Safest food grade diy ph down

applepoop1984

applepoop1984

Well-Known Member
many posts on here about cheap diy ph down from sulfuric acid... there is a better safer carcinogen free alternative that is superior; phosphoric acid

sulfuric acid used in other threads, while cheap, has drawbacks:

1. carcinogenic( 64% of workers exposed to the fumes develop lung cancer)
2. the source of their acid is from battery acid and not food grade
3. it is stronger than phosphoric acid, with over 20,000 views countless accidents have more than likely occurred following the other diy guides and countless amounts of inhalation of carcinogenic fumes
4. food grade is sold in bulk, usually by the tonne to large scale breweries( they use it because its cheap)

phosphoric acid on the other hand is superior in every way except being a ph of .87 at 85% food grade vs sulfurics .3 ph at 97%:

1. non carcinogenic
2. sourced from food grade phosphoric acid
3. weaker than sulfuric thus much safer to handle
4. sold readily on amazon for 48$ a gallon or less

onto the tutorial.

what you need:

1. safety glasses
2. rubber gloves
3. measuring glass at least 32 oz
4. 1 gallon food grade phosphoric acid
https://www.amazon.com/Gallon-Grade-Phosphoric-Remover-Clean/dp/B06XZSW3QX/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1496911965&sr=8-9&keywords=acid+food+grade
5. 4 1 gallon containers of distilled water
6. dust mask
first put on gloves and glasses, open all 4 gallons of distilled water

pour out 32 oz into measuring glass from each bottle, discarding or saving for later

pour 32 oz of phosphoric acid into DRY measuring glass and then pour 32 oz into each gallon jug of water( we pour acid into water because acid will react violently if we do the opposite)

this makes each gallon contain 21% phosphoric acid, gh ph down has a concentration of 10-30% phosophoric acid putting each gallon of solution right in the middle of their "trade secret" concentration

compare the gh gallon of ph down: $26
https://www.amazon.com/General-Hydroponics-Liquid-Fertilizer-1-Gallon/dp/B000FG0F9U/ref=pd_sbs_60_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B000FG0F9U&pd_rd_r=A5JJYA2KHDJGGAWWJD87&pd_rd_w=uIN3Q&pd_rd_wg=7bywh&psc=1&refRID=A5JJYA2KHDJGGAWWJD87

$26x 4= $104

by buying the phosphoric acid at 85% you save ~ $56 minus the cost of water

all in all a safer, non carcinogenic alternative the non food grade sulfuric acid tutorials on here
 
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applepoop1984

applepoop1984

Well-Known Member
chemphlegm said:
I saw that on google last century in the 90's, whats your point here?
Click to expand...
the top diy ph downs in this forum have not even considered a much safer alternative. if you're asking why post this on riu, why reply to my post if you can use google instead?
 
ANC

ANC

Well-Known Member
It is not mutually exclusive, you can have both high oxygen and CO2 in water.
 
applepoop1984

applepoop1984

Well-Known Member
Update: 5 gallons of food grade 85% phosphoric acid can be had for less than $100

http://www.mbferts.com/Phosphoric-Acid-85-Food-Grade-Fertilizer-Hydro-DIY-pH-Down-260.htm

That's less than $20 per gallon undiluted. To reach the median 21% phosphoric acid each gallon will give the equivalent of 4 gallons of General Hydroponics pH Down which costs upwards of $30. The cost of one gallon of phosphoric acid diluted to the strength of the General Hydroponics pH Down is $4.95 per gallon
 
Enigma

Enigma

Well-Known Member
This is an excerpt from an article written by The Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment:

"In our experience, the most effective and widely used acid is sulfuric acid; however, this is one of the most hazardous acids to use. For low amounts of alkalinity removal, phosphoric acid may be the acid of choice. However, we do not advocate adding more than 2.25 fluid ounces of this acid to 100 gallons of water, because of the amount of P one would add. Nitric acid is theoretically ideal because it adds nitrate nitrogen; but it fumes and is highly oxidizing, making it very difficult to handle. Citric acid is a weak organic acid and a solid, making it safer than the other three; but it is much less effective, and therefore more expensive to use."

Simply copied and pasted with no adulteration.

