[quote=black_thumb;5504951]1.0 to 6.9 PH is considered acidic.

7.0 is neutral.

7.1 to 14.0 is alkaline.[/QUOTE

Alkalinity also refers to a solutions ability to resist ph changes. There's lots of good info on here. If you care to learn about it, search "Bill Argo alkalinity". I can assure you that your water is giving you issues. Good luck.

[justanotherbozo]

i'm relatively new to Jack's but i was under the impression you could send J.R.Peters a sample of your water and they will tailor a nutrient mix specifically for that water supply, ...i don't know what it cost's though.

peace, bozo

[johnnyrotten]

Originally Posted by justanotherbozo

i'm relatively new to Jack's but i was under the impression you could send J.R.Peters a sample of your water and they will tailor a nutrient mix specifically for that water supply, ...i don't know what it cost's though.

peace, bozo

They will do that I think the cost is around $25... My water had 270ppm and it was easier to use an RO filter...

[Snook]

[quote=dramamine;5505142]

Originally Posted by black_thumb

1.0 to 6.9 PH is considered acidic.

7.0 is neutral.

7.1 to 14.0 is alkaline.[/QUOTE

Alkalinity also refers to a solutions ability to resist ph changes. There's lots of good info on here. If you care to learn about it, search "Bill Argo alkalinity". I can assure you that your water is giving you issues. Good luck.

and 6.9 and less is acid... I think.

[Ymir]

Any tips on getting this stuff to dissolve? I've used a totally cleaned out bottle of gatorade to mix up the jack's hydroponics and I always have what I assume is the magnesium sinking to the bottom. I've tried HOT water, I've tried distilled water, I've tried hot distilled water. I've been shaking this bottle off and on for 30 minutes now and still have crap floating to the bottom, just with a little over 1/4 tspn of the stuff.

I don't have these issues when I use epsom salts so I don't get why this stuff never dissolves properly. Here's my water test sample from JR Peters, it cost either $25 or $30 I forget.

Secondary question would be are these numbers low enough that I shouldn't worry about having to get an RO system for ebb and flow?

[SecondAttempt]

1. Don't use hot water

2. How much Jack's are you mixing and in what size gatorade bottle?
- try using distilled in the bottle... sounds like your making a stock solution so you don't want tap in
there.

[justanotherbozo]

...i personally mix mine up in 2 gallon containers and i put 1/2 teaspoon of the cal/nit into that jug and shake it up a bit and let it sit while i find something else to do, i don't know that it helps any letting it sit but it doesn't hurt either.

anyway, like i said i mix in the cal/nit first and then when i get back to finish up i put that same 1/2 teaspoon of the base nutrient in, then about 1/2 ml of ph down and i'm good to go. (i'm very casual about my amounts because i believe a little fluctuation is no big whoop)

i forget who it was who recommended mixing in the calcium nitrate first but since i started doing it this way i no longer need to deal with anything settling out.

...keep in mind also that this is a weed that won't suffer one iota if your nutrient mix fluctuates a little so occasional sediments isn't the end of the world.

peace, bozo

[Ymir]

Originally Posted by SecondAttempt

1. Don't use hot water

2. How much Jack's are you mixing and in what size gatorade bottle?
- try using distilled in the bottle... sounds like your making a stock solution so you don't want tap in
there.

About 1/2 teaspoon in a 32 oz bottle. I've read to use hot water for epsom salt so I asked JR Peters and they said there was no problem using hot water if it helped. I'll try just unheated distilled next time but I don't know if that's going to help. I've also used a gallon milk jug but I can't see through it enough to tell if anything is settling to the bottom.

Originally Posted by justanotherbozo

...i personally mix mine up in 2 gallon containers and i put 1/2 teaspoon of the cal/nit into that jug and shake it up a bit and let it sit while i find something else to do, i don't know that it helps any letting it sit but it doesn't hurt either.

anyway, like i said i mix in the cal/nit first and then when i get back to finish up i put that same 1/2 teaspoon of the base nutrient in, then about 1/2 ml of ph down and i'm good to go. (i'm very casual about my amounts because i believe a little fluctuation is no big whoop)

i forget who it was who recommended mixing in the calcium nitrate first but since i started doing it this way i no longer need to deal with anything settling out.

...keep in mind also that this is a weed that won't suffer one iota if your nutrient mix fluctuates a little so occasional sediments isn't the end of the world.

peace, bozo

Interesting, I have also always heard the opposite and was told by JR Peters to dissolve the base stuff first and never in a container that contained any cal-nit cuz supposedly that's what makes the Mag separate and settle. I just don't get why it's any different than simply dissolving Epsom Salts which I can do in any water without too much undissolved "leftover" and with hot water I can dissolve it 100%

[Ichabod Crane]

Originally Posted by chicken-

I just don't get why it's any different than simply dissolving Epsom Salts which I can do in any water without too much undissolved "leftover" and with hot water I can dissolve it 100%

Epson salts are magnesiun sulphate and what you have settling is the calcium most likely. It forms gypsum which is calcium sulphate and is what is settling out. The sulphates in your solution is combining with the calcium.

I make a stock solution with RO water and shake the piss out of it and let it settle for several days. I mix 880 grams per gallon of the Jack's and 580 grams per gallon of the calcium nitrate. I don't use magnesium sulphate. With these stock solutions I use 10 ml per gallon of easch to get about 600-650 PPM. Or and EC of about 1.2 to 1.3.

If you are getting something in the jack's that is not disolving it could be the MKP (monopotassium phosphate) which is harder to disolve and takes a little longer. If it is not that it is most likely calcium in your tap water combining with the sulphates in the Jack's.

[Ymir]

How long do those 2 jugs last? Perhaps I'll try that method, not sure if there's a "shelf life" to premixed solutions like that or if you only mix up what you'll use within a couple weeks perhaps?