Fallout / precipitation issue with GH's Maxi line solved!

J

jonnynobody

Well-Known Member
I had been precipitating some white substance from my maxi grow and maxi bloom reservoirs after about 48 hours from mixing. I bought a gallon of Cyco brand highly concentrated PH up which is potassium hydroxide. This product is about 4-5x concentrated as GH's PH up. It is not compatible with the maxi line of fertilizer unless you dilute the potassium hydroxide in a jug of water, then add it to your reservoir. It literally causes a chemical reaction in the reservoir producing a precipitate that gets worse by the hour. This is a perfect example of "Don't mix products from different manufacturer's." I Just thought PH up is PH up. What's the difference? There is a difference, and if you've ever experienced a white fallout or precipitation such as this I can assure you it's the potassium hydroxide. I made up a res last night of maxi bloom, but I did not add PH up. Today the res was clear as can be. I added GH's very watered down PH up. It took an estimated 4-5 times the amount I usually add with Cyco brand PH up. However, the res did not turn cloudy or precipitate any substance. GH intentionally waters down their PH up to a lower dilution so that it does not cause the precipitation issue the Cyco brand caused. Hopefully this helps someone else figure out this very strange, annoying, but easy to solve issue.
 
jonnynobody said:
I had been precipitating some white substance from my maxi grow and maxi bloom reservoirs after about 48 hours from mixing. I bought a gallon of Cyco brand highly concentrated PH up which is potassium hydroxide. This product is about 4-5x concentrated as GH's PH up. It is not compatible with the maxi line of fertilizer unless you dilute the potassium hydroxide in a jug of water, then add it to your reservoir. It literally causes a chemical reaction in the reservoir producing a precipitate that gets worse by the hour. This is a perfect example of "Don't mix products from different manufacturer's." I Just thought PH up is PH up. What's the difference? There is a difference, and if you've ever experienced a white fallout or precipitation such as this I can assure you it's the potassium hydroxide. I made up a res last night of maxi bloom, but I did not add PH up. Today the res was clear as can be. I added GH's very watered down PH up. It took an estimated 4-5 times the amount I usually add with Cyco brand PH up. However, the res did not turn cloudy or precipitate any substance. GH intentionally waters down their PH up to a lower dilution so that it does not cause the precipitation issue the Cyco brand caused. Hopefully this helps someone else figure out this very strange, annoying, but easy to solve issue.
Click to expand...
i hardly ever needed pH up with any GH line. unless i added too much down. with both well and RO water too.
 
jonnynobody said:
Maxi or flora series? Flora always PH's to about 5.6-5.7 before adjusting the PH up. Maxi is always at 4.1-4.5.
Click to expand...
everything. flora duo, 3 part, maxi and nova. it usually all mixed up around 6.5 to 6.8 ish with my well water. don't really remember what RO mixed up at. but still have a quart of UP that i bought a looooong time ago
 
I use epsom salt and calcium nitrate. I'm not sure, but they could be contributing the the low PH. I know floralicous brings it down quite a bit when I add it to the res. After maxi runs out I'm switching to jack's or flora series. Cheaper. Me likey cheapy :)
 
GH is potassium carbonate
Cyco is potassium hydroxide


You should always dilute pH Up or Down prior to adding it to your reservoir. That's what I've always done and thought it was standard practice. But I looked on the Cyco website and their instructions are to just add drops straight into the nutrient solution which I wouldn't do.

Cyco website

Directions:
Use sparingly – add drops to nutrient solution a little at a time, continue to test pH levels.
Repeat application until desired pH level is achieved. The quantity required for pH adjustment
will vary depending on the nutrient strength and the purity of your water.

I only have a need for using pH Down but the brand I use also uses potassium hydroxide for their pH up and their directions call for diluting it prior to adding to nutrient solution. You can get precipitates like you did with most nutrients if you add a strong base like potassium hydroxide without diluting it first.

These are the directions from VitaGrow for using their pH Up which is potassium hydroxide as well.

Mixing Directions: Add 24 ounces of water to a sealable plastic quart container and then slowly pour in 8 ounces of pH UP Concentrate. For larger applications, add three quarts of water to a sealable gallon jug then add one quart of pH UP concentrate. Place the cap on the container and cautiously shake to mix. Label the container showing the ratio of pH UP concentrate to water.

Application Directions: Slowly pour small amounts of the diluted pH UP from the container into the water or nutrient solution needing pH adjustment. Allow time to mix. Once again check the pH of the water or nutrient solution. If the pH is too low, repeat the above steps.
 
I have been using Maxi Bloom in a KISS Lucas formula setup off and on for a few years.
I alway ran drain to waste with lots of air bubblers to keep things mixed up in the rez.
I would have to PH up every few days as the res would turn acidic.

I've just started to run an ebb and flow using the same KISS formula without the bubblers and my ph drifts up now.

