Recreating a Mixture with Different Substances

Have you ever seen a successful nutrient formula online but found you don't have the exact same ingredients? A common scenario is wanting to replicate a formula like "MB Tomato" but only having products like Jack's and Flora Grow on hand.

This guide will walk you through a powerful workflow in Hydro-Calc to replicate the nutrient profile of a mixture using a completely different set of ingredients.

The Premise

Let's say your friend had great results with the standard "Master-Blend Tomato" formula, and you want to try it.

• The Goal Formula: Uses Master-Blend (4-18-38), Calcium Nitrate (15.5-0-0), and Epsom Salt (Magnesium Sulfate).
• Your Ingredients: You have Jack's 5-12-26 and FloraGro 2-1-6.

How can you get as close as possible to the Master-Blend nutrient profile using only your Jack's and FloraGro?

Step 1: Populate Your Shelf

The first step is to ensure all substances involved—both from the original formula and your own inventory—are on your Shelf. Even though you don't physically possess Master-Blend, you need its data in the system to calculate the target profile.

1. Navigate to the Substances page and search the global database for "Master-Blend 4-18-38", "Calcium Nitrate", and "Epsom Salt".
2. Use the "Add to Shelf" button for each one.
3. Do the same for your on-hand ingredients: "Jack's 5-12-26" and "FloraGro 2-1-6".

Your shelf now contains all the necessary building blocks.

Step 2: Create the Original Mixture

Next, create the original "MB Tomato" mixture to establish our target nutrient profile.

1. Go to the Mixtures page and create a new mixture. Name it something like "MB Tomato - Reference".
2. Add the three Master-Blend ingredients from your shelf: Master-Blend, Calcium Nitrate, and Epsom Salt.
3. Enter the standard amounts for the formula (e.g., a common ratio is 2.4g of Master-Blend, 2.4g of Calcium Nitrate, and 1.2g of Epsom Salt per gallon). Enter these values into "Amount A".

You now have a reference mixture. The "Nutrient Analysis" panel shows the exact PPM for N, P, K, and other micronutrients that this recipe provides. This profile is what we want to replicate.

Step 3: Create a Nutrient Target from the Mixture

This is the key step. We will use the new "Create Nutrient Target" feature to save the nutrient profile from our reference mixture.

1. In the Mixture Editor for your "MB Tomato - Reference" mix, locate the Analysis & Optimization Toolbar.
2. Click the Create Nutrient Target from Current button (the bullseye icon).
3. A dialog will appear. Give your new target a descriptive name, like "MB Tomato Profile", and click "Save".

You have successfully captured the chemical fingerprint of the Master-Blend formula.

Step 4: Create a New Mixture with Your Ingredients

Now it's time to build your version.

1. Create another new mixture. Name it "My Tomato Formula".
2. In the "Nutrient Target Selector", choose the "MB Tomato Profile" you just created. The Nutrient Analysis grid will now show this profile as the target.
3. Add the substances you have on hand from your shelf: "Jack's 5-12-26" and "FloraGro 2-1-6". You can also add Calcium Nitrate and Epsom Salt if you have them, as they are common ingredients.

Step 5: Run the Optimizer

This is where the magic happens. Your new mixture has the goal (MB Tomato Profile) and the ingredients (Your On-Hand Substances). Now, let the optimizer do the work.

1. Click the Run Optimization button.
2. The optimizer will attempt to find the best combination of your available ingredients to match the target nutrient profile as closely as possible.
3. When it's finished, the "Amount B" column will populate with the calculated amounts of Jack's, FloraGro, etc., that you should use.
4. The "Nutrient Analysis" grid and "Nutrient Chart" will show you how closely your new formula matches the target profile.

You have successfully recreated a nutrient profile using a different set of ingredients, unlocking a powerful way to adapt and customize formulas!