Lessons Learned

[JayP 426]

1. When mixing @Burr740's macros/micros with a gallon jug of distilled water, the result will equal more than a gallon. DUH! 1.3 gallon HDPE jugs on order.
2. Wearing nitrile gloves is probably a good idea when mixing anything, but that's especially true when mixing macros and you have an open cut on your hand. Ouch, that stings!

The good news, I'm one step closer to filling up the next tank. Hopefully tomorrow.

 

[Unexpected 4]

Maybe I do it wrong, but I pour some out then add all the powders then add back what I removed up to the gallon mark. There a bit of water left over.

 

[JayP 426]

Maybe I do it wrong, but I pour some out then add all the powders then add back what I removed up to the gallon mark. There a bit of water left over.

That was the process, but I felt what was left over was more than a bit, especiaaly for the macros. I ended up pouring everything into a 5 gallon bucket to do the initial mix until well dissolved, then split it up into 2 gallon jugs for now since I keep spare empty jugs around.

 

[Burr740 67]

Lol I really need to add a note in the instructions for the gallon, to pour some out to make room for the dry salt volume, and save it to refill with

On one hand this seems redundant its so obvious. On the other hand, I also remember about 17 years ago the exact moment I learned you had to do this too after making a big mess at the kitchen table lol. So maybe not so obvious after all!

 

[JayP 426]

Lol I really need to add a note in the instructions for the gallon, to pour some out to make room for the dry salt volume, and save it to refill with

On one hand this seems redundant its so obvious. On the other hand, I also remember about 17 years ago the exact moment I learned you had to do this too after making a big mess at the kitchen table lol. So maybe not so obvious after all!

Your instructions are fine. The gallon jugs of distilled water from the grocery store are just filled so close to the top, that the entire mix just won't fit back in the same jug.

 

[TRyan 1]

I had the same dilemma, @JayP . I asked Joe about this and he said to...

1. take your gallon of distilled water you bought at the grocery store and empty 1/3 gallon into a separate container.

2. Empty the whole gallon pack of burraqua fertilizer into the 2/3 full gallon container.

3. Take that 1/3 gallon that you set aside and fill your original gallon jug back to full.

4. Discard remaining water.

This stands true for 500ml packs and 1000ml packs as well.

Say you have an empty 1000ml bottle. You would pour contents into bottle and fill to top. Done. You wouldn't fill it with water first and then empty 1/3 of the water into separate container. Empty contents of packet, then fill back up. You would have water left over. No need to get a 1500 ml bottle to use all of the water.

No need for a larger container to use all of the remaining water. The fertilizer packets are measured in this manner.

 

[JayP 426]

4. Discard remaining water.

No need for a larger container to use all of the remaining water. The fertilizer packets are measured in this manner.

Ah! This is the part I didn't understand, the packs are measured to account for the leftover water being discarded.

Oh well, hopefully the leftover amount didn't dilute the mix too much. I guess that part would be good to add to the directions.

 

[Unexpected 4]

Ah! This is the part I didn't understand, the packs are measured to account for the leftover water being discarded.

Oh well, hopefully the leftover amount didn't dilute the mix too much. I guess that part would be good to add to the directions.

It's about the volume. Making 1 gallon, or any amount, the powbers have volume and become a part of the 1 gallon in volume you are making. So some water has to leave.

 

[Burr740 67]

Its always based on the container size. The amount of water that winds up in the mix is irrelevant, it just is what it is

500 ML, 1000 ML, and 1 gallon packs refers to the container size alone. Its not for 500 ML of water, its for a 500 ML container. Calculators like rotalabutterfly work the same way. The field is "container size"

The added volume of the ferts is why the instructions say "fill your container about 2/3 full... add the entire contents of the pack... finish filling container"

The gallon jugs of distilled you buy are perfect for making the mix in, and come with the right kind of water. But you need to pour 8-10 oz out first to make room for the ferts, esp for macros or AiO. Then add back however much it holds after the ferts. Shake it up good per instructions then you use the gallon jug to fill your containers up, whatever size they are, as needed

Shelf life after mixing is 5+ years and counting. Thats why the gallons are a no-brainer for regular users. Its almost 8x 500 ML worth for 79 shipped (Macros and Micros)

 

[JayP 426]

Its always based on the container size. The amount of water that winds up in the mix is irrelevant, it just is what it is

500 ML, 1000 ML, and 1 gallon packs refers to the container size alone. Its not for 500 ML of water, its for a 500 ML container. Calculators like rotalabutterfly work the same way. The field is "container size"

The added volume of the ferts is why the instructions say "fill your container about 2/3 full... add the entire contents of the pack... finish filling container"

The gallon jugs of distilled you buy are perfect for making the mix in, and come with the right kind of water. But you need to pour 8-10 oz out first to make room for the ferts, esp for macros or AiO. Then add back however much it holds after the ferts. Shake it up good per instructions then you use the gallon jug to fill your containers up, whatever size they are, as needed

Shelf life after mixing is 5+ years and counting. Thats why the gallons are a no-brainer for regular users. Its almost 8x 500 ML worth for 79 shipped (Macros and Micros)

Should I make a tiny adjustment to my dosing to account for that extra water I mixed in rather than discarded? It wasn't much.

 

[Burr740 67]

Should I make a tiny adjustment to my dosing to account for that extra water I mixed in rather than discarded? It wasn't much.

If you put the entire pack in the gallon jug and filled it back up with the same distilled water, even if you filled it all the way to the rim, its fine

Long as you didnt remove any after adding the ferts. If theres a gallon pack of ferts in there its golden