Silica in a nutrient solution - Quick Question :D

Discussion in 'Hydroponic Growing' started by Kesey, Dec 24, 2014.

  1. So, I'm back at it. Long time and avid organic farmer, I've been recently drawn to coco. It's not so much a coco question as it is a 'bottle nutes' in general.
     
    My concern is adding potassium silicate (in specific protek) too my res..and in what order should I be mixing. I'm aware that it will raise ph and the open ended potassium can clog the CEC...
     
    Overall I'll be using Canna A+B, some enzymes, their rhizopshere product, and RO water...So I need to supplement calmag...(It's supposed to be around 150-200ppm, right?)
     
    Here's the plan...start with the protek - mix - Canna - Additives - CalMag - THEN ph?
     
    Someone please help this chelate noob xD

     
  2. #2 bizie, Dec 24, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 24, 2014
    Yes, you add silica first. It will raise your ph. Only Rhino Skin wont but it contains very little silicate. I don't use coco and never have but I say don't use anything that the nutrient manufacture hasn't designed to go with the feeding regimen. Its usually the custom formula growers that have the most issues. I grow dwc and use to use calmag and every additive but 8 or something yrs doing dwc I now use very little additives, only silica is constant through the whole grow, none are needed for me to have a healthy grow, none of them are a calmag additive. My suggestion to growers is to always have healthy grows with only a base nutrient under their belt before they employ the additives which are designed for experienced growers.
     
    Also, I would assume that soil or coco plants are more tolerable to the additives since they aren't constantly submerged in the nutes....less exposure..
     
  3. Yah silica is the only additive I plan to use with Canna line. It's too important to not xD. As far as the cal/mag.. I use RO so I have to supplement up to 200 ppm outside of the camg available in the base nutes. I completely agree on the not straying from the program mentality :D
     

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