LECA PH

[swiatoniowski]

Hello,

I don't use oryginal LECA in fact, because it is not obtainable here. But I use something very similar.
I measured ph of water with granules and it turned out, that even after few rinsing it is 9 ph !
I cannot find good solution how to make it for example 6 ph. I suppose I can use 10 % vinegar with water, soak granules and later rinsing again in pure water.
Could you advise me or give link to thread with such recipe ?

Piotr

[Ray]

Try to soak it in clean water for several days. Then dump and soak again at least overnight. If the pH of THAT solution is still high, don't use the medium.

[swiatoniowski]

Thanks for the reply. I read on your web site, that you advise to soak in solution of calcium nitrate and magnesium sulfate, but I am not sure, what it means... If in case of Prime Agra, there is no problem with too high ph and calcium nitrate and magnesium sulfate just add Ca and Mg ?
In case of my granules I suppose i should rather use some acid to eliminate Ca ?
I will try to use your advise and soak in pure water and later check ph.

Piotr

[Ray]

First of all, properly fired LECA is usually dead-on neutral, so the applied solutions and the actions of the plants themselves are what control the pH.

Various chemicals are using in the process of making LECA - binders to hold the balls together in their "green", unfired state, and to create the porosity in the desired form. Sometimes there are residues from them, and often the balls are quenched with non-potable water (sometimes seawater) to coll them down and quash the dust. The addition of the calcium nitrate and/or magnesium sulfate to the soak solution helps extract those residues, and leaves behind plant nutrients.

Magnesium sulfate does not affect the pH appreciably, which is why it's a great addition to fertilizer for magnesium enhancement.

If your medium is too high in calcium, it is unlikely that any acid treatment will lower it sufficiently. I was just questioning (hence the soak) if it was from the manufacturing residues.

[swiatoniowski]

Thank you for the reply. I will look for other Leca like material. I wish to be sure, that my plants have good medium. Unfortunately in Poland nothing is simple...