Maxibloom needs A LOT of pH up?!

[!!!]

Is it just me or does maxibloom (GH dry nutes) require A LOT of pH up to adjust the ph? I find myself using maybe 4 tablespoons per 5 gallons of nutes @ 1k ppm.

I'm literally running out of pH up. I didn't think this would ever happen.. I used to use maybe 5 drops max when using the Flora series.

 

[smokestack 420]

I got the same thing. The ph is about 4.3 and it takes alot of ph up to get it to 5.5-5.8. I stopped using it because I was worried all the ph up would add to much potassium. Ive been using dutchmaster gold and it mixes up to about 5.6 without any ph up and it stays rock steady all week in my rez.

 

[thefalsediviner]

Is it just me or does maxibloom (GH dry nutes) require A LOT of pH up to adjust the ph? I find myself using maybe 4 tablespoons per 5 gallons of nutes @ 1k ppm.

I'm literally running out of pH up. I didn't think this would ever happen.. I used to use maybe 5 drops max when using the Flora series.

What is your application rate of Maxibloom and what other products are you using? Are you on tap or RO water? It sounds like you're using too much.

I run 1 teaspoon per gallon or what is known as the Maxibloom Lucas Ratio and my plants look and perform great.

If your tap is at or near 7ph you shouldn't need to adjust ph at all if you stick to 1tsp/gal.

Hope that helps.

TFD

 

[!!!]

Yeah my pH goes down to 4.3 - 4.6 WITHOUT any other products.

I use tap water. It's about 35ppm pH 7.10 out of the tap. I'm doing 6.5-7g per gallon. That's about 1tsp/gallon I believe?

I also add 1 tsp molasses per 5 gallon (medium is coco) which brings pH up by 0.10 or so.
and I use 1 tsp floralicious+ per 5 gallon which has no significant effect on ph/ppm.

I do notice some calmag issues (I water w/ calmag + molasses the next time I water after feeding) but I don't think there are significant issues stemming from the maxibloom/excessive pH up. I just find it odd that it requires so much.

If your tap is at or near 7ph you shouldn't need to adjust ph at all if you stick to 1tsp/gal.

what's your pH after 1tsp/gal?

 

[Lazyman]

One handy way to increase the ph is to use Silica, I use DynaGrow ProTekt and it does a good job of ph up. I just started using maxibloom on my new crop of grape stompers and made sure to apply it to fresh untreated RO, so the ph drop was reasonable. It sure is an acidic product though! Nice formula, basically Lucas in a powder.

 

[thefalsediviner]

what's your pH after 1tsp/gal?

5.5ish using drop and vile testing. At this point I only test my tap from time to time to be sure my well hasn't changed.

Got to be something contributing to this, hopefully someone will have a better answer for you.

Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance.

TFD

 

[!!!]

I used to think my pH was also around 5-6 when using pH paper. The meter showed otherwise, and going by the meter helped with some deficiencies I was having.

It's probably a non-issue though. Perhaps it's acidic due to how it's formulated—maybe to keep it stable and prevent the elements from forming compounds while being so concentrated together. I know mixing wet nutes together without much water will cause precipitates to form, especially in a pH >7.

If anyone is using another dry nute brand perhaps they can chime in with their experience as well.

 

[feelingfactory]

After mixing various combos of the GH lineup, I get about pH4.6-5.1 (depends on the source of my RO water) on a frequently calibrated meter. After several hours through my waterfarms, pH is a sweet and stable 5.7-5.8. I never have to add pH adjusters.

 

[greentrich]

!!!...For what it's worth, the same thing was happening to me with the new formula of Botanicare's Hydroplex, the old formula never had this problem.

It's not a dry mix, it is a liquid..but it would drop my PH down to the low 3's depending on the EC of the solution. I never got to the bottom of it...I'm in hiatus now as far as growing. Like you, I never experienced a huge issue with it (other than running out of PH Up), but it's weird as hell and I want to know why that/this is happening with certain bloom enhancers.

I received a few suggestions when I posted my PH issues...use Silica, cut it with tap (I use RO), stop using it all together, other assorted tid bits of info. But it never explained why the hell my bloom enhancer was nose diving my PH.

