SHOGUN SAMURAI HYDRO GROW FOR HARD WATER

Description

SHOGUN Samurai Hydro Grow for Hard Water is a two-part hydroponic base nutrient formulated for use with hard tap water (above 0.4 mS/cm background EC) that we have been recommending to UK growers since 2017. SHOGUN developed the Hard Water variant of Samurai Hydro specifically for the significant proportion of the UK where mains tap water carries a high calcium and magnesium load from chalk and limestone geology. Using a standard nutrient designed for soft water in hard water areas leads to calcium and magnesium excess — raising total EC unnecessarily and potentially causing tip burn or nutrient competition. Samurai Hydro Grow Hard Water accounts for the pre-existing mineral content in hard water, delivering only the additional elements required for a complete and balanced vegetative feed.

Understanding Hard Water Nutrient Adjustment

Hard tap water in much of southern England, the Midlands and East Anglia can carry EC values of 0.4–0.8 mS/cm from dissolved calcium bicarbonate, calcium sulphate and magnesium salts. This pre-existing mineral load must be factored into total EC calculations — a grower targeting 1.6 mS/cm in their reservoir who starts with 0.6 mS/cm hard water only needs to add 1.0 mS/cm of nutrient. Furthermore, the calcium and magnesium already present in hard water means the formulation can reduce these elements relative to the soft water variant, avoiding excess that would compete with other cations and push total EC beyond target. SHOGUN’s hard and soft water variants allow growers in any UK region to use the formulation precisely calibrated for their source water, achieving accurate, reproducible results cycle after cycle.

Feed Rates, EC Management and Programme Compatibility

Mix Part A and Part B at equal volumes in hard tap water. Start EC monitoring before adding nutrients — subtract background EC from your target reservoir EC to determine how much nutrient to add. Target total reservoir EC of 1.2–1.8 mS/cm in early veg, 1.6–2.0 mS/cm in established vegetative growth. Maintain pH 5.8–6.2. Integrate with the full SHOGUN additive range and transition to SHOGUN Samurai Hydro Bloom Hard Water at the start of flowering.