Sulphur: How much is too much?

[psg1]

I haven't found (within these forums anyhow) the upper limit for sulphur in a hydro solution. I put together a rough approximation of a formula posted by a respected member here, but because of the differences in base salts that are available, the S element is going to end up at approx. 87.7ppm according to HydroBuddy. In browsing through the ShroomDr's Nutrient Formula Elemental NPK parts-per-million List! sticky, the highest I found for any commercial mix was 77, I believe.

So, is 87.7 too high if all other macronutrient levels are in check? Lemme know what you guys think!

psg1

 

[Avenger]

no

 

[Marquis de Sod]

i dont know about levels. but i know what sulpher smells like. the first jug o'Budswel i got didn't knock me out with the smell. But damn! this new jug i got smells like a sulpher bomb. i can smell it five minutes after i leave the room and come back in. Whhhhheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwiiiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!! Got to be an overdose of sulpher in that shit!

 

[petemoss]

According to JR Peters Labs, the normal range for sulpher is 10-80 ppms (in the initial water).
http://jrpeterslab.com/library_files/water_qual_alk_guidelines.pdf

 

[psg1]

Thx, pete

 

[thefatman]

For hydroponics it is typical for the sulfur level in ppm to be about 1 to 2.5 times the ppm of the magnesium. I have seen Magnesium from 10 to 100 ppm. So look at your sulfur levels in relation to your magnesium. There are formulas with very low sulfur in comparison to the magnesium. I would worry more about that situation.

 

[tester]

According to JR Peters Labs, the normal range for sulpher is 10-80 ppms in a hydroponic solution.
http://jrpeterslab.com/library_files/water_qual_alk_guidelines.pdf

I think that in the linked PDF the 10-80 ppm applies to the water initial sulfur content, not the hydroponic solution's.

 

[dgr]

I think that in the linked PDF the 10-80 ppm applies to the water initial sulfur content, not the hydroponic solution's.

Either that or I'm running about 120 PPM too much nitrogen as the paper says it should be around zero

 

[petemoss]

I think that in the linked PDF the 10-80 ppm applies to the water initial sulfur content, not the hydroponic solution's.

Ah, you're right, tester. I'll go back and edit my comment. Thanks! I think fatman was also referring to sulpher
an magnesium in a hydroponic solution.

The reason I was looking at that document is because I just sent off a tap water sample to JR Peters and am
waiting for the results. Then I'll speak to the lab tech about my water before re-ordering nutes.

 

[TheBioMaster]

I have never seen the sulfur content in PPM to be 2.5 times the amount of magnesium in ANY hydroponics system......that is simply not accurate. Just a FYI. In reality, the only REAL relation between sulfur and magnesium is that when you add sulfur to your solution, you are adding magnesium as well....you need to take that into consideration or include in your math when formulating your nutrient profile.

 

[dgr]

TheBM (haha).

There are several salts that are soluble in water that aren't magnesium sulfate. Maybe I misunderstood where you were going with that?

Anyone have a fertilizer antagonism wheel chart handy? My search-fu is failing me. It should show what nutrient disorders can be created by excess sulfur.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I have personally run S 2 times as high as Mg...epsom and battery acid. 60 ppm Mg, 120 S...no problems at all. Once you really start cranking that P down where it belongs your choice of anions becomes somewhat limited...as luck would have it that seeens to be a good thang.

 

[thefatman]

I have never seen the sulfur content in PPM to be 2.5 times the amount of magnesium in ANY hydroponics system......that is simply not accurate. Just a FYI. In reality, the only REAL relation between sulfur and magnesium is that when you add sulfur to your solution, you are adding magnesium as well....you need to take that into consideration or include in your math when formulating your nutrient profile.

Sorry but the given numbers are real numbers. Consider the range of magnesium as 10-95 ppm and sulfur as 20-250 ppm. i.e. at the low ends of those ranges the sulfur ppm is about 2 times that of the magnesium and at the high end of the ranges the sulfur ppm is a bit over 2.5 times that of the magnesium. mj growers tend to use a wide varity of hydroponic nutrient preparations not just those produced specifically for mj growing. There are even preparations that some call hydroponic that have only trace amounts of sulfur yet common amounts of magnesium

There are relations between all major elements used in hydroponic nutrient formulations. While magnesium sulfate is a commonly used compound it is not the only way to add magnesium or sulfur. For an example magnesium can be added Magnesium Nitrate. Just as well sulfur can be added using Potasium sulfate. There is also a small amount of sulfur in many of the trace nutrients. Sulfur can also be added through the use of ammonium Sulfate and the use of sulfuric acid.

In old school nutrient formulations the most common method of supplying magnesium and sulfur in the older hydroponic nutrient formulations was through the use of magnesium sulfate. However it is now becoming very common to supply magnesium and sulfur through a combination of magnesium sulfate, magnesium Nitrate and potassium sulfate.

Some of the most common element ratios are N (3-8), N:K (0.25-1.5), Ca:N (0.8-1.2), Mg:N (0.1-0.4) and P:S (0.6-1). How ever these are not the only ratios they are just some of the most commonly considered ratios.

 

[habeeb]

The reason I was looking at that document is because I just sent off a tap water sample to JR Peters and am
waiting for the results. Then I'll speak to the lab tech about my water before re-ordering nutes.

I hope you know, tap water fluctuates