1. I run a pro mix/perlite mix. Light is a 600 watt hps. 
above are a few pictures from current grow, to give you an idea.
above are a few pictures from current grow, to give you an idea.