Maxibloom or Flora Nova: better ph buffering?

[Dimebagg]

Im running a micro DWC in 1 gallon rubbermaid tubs, and looking for a pH buffering nute to help me get in the general area of where I want to be. I kind of have my mind set between Flora Nova and Maxibloom. Im wondering if anyone can tell me from experience which one would get me more in the 5.5 range. Both claim to buffer to 5.5-6.5

 

[dongle69]

The humic/fulvic in FloraNova can help keep the ph a little lower, but they both are good.

 

[pimpjuice]

They both work great. I find myself using maxigrow a lot for my vegging plants, moms etc. Works perfect with my tap water

 

[delta9nxs]

hi, dimebag, the maxibloom will probably give you a lower starting ph depending on your water and is rock stable operating, but i think the flora nova will hold 6.0-6.5 longer and gives me, at least, larger, more dense buds. dongle suggest using maxibloom with floralicious plus, which i haven't tried yet.

if i can remember correctly the maxibloom gave me a starting ph in ro water of 5.2-5.4 at 950 ppm on a .5 meter and the flora nova bloom started me at around 5.8 but immediately went to 6.0-6.5 and stayed there no matter what i did to it. i learned not to worry about ph with flora nova. the plants look good and produce well so who cares what the ph is?

 

[Seed Buyer]

I found the maxi series to be very acidic and would go w/ the Nova indoors. The maxi did do fine on my outdoor dutch pot vegi garden where things didn't need to be dialed in.

 

[xcrispi]

FNB @ 8 ml per gallon w/ my city tap water = 6.0 on the money every time . I don't even check it anymore . I have never used MaxiBloom n can't comment on it though .
Crispi

 

[Dimebagg]

I think I'll be going with floranova. Everything Ive read about both were good reviews, but FN seems to have a few more followers. I just dont want to have to be in a constant pH battle with these little pots. Thanks guys

 

[cpt.poop]

NSR GREENLEAVES BLOOM JUICE..has color coded ph buffers check it out...clear tube check water for color

 

[GrowerGoneWild]

Flora Nova will get you the PH stablity you want..

But has a few problems.

Flora Nova when mixed with RO water tends to PH too low. You might have to raise PH
if you work with ultrapure water. It almost seems like its formulated to work with tap water.

Flora Nova seems to have some problems with solids in a DWC system, literally.. a good portion of the nutrient falls out of the solution and tends to sit on the bottom.. Try and shake a full bottle of FN.. This gives you an idea of the density of the nutrient.

But yes.. Flora Nova is very PH stable. I've literally grown without a PH/PPM meter using flora nova and just watched for nutrient burn and I got some great yields with it.

I have some issues with FN in aeroponic applications or any system that uses emitters.
and its tendency to clog them.

FN barely gets a thumbs up from me.

 

[rock202020]

I use floranova and have nothing but good things to say about it. I dont even have to mess with the PH if I use tap water. I still check it just to be sure....but its always right around 5.5

One thing I will say is make sure you shake up your bottle REALLY well before you dose it. It can get clumpy and settle to the bottom.

 

[Hydro-Soil]

Flora Nova will get you the PH stablity you want..

But has a few problems.

Flora Nova when mixed with RO water tends to PH too low. You might have to raise PH
if you work with ultrapure water. It almost seems like its formulated to work with tap water.

Flora Nova seems to have some problems with solids in a DWC system, literally.. a good portion of the nutrient falls out of the solution and tends to sit on the bottom.. Try and shake a full bottle of FN.. This gives you an idea of the density of the nutrient.

But yes.. Flora Nova is very PH stable. I've literally grown without a PH/PPM meter using flora nova and just watched for nutrient burn and I got some great yields with it.

I have some issues with FN in aeroponic applications or any system that uses emitters.
and its tendency to clog them.

FN barely gets a thumbs up from me.

The reason FNB is soooo thick is they add potting soil. That's what the Canadian test shows. I have a 5 gallon res for an E&F that I change out every 3-4 months, whether it needs it or not. I've only used FNB in it and it doesn't accumulate 'that' much in the bottom.

That being said, I would probably go with the Maxibloom for such a small res. Looking at going that route myself here, next time I buy nutes.

FNB seems to put a film on my testing equipment too.

 

[KUSHT4TUS]

Great thread - I have pH of 7.5 - 8.0 from the tap with low ppms. If I go with Floranova it should keep my DWC pH 5.5-5.7 ?

 

[~Spirit~]

The reason FNB is soooo thick is they add potting soil. That's what the Canadian test shows.

Say what? That can't be right...your saying GH adds soil INTO fnb? What Canadian tests?

 

[slowandeasy]

Switching to Maxi-Bloom tomorrow! FNB is getting on my nerves. Too thick for DWC, and my last bottle had tons of crystals. Warmed up bottle, diluted with water...but still came back. I agree with GGW, with my RO water FNB drops my pH to 5 or so at full strength. If you use it, shake it up everytime very good. I am positive that the thickness and crystals will cause problems, it did for me...thats why I am switching. Will see how they like the switch soon enough.

