So i just started the ladys into flower, day 6. I just picked up some epsom salt to add some magnesium to my reservoir.
Anybody familiar with this? What measurements would you recommend?
You want to maintain about 90 to 100 ppm magnesium during budding if running a high EC of 2.6 If there is no magnesium sulfate in your nutrients that would mean adding 3.6 grams per gallon for 92 ppm. That would mean 2.7 grams for an EC of 2 for 92 ppm. Your total calcium ppm should be double your magnesium ppm.
Cal-Mag from Botanicare is 200 ppm nitrogen, 320 ppm calcium, 120 ppm magnesium and 10 ppm iron chelate. They recommend that it be used 1/4 strength each time the reservoir is changed out. So this would mean 30 ppm of magnesium or 1.2 grams per gallon for 30 ppm on top of what is already supplied my your regular fertilizer. When it comes to a system where you are not changing your reservoir regularly but are instead adding fertilizer as needed it is would have to be proportional to what ever your adding. Ie if it takes 15 ml per gallon to make fresh nutrients then add 1.2 grams of magnesium sulfate to this, or (1.2/15) = 0.08 grams of mag sulfate per every ml of regular fertilizer added. If it takes 30 ml per gallon then add (1.2/30)= 0.04 grams of mag sulfate per each 30 ml added. ie Just replace the second number in the equation for the amount of nutrients it takes per gallon of fresh nutrients. and this will tell you how much mag sulfate to add per ml of fertilizer added at each top off with fertilizer.
If you wish to mix up some Cal-mag here is the recipe for 1 gallon of 100X concentrate. The calcium nitrate should be available at any green house supply store or any good hydro store. The iron chelate you can usually just leave it out. Typically it is sold in 5 pound bags. for around $50. It takes along time to go through 5 pounds. ie about 60 gallons of cal-mag 100x concentrate or about 300 gallons of a 100X concentrate of a regular full nutrient formula.
ppms
Nitrogen 200
Magnesium 120
Calcium 259
Sulfur 160
Iron 10.00
Grams
Calcium Nitrate 488.9
Magnesium Sulfate 464.0
Iron Chelate 38.57
Volume of Stock Solutions 1 gallon
Dilution Rate 100