Lucas "Formula" Ratio ???

[cocktail frank]

If you are under floros or anything under 400 watts use a 5/10 ratio. That is 5 mills per gallon of Micro / 10 of Bloom.
If you are under 600 watts and above.......use a 8/16 ratio. That is 8 mills per gallon of Micro and 16 of Bloom.

what if you use a 400w?
what categorie would that fall under?

 

[FreezerBoy]

what if you use a 400w?
what categorie would that fall under?

Ask your plants. They know.

 

[Pirate]

what if you use a 400w?
what categorie would that fall under?

Let me clarify. My mistake:

If you are under anything 400 watts OR BELOW use a 5/10 ratio. That is 5 mills per gallon of Micro / 10 of Bloom.
If you are under 600 watts and above.......use a 8/16 ratio. That is 8 mills per gallon of Micro and 16 of Bloom.

 

[mojogreenhand]

6:9 in coco, 600w HPS, ebb&flow, 5.3-5.7 ph, 880 tds =

Seems to be working. 4 days into 12/12.

 

[Pirate]

6:9 in coco, 600w HPS, ebb&flow, 5.3-5.7 ph, 880 tds =

Seems to be working. 4 days into 12/12.

Looks really good. But...........When a MAG def shows......and it will.....raise your PH to 6.0. At 5.3 to 5.7 Magnesium becomes unavailable.

 

[FreezerBoy]

I shoot for a swing between 5.5 and 6.0. As Pirate notes, no one reading provides all nutes.

 

[turbolaser4528]

so 5:10 for a 400 watt hps? Or 8:16? In dwc this seems to be too strong for my plants so I should just add less nutes with the same ratio correct?

 

[Pirate]

Here are my TARGET PPMs for each stage of growth: Just make your own targets. This is just what works for me.

Ratios never change (5/10 or 8/16)

400 watts and below = 5/10....OVER 400 watts = 8/16
Seedlings - 250 to 500 ppms (at a 5/10 ratio)
Mothers = 1000 PPMs (at a 8/16 ratio)
Rooted Clones = 600 to 800 PPMs (at a 5/10 ratio)
Bloom = 1350 PPMs (at a 8/16 ratio)

 

[FreezerBoy]

400 watts and below = 5/10....OVER 400 watts = 8/16
Seedlings - 250 to 500 ppms (at a 5/10 ratio)
Mothers = 1000 PPMs (at a 8/16 ratio)
Rooted Clones = 600 to 800 PPMs (at a 5/10 ratio)
Bloom = 1350 PPMs (at a 8/16 ratio)

Color me confused.

1 tsp Micro + 2 tsp Bloom + 1 gal water = X ppm whether used for seedlings or clones. The solution isn't sentient.

...?

 

[turbolaser4528]

Ok last question, for the 5:10 formula which i will use because i have a 400 watt hps, everything is the same except i multiply by 5 instead of 8 correct? what would the ppm be with this ratio? You said 8:16 will give 1350 ppm, what is a good ppm for the 5:10 ratio in dwc?

ALSO ONE LAST THING, do you multiply by the actual amount of water in your res or the entire res size. for example i have a 31 gallon res that has maybe 24-25 gallons of water in it, do i multiply by 31 or 25?

I used this formula shooting for 1000 ppm and ended at about 650, im guessing because I didn't multiply by 31 and instead multiplied by like 22?

sorry, im a newb at this, ph ended up at 6.1 which is awesome, just need a little guidance

 

[FreezerBoy]

No one can say what your ppm will be unless they're in the same neighborhood or you're both using RO. The formula is per gallon of water regardless of bucket size.

 

[Pirate]

Ok last question, for the 5:10 formula which i will use because i have a 400 watt hps, everything is the same except i multiply by 5 instead of 8 correct? what would the ppm be with this ratio? You said 8:16 will give 1350 ppm, what is a good ppm for the 5:10 ratio in dwc?

ALSO ONE LAST THING, do you multiply by the actual amount of water in your res or the entire res size. for example i have a 31 gallon res that has maybe 24-25 gallons of water in it, do i multiply by 31 or 25?

