Lucas formula - addback method and additive products (Floralicious plus/CalMag)?????

[dunumptanum]

Hi All,

I've been googling like crazy and I can't find a clear answer on this. I'm an experienced soil grower of many years, but I've just upgraded my system to a DWC Hydro system (home made storage tote) and I've just started my first grow.

I'm using the lucas formula (standard GH Flora) with Floralicious plus, CalMag and Cannazyme additives. I'm using the "add back" calculator method to top up my reservoir weekly with additional nutes to maintain my PPM (No reservoir dumps/changes, just topped with plain water during the week and one nute "add back" once per week). I know lucas himself does not recommend using additives, but I've had good luck in the past during my soil grows so I would like to continue my trend. Additionally, I've found out the hard way that I *MUST* use CalMag with my water to avoid deficiencies.

My question:
- I'm wondering what rate extra Floralicious plus and extra CalMag should be added to a DWC reservoir during my nutrient "add back" top up every week?

Assuming that my initial reservoir is filled with full strength nutrients and additives, my gut tells me that adding additional new, full strenth doses of floralicious plus and CalMag every single week on top of the existing nutes in my reservoir would be a bad idea, possibly building up to toxic levels?

My best guess right now is to equate the Floralicious plus and CalMag dosages to the Lucas formula ratio. I'd love to hear your thoughts:

For example, the floralicious directions instruct you to add 1ml per gallon when mixing a fresh reservoir. The CalMag directions say to add 5ml per gallon when mixing a fresh reservoir. So, I figure if I'm running the 0-8-16 strength Lucas formula, for every 8mls of micro and 16mls of bloom that I'm required to add back to maintain my target PPM (or in other words, for every "gallons worth" of full strength mixed Lucas formula mixture), I should also add 1ml of floralicious plus and 5ml of Calmag?

My reasoning is that this would be the same "ratio" of nute strength when mixing a fresh reseroir.


I'm really not sure so I'm hoping someone with experience with the Lucas Formula, DWC and these nutes might be able to guide me. I would really hate for something in the floralicious or CalMag to build up to a toxic level, or just as bad to be missing out on its full potential. What do you guys think?

Also, on a side note, the cannazym instructions state that if reusing the growth media (which I assumes applies to DWC without reservoir changes) to double the weekly dosage. Makes sense to me, but since I'm already making this post I figure I'll check if this sounds right to you guys?

Cheers!

dunumptanum Reviewed by dunumptanum on 10-03-2011. Lucas formula - addback method and additive products (Floralicious plus/CalMag)????? Hi All, I've been googling like crazy and I can't find a clear answer on this. I'm an experienced soil grower of many years, but I've just upgraded my system to a DWC Hydro system (home made storage tote) and I've just started my first grow. I'm using the lucas formula (standard GH Flora) with Floralicious plus, CalMag and Cannazyme additives. I'm using the "add back" calculator method to top up my reservoir weekly with additional nutes to maintain my PPM (No reservoir dumps/changes, just Rating: 5

[CanGroIt]

Just change out your res every week and call it a day....

No math to figure out....no nute levels to divide for "addback".... Just straight up res change every week and add fresh nutes.... Unless you deliberately want to make even more complicated than it already is....

Did you not create or design your DWC bucket with a draining method???

CGI::::::

[ogganjagrower]

Im wondering the same thing!!

[dunumptanum]

Hi CanGroIt, thanks for taking the time to reply but you're totally missing the point. Lucas himself states that there is no need for nutrient changes (not that I want to debate it), and I'm not particularly keen to wash my money down the drain for no reason. I put my question in bold because that is what I'm want/need information on, I'm not interested in debating the method... Just be confident that this is will work best for my situation. Thank you anyway, no disrespect


Can anybody shed any light on my actual question for me (and ogganjagrower)?

[CanGroIt]

Hi CanGroIt, thanks for taking the time to reply but you're totally missing the point. Lucas himself states that there is no need for nutrient changes (not that I want to debate it), and I'm not particularly keen to wash my money down the drain for no reason. I put my question in bold because that is what I'm want/need information on, I'm not interested in debating the method... Just be confident that this is will work best for my situation. Thank you anyway, no disrespect


Can anybody shed any light on my actual question for me (and ogganjagrower)?