I do not appreciate anyone spreading misinformation on this site as I take a personal stock in the information provided here. I've noticed, over many years and several boards, there are people that logon to make a name for them self, show-off, to stroke their ego with delusions of grandeur. Some pull their information from magazines, others rely on their buddy's expertise or what ever sales pitch the local hydroponics store sales clerk swears by.

DO NOT BE FOOLED BY GIMMICKS!

Simply, the cheapest and easiest way to pH down is sulfuric acid, it was $8 last I bought some and I never used it all.
 
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applepoop1984

applepoop1984

Well-Known Member
Enigma said:
This is an excerpt from an article written by The Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment:

"In our experience, the most effective and widely used acid is sulfuric acid; however, this is one of the most hazardous acids to use. For low amounts of alkalinity removal, phosphoric acid may be the acid of choice. However, we do not advocate adding more than 2.25 fluid ounces of this acid to 100 gallons of water, because of the amount of P one would add. Nitric acid is theoretically ideal because it adds nitrate nitrogen; but it fumes and is highly oxidizing, making it very difficult to handle. Citric acid is a weak organic acid and a solid, making it safer than the other three; but it is much less effective, and therefore more expensive to use."

Simply copied and pasted with no adulteration.

I do not appreciate anyone spreading misinformation on this site as I take a personal stock in the information provided here. I've noticed, over many years and several boards, there are people that logon to make a name for them self, show-off, to stroke their ego with delusions of grandeur. Some pull their information from magazines, others rely on their buddy's expertise or what ever sales pitch the local hydroponics store sales clerk swears by.

DO NOT BE FOOLED BY GIMICS!

Simply, the cheapest and easiest way to pH down is sulfuric acid, it was $8 last I bought some and I never used it all.[/QUOTE
Click to expand...
http://gh.growgh.com/docs/MSDS/pHDownLiquid_MSDS.pdf
 
Enigma

Enigma

Well-Known Member
From the marketing data sheet you posted:

"Phosphoric acid
Ammonium dihydrogenorthophosphate
Citric acid"

"DANGER!

CAUSES RESPIRATORY TRACT, EYE AND SKIN BURNS. MAY BE HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED. CONTAINS MATERIAL THAT MAY CAUSE TARGET ORGAN DAMAGE, BASED ON ANIMAL DATA.

Do not breathe vapor or mist. Do not ingest. Use only with adequate ventilation. Do not get in eyes. Do not get on skin. Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product. Keep container tightly closed. Wash thoroughly after handling."


That product sounds scary!
 
Enigma

Enigma

Well-Known Member
Yet, it is more commonly used in agriculture than what you are recommending. It is also far less expensive than your recommendation. A professional opinion would be that sulfuric acid is a far better choice than phosphoric acid.
 
D

Dr.Nick Riviera

Well-Known Member
Enigma said:
This is an excerpt from an article written by The Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment:

"In our experience, the most effective and widely used acid is sulfuric acid; however, this is one of the most hazardous acids to use. For low amounts of alkalinity removal, phosphoric acid may be the acid of choice. However, we do not advocate adding more than 2.25 fluid ounces of this acid to 100 gallons of water, because of the amount of P one would add. Nitric acid is theoretically ideal because it adds nitrate nitrogen; but it fumes and is highly oxidizing, making it very difficult to handle. Citric acid is a weak organic acid and a solid, making it safer than the other three; but it is much less effective, and therefore more expensive to use."

Simply copied and pasted with no adulteration.

I do not appreciate anyone spreading misinformation on this site as I take a personal stock in the information provided here. I've noticed, over many years and several boards, there are people that logon to make a name for them self, show-off, to stroke their ego with delusions of grandeur. Some pull their information from magazines, others rely on their buddy's expertise or what ever sales pitch the local hydroponics store sales clerk swears by.

DO NOT BE FOOLED BY GIMMICKS!

Simply, the cheapest and easiest way to pH down is sulfuric acid, it was $8 last I bought some and I never used it all.
Click to expand...
lol, nice sig!!!!
 
applepoop1984

applepoop1984

Well-Known Member
Enigma said:
Yet, it is more commonly used in agriculture than what you are recommending. It is also far less expensive than your recommendation. A professional opinion would be that sulfuric acid is a far better choice than phosphoric acid.
Click to expand...
For commercial agriculture.
 
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