HS, is right also. FNB has ruined my pH meter, oh wait 2 have acted up. Puts a film on the sensor for sure!

 

[GrowerGoneWild]

The reason FNB is soooo thick is they add potting soil. That's what the Canadian test shows. I have a 5 gallon res for an E&F that I change out every 3-4 months, whether it needs it or not. I've only used FNB in it and it doesn't accumulate 'that' much in the bottom.

That being said, I would probably go with the Maxibloom for such a small res. Looking at going that route myself here, next time I buy nutes.

FNB seems to put a film on my testing equipment too.

I'd like to see a link on that please.

Im not saying i've done it all or know everything but I've run FloraNova for at least 4 years now so I know how it behaves.

Ive run E&F, Aeroponics, DWC, NFT. whatever, it seems to deposit this odd brown sludge on the bottom of tanks, on pumps, or my sensors. I work with 20 gallons at a time.

I typicaly dump nutes every 2 weeks, I simply siphon out the tank and I've noticed more buildup with FN than with the Flora series. Its clearly not decaying root mater, its FN sludge.

I tell you what I will do. I will mix up a little FN in a clear glass, take a picture, and see how it settles overnight.

I personally am considering moving over to NSR Greenleaves Bloom formula. I am hesitant to work a 45 gallon aero system with FN.

FN is good, its just a bit tricky to work with.

 

[dongle69]

The sludge in FloraNova is humic/fulvic acid and a binding agent.
A binding agent of some sort is necessary for all one part liquid nutrients.
Usually is is a polysaccharide solution.

 

[GrowerGoneWild]

The sludge in FloraNova is humic/fulvic acid and a binding agent.
A binding agent of some sort is necessary for all one part liquid nutrients.
Usually is is a polysaccharide solution.

Interesting..

I dont understand why they would use a humic/fulvic acid in that way.Diamond Nectar is a humic/fulvic liquid, and I dont have to worry about anything falling out of the solution like FN.

I did not know about them using a polysaccharide to keep the fulvic in suspension, I never really looked into it, I thought it was some type of organic material similar to a seaweed ferment or something along those lines.

 

[dongle69]

Diamond Nectar is fulvic acid which is golden in color.
Due to labeling restrictions, General Hydroponics lists humic acid on the label as there is no standard for listing fulvic acid yet.
Humic acid is dark, as seen in FloraNova.
CNS17 has the polysaccharide but not the humic/fulvic, and it stays nice and clear/clean is the reservoir.
There is something other than a polysaccharide in FloraNova, but GH didn't reveal it when I asked.

 

[delta9nxs]

hi, dongle, here we go again.

i take fnb and cut it with 3 parts ro water, making four parts total. i have been doing this for 7 years with no problems. i recently bought a 2.5 gal bottle that you could have shaken by hand a 100 yrs and never gotten into solution. i cut the bottle in half and literally dug out the stuff in the bottom with a spoon. big chunks and opaque crystals. if you do not get it into complete solution every time you use it it develops nutrient imbalances, which over time can translate into nutrient deficiencies. once diluted to this ratio a quick shake by hand is all you need to get it completely into solution each use.

it took about an hour of stirring with a commercial paint mixer on a big drill to get a smooth, consistent liquid which i poured into 10 1 gal containers. yet, at this level of dilution it still separates back into 2 parts when left alone. this indicates to me that it is not diluted so much that it does not return to a colloidal suspension. once you dilute past a certain volume, which i have not ascertained, it will not go back into a colloidal suspension. i believe it is then you will have problems with precipitation.

dongle has been told by a gh rep that it is a bad practice to do this. i have been told by another one that it was probably ok at this level of dilution with ro or distilled water.

maxibloom is a superb product that is very easy to use and rock stable from a ph standpoint. but, like dongle, i believe it needs a little humic/fulvic amendment.

i get more dense, hard, heavy buds with fnb, but i've never tried the maxibloom with floralicious plus either.

once you get used to fnb you won't use ph adjusters. in ro water at 950 ppm at .5 it mixes at 5.8 but immediately goes to 6.0-6.5 and then floats back and forth. the plants look and grow great.

the maxibloom mixes at 5.2-5.4 for me and then climbs in solution. i find myself using ph adjusters from time to time.

 

[GrowerGoneWild]

hi, dongle, here we go again.

i take fnb and cut it with 3 parts ro water, making four parts total. i have been doing this for 7 years with no problems. i recently bought a 2.5 gal bottle that you could have shaken by hand a 100 yrs and never gotten into solution.

No kidding, agitation of FN by hand is a joke, I always ended up pouring half out into a container and shakin it up. And pouring it back in a shaking it again, I see that it not effective.

I even used to store the bottle upside down, and there was a sludgy plug.

Very good point about opening up the bottle and scraping out the bottom,

What I need to do is get an empty plastic coffee can and pour out the entire contents, and cut open the 1 gallon container and scrape that out and remix it all.

Thanks for posting that info.