Me thinks these companies are putting something VERY acidic in their bloom enhancers. Maybe to compensate for reservoir PH rise????
I was, and am still going to call Botanicare for my particular issue. If/when I find out...I'll post it here as it might help understand your observations.

 

[!!!]

Interesting, feelingfactory. I'm going to mix some up and let it sit for 24 hours and then check the pH. I grow in coco so I can't monitor the pH in real time.

Some of my plants have been exhibiting Zinc def which is usually caused by a high pH.

 

[!!!]

Letting it sit had no effect in my case.

2 gallons of water @ 30.5C
added 2 teaspoons maxibloom
= pH 4.41 and 1010 ppm

Left it alone covered to avoid evaporation (or maybe I shouldn't have?)

+13 hours later
water now at 23.1C
pH 4.42 and 1050 ppm (no change)

Added 1ml pH up - pH went up to 4.83
Added 3ml pH up - pH went up to 5.95 (1070 ppm)

 

[el Dream Reader]

I've noticed the same effect with maxibloom, did you aerate the tank? The ph seemed to stabilize by the next day when I'd aerate the tank overnight.

 

[IwannatokeNbone]

Yeah my pH goes down to 4.3 - 4.6 WITHOUT any other products.

I use tap water. It's about 35ppm pH 7.10 out of the tap. I'm doing 6.5-7g per gallon. That's about 1tsp/gallon I believe?

I also add 1 tsp molasses per 5 gallon (medium is coco) which brings pH up by 0.10 or so.
and I use 1 tsp floralicious+ per 5 gallon which has no significant effect on ph/ppm.

I do notice some calmag issues (I water w/ calmag + molasses the next time I water after feeding) but I don't think there are significant issues stemming from the maxibloom/excessive pH up. I just find it odd that it requires so much.



what's your pH after 1tsp/gal?

floralicious plus is extremly acidic, thats your problem, one drop a gallon tend to nock my ph down about 1 to 2 points

 

[Guest 18340]

What brand ph up are you using? Some brands are hella watered down.
I myself only need 1/2 tsp/gal ph up to bring things to 6 even.
You're right though, that is a lot of ph up you're using.

 

[ShroomDr]

floralicious plus is extremly acidic, thats your problem, one drop a gallon tend to nock my ph down about 1 to 2 points

Floralicious Plus at 1mL/Gal does not effect my pH anywhere near a point or two

 

[Tropic]

Wouldn't adjusting your water pH before adding the nutes make you save on pH UP? I'm guessing the nutes contain buffers that make it harder for your pH UP to be effective, as it has to neutralize the acidity of the nutes before acting on the water itself.
This would require some dialing in regarding amounts, please let us know if you try it.

 

[Mr. Bongjangles]

I have to use about double the pH up (dry gh brand) since switching to MaxiBloom from lucas formula with gh micro/bloom.

Was using around 1/4th tsp for 5 gallons, now I need to use 1/2 tsp or even a little extra depending on the other additives.

I recommend all of you guys try the dry General Hydroponics ph up/down. They are super concentrated and work instantly as far as I can tell. Faster than my meter can adjust at least

 

[benzo]

I have the same problem as the OP...

I have to use about double the pH up (dry gh brand) since switching to MaxiBloom from lucas formula with gh micro/bloom.

Was using around 1/4th tsp for 5 gallons, now I need to use 1/2 tsp or even a little extra depending on the other additives.

I recommend all of you guys try the dry General Hydroponics ph up/down. They are super concentrated and work instantly as far as I can tell. Faster than my meter can adjust at least

Thanks for the tip!!

 

[Hydro-Soil]

Is it just me or does maxibloom (GH dry nutes) require A LOT of pH up to adjust the ph? I find myself using maybe 4 tablespoons per 5 gallons of nutes @ 1k ppm.

What brand of pH up are you using? They're not all created equal.

I use about 1/4tsp of GH dry pH up... per 5gal and 1tsp/gal of Maxibloom. RO water... no tap.

Stay Safe!

 

[!!!]

Floralicious+ does not affect my pH significantly, and I have only been using it for a few weeks. This maxibloom problem I've had for months. It wasn't a concern until I began running out of pH up. I use GH liquid pH up.

When I go re-up I'll buy the concentrated powder.