Well then the answer to your question in bold is very easy....you probably already know the answer....I think you might have mentioned it during your initial post....

You simply divide the full strength amount to the necessary level for the amount of H2O being added or used for "top off"....

So if you are giving 5ml of calmag per gal of water, you would only give 2.5ml of calmag when you topoff with 2liters of water.... Know what I mean???

Click on "PPM's Made Easy" in my signature.... The two page thread has a ton of relevant info for you and every other newbie to hydro....

On a side note: The reason I don't like this addback method is because you as the grower are assuming that the plant is using all the nutrients at the same rate or levels given.... When you res change every week, you know exactly how much of what is in there....or at least what was given in the last week and should only be in there....

Have fun though....that's what this is all about....:jointsmile:....

CGI::::::

[CanGroIt]

Assuming that my initial reservoir is filled with full strength nutrients and additives, my gut tells me that adding additional new, full strenth doses of floralicious plus and CalMag every single week on top of the existing nutes in my reservoir would be a bad idea, possibly building up to toxic levels? ----No....the levels should not build or be toxic if the plant is eating up the nutes given.... And the best way to find out just how much nutes have been gobbled up, you do a ppm test after topping off.... Your ppms should be much lower than they were when you last gave nutes....



My best guess right now is to equate the Floralicious plus and CalMag dosages to the Lucas formula ratio. I'd love to hear your thoughts:

For example, the floralicious directions instruct you to add 1ml per gallon when mixing a fresh reservoir. The CalMag directions say to add 5ml per gallon when mixing a fresh reservoir. So, I figure if I'm running the 0-8-16 strength Lucas formula, for every 8mls of micro and 16mls of bloom that I'm required to add back to maintain my target PPM (or in other words, for every "gallons worth" of full strength mixed Lucas formula mixture), I should also add 1ml of floralicious plus and 5ml of Calmag? ----DING DING DING DING DING.... Someone please give this member a prize.... you are correct.... Yes you should add 1ml of floraliscious plus and 5ml of calmag per gallon of top off....once per week.... Why? Because your ppm level should increase every week to sustain and/or promote growth.... And if you ever go over your desired ppm range, you can remove some res water and add fresh "top off" water....



My reasoning is that this would be the same "ratio" of nute strength when mixing a fresh reseroir. ----That's the point when wanting to keep the ppm level to where you want it.... Plus, your plant should be able to handle the higher ppm count if nute tolerance is built correctly....


I'm really not sure so I'm hoping someone with experience with the Lucas Formula, DWC and these nutes might be able to guide me. I would really hate for something in the floralicious or CalMag to build up to a toxic level, or just as bad to be missing out on its full potential. What do you guys think? ----As long as you watch your ppm levels, you will not have any problems....




Also, on a side note, the cannazym instructions state that if reusing the growth media (which I assumes applies to DWC without reservoir changes) to double the weekly dosage. Makes sense to me, but since I'm already making this post I figure I'll check if this sounds right to you guys?

Cheers!

Hope that helps.... I don't have any experience with cannazym so I can't help ya there....

CGI::::::

[dunumptanum]

Yeah that makes sense, thanks again for your input. I'll try and update with my results, wish me luck!

[CanGroIt]

Yeah that makes sense, thanks again for your input. I'll try and update with my results, wish me luck!

:thumbsup: Good Luck!!!


CGI::::::

[dunumptanum]

So far, so good. I've performed a nutrient addback last week, and I'm due to perform another tomorrow. My plants look happy and healthy, and are growing at a terrifying rate! I've noticed that over the last few days, my PH has slowly began to drift downwards. I've added a total of 4ml PH up so far in the last week and a bit, which isn't much at all, but before experimenting with addbacks my PH would barely move. My roots look and smell fine, so I'm doubting its root rot or anything like that causing the PH shift... Possibly just the nute balances shifting as the tank gets older?