Substances

In Hydro-Calc, a Substance is any individual fertilizer, chemical, or additive that you use in your nutrient solutions. Each substance contains a detailed Nutrient Analysis (NPK + micronutrients) and other metadata.

Global vs. User Substances

There are two main categories of substances in the system:

• Global Substances: A pre-populated library of common hydroponic chemicals (e.g., Calcium Nitrate, Magnesium Sulfate) and popular commercial fertilizers. These are available to all users and are read-only.
• User Substances: Custom substances that you create yourself. You can define the exact nutrient breakdown for any fertilizer you use that isn't in the global library.

Managing Your Substances

Adding a Custom Substance

If you have a unique fertilizer or a specific batch with a custom analysis:

1. Go to the Substances page.
2. Click the "Add New Substance" button.
3. Fill in the substance details, including its name, formulation, description, and most importantly, as well as nutrient details in a % by weight format.
4. Save the new substance. It will now appear in your list of substances.

Configuring Global Substances for Your Use

You can easily add any global substance to your personal library for use in your mixtures.

1. Browse the global substances list.
2. Click the Add to Shelf button on the substance you want to use.

The Importance of Accurate Data

The accuracy of your nutrient calculations depends entirely on the accuracy of the nutrient analysis for your substances. Always use the values provided on the manufacturer's label or from a lab analysis.

For commercial liquid nutrients, you'll also need to know the Density (g/ml) and Price to get accurate weight and cost calculations. You can manage these parameters from your Shelf page.

By effectively managing your substances, you ensure that your nutrient calculations are based on accurate data, leading to more precise and effective nutrient solutions.