Does anyone store their per gallon nute doses in centrifuge tubes?

Apostatize said:

Following a modified general hydroponics 8-phase feeding schedule, no phase requires more than like 30 ml/gallon of stock solution. So, for example, I was thinking I could mix up like 50 gallons worth of each phase (e.g., 50 x 25 ml/gallon, where a particular phase's nutes add up to 25 ml/gallon) and then split up the 50 doses into separate 50 ml centrifuge tubes.

Sounds kind of ridiculous, but I don't use a reservoir. I hand-feed. And I'm running perpetual bloom, so I have stocks of all phases ready to go at any time; and I've been blending up stocks for weekly aliquots (~10 gallons/week). It takes up a lot of time/space. But I Don't have the room or inclination to set up 8 separate reservoirs. I feel like I can reclaim shelf space by using 50 ml centrifuge tubes. It might even make my workspace neater. And less time with the blender every week would be a plus....

Thoughts (other than haha, hehe, and about a pound)?

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cannabineer said:

There is a reason nutes come I’m multiple bottles.

If you’re talking about premeasuring the components into their own tubes, yes.

If you want all 3 components (concentrated) into 1 tube, expect intractable or insoluble precipitates.

Don’t mix the concentrates, is my advice.

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Apostatize said:

All components would be mixed (~50 gallons worth of stock without water). I anticipate insoluble precipitates and that's why I use the blender. But without a blender, shaking a gallon once I've added the dose and pouring immediately won't be close to accurate enough?

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cannabineer said:

You are fighting dissolution kinetics. The precipitates would redissolve slow as rock. You’re much better off premeasuring each component, 3 or 4 tubes instead of one, and adding them sequentially to the full charge of water.

I have lab chem experience. It takes seconds to form the precipitate and (in the relevant instance of calcium and magnesium phosphates) years to dissolve it.

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cannabineer said:

You are fighting dissolution kinetics. The precipitates would redissolve slow as rock. You’re much better off pre-measuring each component, 3 or 4 tubes instead of one, and adding them sequentially to the full charge of water.

I have lab chem experience. It takes seconds to form the precipitate and (in the relevant instance of calcium and magnesium phosphates) years to dissolve it.

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Apostatize said:

Let me ask you, is it fair to say that those precipitates you mentioned are somewhat unavoidable since (1), as you suggested, they form in seconds (regardless of when combined); and (2) even in dry form, hydroscopic properties accumulate atmospheric moisture -- forming a "semi-liquid slurry" -- even when stored on a shelf?

I've been pre-mixing stocks and storing them in gallons for at least 6 months now, maybe a year. However, following GH's 8-phase feeding schedule, I noticed phases 4-6 are a little reactive and need to be vented occasionally. So, perhaps, if I kept 50 phase 4 capsules locked and loaded, organized in a rack, I might leave those capsules on screwed/slightly vented (or poke a hole in the top/buy tiny 1 or 2-hole rubber stoppers...). It doesn't solve the potential precipitate issue, but at least the capsules won't burst.

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unfurl="true"]https://www.ruf.rice.edu/~bioslabs/methods/solutions/stocks.htm

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cannabineer said:

.........snip........
Two considerations. The mycos probably won’t survive being mixed with something strong - death by pickling. But afaik you only dose mycos once, seedling or new clone.
.......snip......

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cannabineer said:

They spelled hygroscopic wrong.

The excerpt describes stock solutions using stable soluble substances. I’ve made and used such. They’re convenient, but if a precipitate formed, that batch was disposed of as spoiled.

As for having supplements, many of those will be compatible. I imagine you could distribute those among the Big Four: grow, micro, bloom, cal-mag.

In your instance I would grab a test tube rack. Let’s say you have eight bottles that build your res, not counting pH down.
I’d combine, in the ratios the recipe sets down, A with B
next tube A with C …
Sharpie the tubes! I’ve swapped them by mistake.

Let sit for a day. Any tubes that throw a precipitate, those letters cannot be mixed as concentrate. Document the observations.

You’ll puzzle your way through to the smallest number of premix tubes, with the satisfaction of having learned and done the work yourself.

Two considerations. The mycos probably won’t survive being mixed with something strong - death by pickling. But afaik you only dose mycos once, seedling or new clone.

Silicate solution will be compatible with nothing. If you do silicate, you’ve no choice but to dose it separately.

Ping me if I left anything out.

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curious2garden said:

Death by crenation in a high osmolar solution and
I use mycos when I up pot and flip to flower.

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Apostatize said:

They did spell it wrong....


Right, thanks. I've only recently purchased myco and am preparing to use it (correctly, hopefully). Lumped it in with my initial question but figured, out of all of them, myco would be dosed separately. But I appreciate you and Cannabineer suggesting that I only need to inoculate my blocks like once or twice in a plant's lifetime. Drain-to-waste, so I wasn't sure. Without even reading the instructions, I was assuming I'd have to apply a fresh dose weekly.

I've been using Armor SI, but I recently bought Power SI. I figure, I'll still use Armor SI and then add like half the recommended dose of Power SI (so I get improvement, but it's not quite so expensive).

I also use at least 3 GH nectars and floralicious plus, as well as dry and liquid KoolBloom. I'm probably leaving out a couple things.

View attachment 4958524

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curious2garden said:

I have a few questions;
1. How long have you been growing
- Almost 16 months (not long) ... but it's been pretty much perpetual awhile, so lots of practice in a short time
- started with ~15+ strains, including some from multiple sources
- selected 8, discontinued the rest; selected phenos and am only cloning them from now on.
2. How long have you been using this nutrient mix,
- about the same, at least a year. Started with Mills, I like them. My store stopped selling Mills. I still use Mills' root starter (Irish Kelp, fulvic acid, etc. biostimulant) v. GH's (expensive). Besides root starter, SI and now myco are about the only non-GH products.
and
3. What is your substrate?
- rockwool

I'm getting technique down for fairly young, smaller, like 8-12 main branch plants; and now/soon, I'll apply what I've learned and let plants veg a little longer. In about 3 years, I want to build a whole new setup, applying what I've learned but on a larger scale -- not a full warehouse, but perhaps a few 8'(L)x6'(W)x8'(H) warehouse shelve/racks with bloom on the top shelf and veg on lower shelf (brought in close with a combo of a lower amp ballast, and alternating 2 lights on/off to avoid hot spots) (i.e., I'm working toward a specific goal, but I'm open/flexible to how I'll go about achieving it).

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Apostatize said:

I've been using Armor SI, but I recently bought Power SI. I figure, I'll still use Armor SI and then add like half the recommended dose of Power SI (so I get improvement, but it's not quite so expensive).

I also use at least 3 GH nectars and floralicious plus, as well as dry and liquid KoolBloom. I'm probably leaving out a couple things.

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xtsho said:

You're using too much stuff if it's taking so much time to mix it up that you want to premix everything. Why do you need all that crap to begin with? Some Jacks and calcium nitrate will grow weed as good and probably better than using all that stuff.

Mix it all together if you want. Some can be mixed while others will cause problems and you might just end up making chalk.

Simplify your nutrient feeding is what I would do.

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