I used this formula shooting for 1000 ppm and ended at about 650, im guessing because I didn't multiply by 31 and instead multiplied by like 22?

sorry, im a newb at this, ph ended up at 6.1 which is awesome, just need a little guidance

That's OK......We all learn new stuff.

Pick the Target PPM you want to use. Let's say you want 1000 like mentioned.

Fill Your rez with the amount of water you want. Test the PPMs. Lets say it's 150. (yours might be different......It will be ZERO (0) if using RO water)

Use the formula:
1000 (target PPMs) - 150 (current PPMs) / 1000 (target PPMs) x 5 mills ( for low wattage lights) x 25 gallons (or amount of actual water in Rez) = 106 mills of MICRO x 2 = 212 Mills of Bloom.

Retest the Solution and you should be damn close to 1000.



Here are my TARGET PPMs for each stage of growth:Just make your own targets if ya don't like mine. This is just what works for me. The TARGET is the # you will use as the starting point in the formula.

Ratios never change (5/10 or 8/16)

400 watts and below = 5/10....OVER 400 watts = 8/16

Seedlings - 250 to 500 ppms (at a 5/10 ratio)
Mothers = 1000 PPMs (at a 8/16 ratio)
Rooted Clones = 600 to 800 PPMs (at a 5/10 ratio)
Bloom = 1350 PPMs (at a 8/16 ratio)

Now:
You can get any PPM from any ratio. I.E. 5/10 or 8/16. It's all in the formula and the target # you pick. Notice that my mothers get 1000 ppms at an 8/16 ratio. This is because I am using 1000 watts of light and they'll be able to use more of each nutrient in the 8/16 mix than if they were under a 400 watt. With 400 watts at 1000 PPM and an 8/16 mix I MIGHT see a burn going on becaus ethe plant cab\n't use up all the Macro Nutrients. Bigger the light = more in the mix (I am not matching my ppms of 1000 to the 1000 watts of light) I can pick any PPMs if I want) I just shoot for 1000 and my Mamas are happy. So I'm happy. If they were happy at 1200 ppms with a 1000 watts of light......then 1200 PPMs would be my TARGET #. Get it?

Another thing:
If you are using the 400 watt ratio of 5/10 and you start seeing deficiencies you can adjust accordingly by raising the Target PPMs OR keeping the same PPMs but changing to the 8/16 ratio. Changing the RATIO changes the amount of Macro Nutrients that are in the Mix.

I know ya just started but give it a few days.......go over it a few times and you'll get an epiphany that makes you realize..........DAMN.....this is freaking easy. It'll click. Just hang in there.

It's very nice to be able to pick a PPM#.......Throw a calculator on it and get that # in your mix. Not like using a chart that's pretty much a guessing game.

Its a very versatile method. Once you understand how the formula works.......It's simple. just use it a few times and you'll be on here explaining it yourself to the next guy.

Spread the word !!

 

[FreezerBoy]

NOTE:
8/16 will ONLY give you 1350 PPMs IF you use 1350 PPMs as your "Target PPMs". You can make your target anything you want.

I'm sorry but, this makes no sense at all.

8 tsp Micro +16 tsp Bloom + 1 gal water = X ppm. Period. It wont rise or fall 350 ppm on a whim.

It doesn't matter what your target is. The number won't mystically change under different lights. The solution can't determine if it's used for plants or clones. If you adjust the formulas ppm from there, by adding water or nutes, you may still be using 1:2 but, you're no longer doing 0-8-16.

 

[Budweiser13]

Fill Your rez with the amount of water you want. Test the PPMs. Lets say it's 150. (yours might be different......It will be ZERO (0) if using RO water)

Use the formula:
1000 (target PPMs) - 150 (current PPMs) / 1000 (target PPMs) x 5 mills ( for low wattage lights) x 25 gallons (or amount of actual water in Rez) = 106 mills of MICRO x 2 = 212 Mills of Bloom.


Pirate I am a little confused also can you please break down the math on this...

 

[turbolaser4528]

thanks for the help, I can see how easy this is and how it will make keeping ph in check very easy. I usually under nute my plants, but hopeefully 1000 ppm will be sufficient for 2 plants vegged for 24 days in dwc and if its not enough in flower i will just up it using the 5/10 formula and these calulations. Ill let you guys know when i get it down pat. thanks again

 

[Pirate]

I'm sorry but, this makes no sense at all.

