That’s the main reason for me. I don’t really know what the concentration is, so it’s an unknown quantity in the schedule. I have some calcium carbonate powder that I could use in a more controlled way. I’d probably have to work out the chemistry.
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I’ll have to research diy Calcium soon (before the next flower cycle)…
I’ve been reading more lately about seriously reducing nitrogen during flower, so I want to reduce the cal-nit during flower… but want to keep giving them the calcium…
Maybe a bone-meal drench every 3rd watering?
Or occasional top dressing with garden limestone?
gypsum?
Garden Lime vs Gypsum
Lime will raise pH and boost calcium levels in your soil.
Gypsum will boost calcium and sulfur levels in your soil without affecting pH.
I’m going to try a light application of gypsum starting right after the pk boost in weeks 4-5 of flower and see how that goes next time…
Anyone try this already?
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I’ve used Biomin Calcium with organics. I believe it can be used in hydroponic. It has lower nitrogen and readily available calcium.
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ive tried it. no bueno for hydro imo. it can work, but poor solubility, and comparatively low elemental ppm make it too inefficient to be practical
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Thanks for the info @Tommy_McCain, @thenasty1. I was looking at that stuff a while ago, and it seemed to be pretty rad, but I wasn’t sure how it would work out in my res. Calcium is difficult with coco. It needs so much, but really blows up your nitrogen.
Hopefully these other chelates do better than the EDTA, otherwise I’m not sure what other options I’ll have… I could put in a wee bit of calcium chloride, but definitely can’t supplement too much with that before chlorine tox kicks in.
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ive looked around for a calcium supplement that would let me lower N in my feed. best ive been able to do is shave 10-12 ppm off by switching to a more concentrated, low ammonium CaNO3 (cal prime)
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On the lower N. I’m currently experimenting with Jacks in coco.
A combination of the Haifa cal prime @thenasty1 mentioned for it’s higher ca to N.
And GH Calimagic. Would like an alternative to GH.
I’m running my Ec @ 1.7 - 5.9-6.3
Some numbers of possible help. Bottom right are the cal-nits…
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Thanks for giving me a heads up on that stuff! I think that Cal Prime could be enough to make the difference. It’s not quite as low N as I was trying to get to with the Calcium EDTA, but it could be enough.
Just ran some numbers on it. This seems to be pretty workable:
Peters 5-11-26 @ 3.7g
Cal Prime @ 2.0g
Epsom @ 1.2g
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Here’s what that combo would give with Jacks. (I dont have the Peters numbers)
I assume keeping the base as high as possible is better than lower…to keep the micro nutes up?
Damn near a controlled substance. They have the MagPhos too.
https://customhydronutrients.com/haifa-cal-prime-1700235-ca-c-1_47_204_573/
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Those are my numbers for Peters. Most notable exception is that Peters is Jacks with less Epsom. So, lower Mg and S (normally you would add less Epsom with Jacks).
Peters - 3.7g
Haifa - 2g
Epsom - 1.2
N (NO3-) 138.8
K 211.716
P 46.921
Mg 62.657
Ca 131.261
S 80.34
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Wow. That is really close.
You use the hydrobuddy calculator to do you calcs?
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Yea, I see that it’s an oxidizer… might not keep a large amount in the basement. Perhaps better in the shed.
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Is there something better than the calimagic I’m using? I try to use as little as possible.
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Yeah, I really like it. It’s nice to build up the database of chemicals and try out formulas. It’s good enough that I almost just want to go from scratch with raw salts sometimes.
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I don’t really know. I’ve only ready that calcium carbonate is not well absorbed. I wouldn’t care except that I don’t like unknowns like that.
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Ok this is probably the best I can do with the Haifa. I think it’s pretty good. Adding 0.1g MagPhos or MKP is a consideration, but I’m not completely sure if that would be better or worse.
Peters 5-11-26 3.6
Agsil 16H 0.1
Magnesium Sulfate (Heptahydrate) 1.4
Calcium Prime 2.0
N (NO3-) 137.479
K 213.032
P 45.653
Mg 67.048
Ca 131.261
S 86.157
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im trying the cal prime at 1.8 g/gal currently. seems like im seeing Ca inhibiting K uptake at 2 g/gal but the jury is still out on that. ill check back in when i have results. 2 g/gal has been running ok for me so far, but im trying to tweak my recipe to run as long as possible between res changes
you are correct. ive messed around with less than 3.6 g/gal jacks, results were not favorable
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That’s surprising. 2g/gal seems pretty much equivalent to 2.4g/gal calcium nitrate
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its about 10 ppm over by my calculation. i agree that it doesnt seem far off enough to be a problem, but it was my first thought when trying to figure out what is antagonizing K enough to show symptoms of uptake issues. i definitely have enough K in my mix, so ive ruled out deficiency. my next thought is maybe my Mg is a little high, so i will tinker with that next. as i said, 2 g/gal runs well enough (probably spot on for a non recirculating system), but my goal is to keep a res for as long as i can before the soup goes sour. currently i can go about 3 weeks before having to dump and refill, but i think that if i can really dial in the nute ratios, i will be able to run start to finish on one fill with just nute or clean water top offs as needed. all of my indoor work is either f+d or rdwc, and i want to be as efficient as i possibly can with my water usage
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Looking at the numbers, I do see that 2.0g is a little low for the Ca:K ratio if you don’t add 0.1g/gal of either potassium silicate or potassium sulfate. If you do add one of those, then the ratio is the same as the normal 321.
Seems like splitting hairs, but you could be right. The Ca:K balance is delicate in coco. Adding things like MKP usually seems to go horribly wrong…
I’m glad we’re all converging on the same ballpark numbers. I’ll order some CalPrime to start experimenting with, and then I should be able to help test.
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