One theory I have is the addition of oxygen acidifies the solution.
 
xtsho said:
GH is potassium carbonate
Cyco is potassium hydroxide


You should always dilute pH Up or Down prior to adding it to your reservoir. That's what I've always done and thought it was standard practice. But I looked on the Cyco website and their instructions are to just add drops straight into the nutrient solution which I wouldn't do.

Cyco website

Directions:
Use sparingly – add drops to nutrient solution a little at a time, continue to test pH levels.
Repeat application until desired pH level is achieved. The quantity required for pH adjustment
will vary depending on the nutrient strength and the purity of your water.

I only have a need for using pH Down but the brand I use also uses potassium hydroxide for their pH up and their directions call for diluting it prior to adding to nutrient solution. You can get precipitates like you did with most nutrients if you add a strong base like potassium hydroxide without diluting it first.

These are the directions from VitaGrow for using their pH Up which is potassium hydroxide as well.

Mixing Directions: Add 24 ounces of water to a sealable plastic quart container and then slowly pour in 8 ounces of pH UP Concentrate. For larger applications, add three quarts of water to a sealable gallon jug then add one quart of pH UP concentrate. Place the cap on the container and cautiously shake to mix. Label the container showing the ratio of pH UP concentrate to water.

Application Directions: Slowly pour small amounts of the diluted pH UP from the container into the water or nutrient solution needing pH adjustment. Allow time to mix. Once again check the pH of the water or nutrient solution. If the pH is too low, repeat the above steps.
Click to expand...
Sheesh. Common knowledge and me seem to always be on opposite sides of the road. I swear I'm missing a chromosome and my parents just never told me :)
 
i still have an unopened tiny bottle of pH up that came with the very first up/down/tester kit i bought years ago.

must be an RO thing?
 
xtsho said:
GH is potassium carbonate
Cyco is potassium hydroxide


You should always dilute pH Up or Down prior to adding it to your reservoir. That's what I've always done and thought it was standard practice. But I looked on the Cyco website and their instructions are to just add drops straight into the nutrient solution which I wouldn't do.

Cyco website

Directions:
Use sparingly – add drops to nutrient solution a little at a time, continue to test pH levels.
Repeat application until desired pH level is achieved. The quantity required for pH adjustment
will vary depending on the nutrient strength and the purity of your water.

I only have a need for using pH Down but the brand I use also uses potassium hydroxide for their pH up and their directions call for diluting it prior to adding to nutrient solution. You can get precipitates like you did with most nutrients if you add a strong base like potassium hydroxide without diluting it first.

These are the directions from VitaGrow for using their pH Up which is potassium hydroxide as well.

Mixing Directions: Add 24 ounces of water to a sealable plastic quart container and then slowly pour in 8 ounces of pH UP Concentrate. For larger applications, add three quarts of water to a sealable gallon jug then add one quart of pH UP concentrate. Place the cap on the container and cautiously shake to mix. Label the container showing the ratio of pH UP concentrate to water.

Application Directions: Slowly pour small amounts of the diluted pH UP from the container into the water or nutrient solution needing pH adjustment. Allow time to mix. Once again check the pH of the water or nutrient solution. If the pH is too low, repeat the above steps.
Click to expand...
I've always added gh ph up or down straight to res. I've never had a problem. I'm not saying that's the correct way though. It could be I've just been lucky.
 
If you know what you need for ph up or down before hand (just because your making the same solution every time) Add the up or down and mix thoroughly in the res then add your nutes. Concentration doesn’t matter then...and actually I think most nutrients say to ph water first.
 
jonnynobody said:
GH's PH up is so watered down you can add it straight to the res without a problem.
Click to expand...
I've got a 16 oz. Bag of the the powdered ph up by GH I've been using since 2017.
1/2 teaspoon for a 50 gallon rez to bring the solution up to 5.8 from 5.2.
This stuff is very concentrated, will turn your skin to soap.
I do like to add it to the water before the nutrients go in, just like I do when I run silica.
 
Bakersfield said:
I've got a 16 oz. Bag of the the powdered ph up by GH I've been using since 2017.
1/2 teaspoon for a 50 gallon rez to bring the solution up to 5.8 from 5.2.
This stuff is very concentrated, will turn your skin to soap.
I do like to add it to the water before the nutrients go in, just like I do when I run silica.
Click to expand...
Man I've never even seen that at the stores. Good score. It seems like you almost always get more going dry versus the liquid mixtures.
 
I have a buddy that uses sulfuric acid, buys it at the auto parts store and uses it as a ph down.
He has great success with this industrial product and it's cheap.
I just can't bring myself to try it.
 
Bakersfield said:
I have a buddy that uses sulfuric acid, buys it at the auto parts store and uses it as a ph down.
He has great success with this industrial product and it's cheap.
I just can't bring myself to try it.
Click to expand...
Tried it. It performed poorly as a PH adjuster. Cyco brand PH up / down is the most concentrated liquid product I've used for PH adjustment. Cheap too.
 
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