8 tsp Micro +16 tsp Bloom + 1 gal water = X ppm. Period. It wont rise or fall 350 ppm on a whim.

It doesn't matter what your target is. The number won't mystically change under different lights. The solution can't determine if it's used for plants or clones. If you adjust the formulas ppm from there, by adding water or nutes, you may still be using 1:2 but, you're no longer doing 0-8-16.

I fixed it to remove confusion.

But I think ya missed my point that you can lower the mix to match the stage of growth your in.

Don't have time for more........Gotta go git my wench.............

 

[FreezerBoy]

I get that you can adjust PPM. Just saying you have to abandon 0-8-16 to do it.

With no actual measurements or standard body of water, 1:2 is a proportion which will hit any ppm reading. 0-8-16 is a specific measurement in a specific body of water that results in one ppm reading only.

 

[Pirate]

I'm sorry but, this makes no sense at all.

8 tsp Micro +16 tsp Bloom + 1 gal water = X ppm. Period. It wont rise or fall 350 ppm on a whim.

It doesn't matter what your target is. The number won't mystically change under different lights. The solution can't determine if it's used for plants or clones. If you adjust the formulas ppm from there, by adding water or nutes, you may still be using 1:2 but, you're no longer doing 0-8-16.

Please note that the 8/16 is mils to add …….NOT teaspoons (big difference)…….. I am sure that was a typo since I've seen your advice around the board and its always good.

I will go back and rephrase a few things to prevent further confusion. But the “Song Remains the Same”

8 mills of micro + 16 Mills of Bloom in 1 gallon of RO water will = 1350 (or so) PPMs……. I removed the X for PPMs because we already know what the answer is.

LUCAS SAYS….”For young plants, just transplanted into the hydro setup, give them 50% strength nutrient mix to prevent overfeeding them while their young. Gradually bring up the mix to full strength as they grow over the next few weeks or so.” End Quote-

So now the question is………….How do we lower the strength level of the solution to match the stage of growth we are in yet still maintain the correct ratio of nutrient mix? How do we GRADUALLY bring it up to full strength?

I am talking about percentages of the ideal formula of 8/16 and no matter how it’s sliced it will still be a 1 to 2 ratio if using the mathematical formula Lucas layed out. There is no mysticism going on here. Its pure mathematics. I use the ALGEBREIC Formula as a method to HIT my target PPMs should I need it LOWER than 1350.

I.E:
Let’s I’m running a 1000 watt HPS…I have a 20 gallon rez. My tap water is 145. I want a 900 final ppm. I calculate:……

900 - 145 = 755 / 900 = .838 x 8 = 6.7 x 20 = 134 Micro x 2 = 268 Bloom = 900PPM

We can split hairs about it being 8/16 , 1:2 ratio or simply percentages of it but the point was how to get to your LOWER target. I simply stated..........."HERE IS HOW I USE THE FORMULA. Adjust it as required for your garden. This is what works for me".

I have a hard time feeding some of my plants at full strength and the methods I am explaining shows how I get lower PPMs yet maintain the correct ratio. That’s all. My green garden confirms what I've layed out and that's all that matters. Right?

I hope that clarifies a bit to anyone wanting to know.

 

[saldiado]

pirate...

pirate...

Just wanted to say that this thread has cleared up a few clouds on the lucas formula for sure. One thing i was wondering is if you have a lower ppm than your target, and your res is full do you use the same math, and just add back nutrients at the same ratio with no water?

 

[Pirate]

Just wanted to say that this thread has cleared up a few clouds on the lucas formula for sure. One thing i was wondering is if you have a lower ppm than your target, and your res is full do you use the same math, and just add back nutrients at the same ratio with no water?

ALWAYS fill the rez to your desired level with plain water
Check the #s after filling.......If PPMs are low:
Do the formula
Add the Nutrients (micro first and stir......then bloom)
Recheck the #s.

Do not add Nutrients into a rez that is being depleted without first adding water to YOUR full mark.

The math never changes. The only thing that ever changes are the #s you plug into the Formula. (Like rez size, PPMs desired, etc.)

Understand ?