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Comprehensive Guide to Properly Replenishing the SNAP Working Solution

An illustration showing the working solution level replenished and is sitting just below the bottoms of the seedling plugs.

Replenishment of the SNAP working solution inside the grow box is an important part of maintaining the SNAP Hydroponics system. The amount of working solution inside the grow box will decrease overtime as the solution gets depleted through evaporation and transpiration. In addition, the concentration of nutrients in the solution will decrease as the plants consume them to power their growth.

When initially set up, the bottom of the seedling plugs are immersed in the working solution by about 1-2cm. The working solution enters the cup through the slits and saturates the growing medium. Because of this, the seedlings grow in water logged condition.

an illustration showing seedling plugs and grow boxes in their initial arrangement
Initially, the bottom of the seedling plugs is immersed in the nutrient solution by about 1-2 cm.

To survive being water logged, the plants grow aerial roots. These are roots that are not totally submerged in water and are exposed to the moist air within the grow box.

Illustration showing grown aerial roots and lower working solution level
Aerial roots has grown and the working solution level has gone down.

As the plant grows, more roots will develop and make their way into the working solution. Evaporation and transpiration will reduce the working solution level until it is no longer in contact with the bottom of the cups. At this point, if everything is going well, the medium is no longer in contact with the working solution but the plants still have access to the working solution because roots have grown out of the cup through the slits and into the working solution. The rate at which the working solution level decreases will increase as the plants grow larger.

As the plants develop further, more of the solution will be consumed. It is important to regularly check the working solution level and never let it dry up.

Illustration showing the level of working solution within the grow box as very low.
The working level is low and needs replenishment.

To replenish the working solution add fresh working solution or plain water (details below) to increase the working solution level so that it is just below the bottoms of the seedling plugs. DO NOT return the working solution level to its initial level because this will very likely submerge a majority of the aerial roots and cause the plants to wilt and eventually kill them.

An illustration showing the working solution level replenished and is sitting just below the bottoms of the seedling plugs.
Working solution level replenished and is sitting just below the bottoms of the seedling plugs.

Leafy vegetables generally reaches marketable size by around three to four weeks after transplant and normally doesn’t require replenishment. In cases that they must be kept beyond a month or if the working solution level has gone down faster than normal (specially in the summer months) and the working solution level must be replenished, they should be replenished with plain water. This is because the working solution still has enough nutrients to fuel their growth.

For vegetables that require a longer growing period, replenishment with fresh working solution is required every month. In most cases, the working solution level will go down sooner than a month especially for large plants that transpire water faster. In this case, replenish the working solution level with plain water.

That’s it! If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment below. Happy growing!

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Comprehensive Guide on How to Prepare the SNAP Working Solution

a solution with a slightly yellow and cloudy appearance.

The correct mixture of water and SNAP Nutrient Solution for Hydroponics A and B is called the working solution. This diluted mixture contains all the nutrients a plant needs in order to grow. The working solution also regulates its own pH making sure it is in the proper range for optimal nutrient uptake.

How to Prepare the SNAP Working Solution

Start with ten liters (10L) of clean water. Water from regular sources, tap water, well water, etc., works well. The use of pure rain water and pure distilled (reverse osmosis) water is discouraged because pure rain water and pure distilled water has a neutral pH. Sometimes they are even slightly acidic due to the presence of dissolved carbon dioxide gas.

water being poured on a grow box.
Adding ten liters of clean water.

SNAP is designed for regular water sources which in the Philippines are often slightly alkaline. If the working solution is prepared from water with neutral to slightly acidic pH the resulting working solution will be ineffective because the resulting solution will have a pH level that is way below the optimal range. Please see this video that demonstrates the effect of water quality to the pH of the resulting working solution for more information.

Add 25mL of SNAP A. Mix well. Add 25mL of SNAP B. Mix well. Please note the emphasis on mixing well after adding SNAP A and SNAP B. Either SNAP A or SNAP B can go into the mixture first but do not add both at the same time nor mix SNAP A and SNAP B together before adding them in water. This is because the components of SNAP A and SNAP B will react with each other and will render the resulting solution useless. This is also the reason why SNAP A and SNAP B are in separate bottles.

When properly mixed the resulting working solution has a slightly yellow and cloudy appearance.

a solution with a slightly yellow and cloudy appearance.
Ten liters of properly mixed SNAP working solution.

Additional Notes

Different volumes of working solution can be prepared by mixing SNAP A/B and water in a 2.5mL per L ratio, i.e, 2.5mL of SNAP A and 2.5mL of SNAP B for every liter of water.

To prepare one (1) liter of working solution half a teaspoon may be used because one teaspoon is equivalent to 2.46mL.

SNAP nutrient solution sets from authorized resellers usually comes with measuring cups. To use them fill up the cup with nutrient solution up to the level indicated in the picture below.

picture of cup with 25mL level indicator.
The line in the picture above is at 25mL.

White and powdery precipitates may appear in the working solution just after mixing or after a few days or weeks after transplanting seedlings onto the working solution. This is normal, it is not harmful and in will not effect the growth of the plants.

For larger applications, the use of a large 200L drum is recommended. A drum with a 200L capacity can be used to prepare a 201L working solution by simply mixing 500mL of SNAP A (the whole bottle) and 500mL of SNAP B (again, the whole bottle). This 200L working solution is enough for 20 styrofoam boxes which can grow a total of 160 heads of lettuce or other leafy vegetables.

a large blue 200L container
A generic 200L container.

That’s it! If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment below. Good luck and happy growing!

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How to Prepare SNAP Working Solution

SNAP working solution is a mixture of water and SNAP Hydroponics nutrient solution that is used to grow plants. The working solution provides the nutrients a plant needs in order to grow. This post contains information on how to prepare a SNAP working solution.

A typical use case is to prepare 10L of working solution for a standard sized growbox. To prepare 10L of working solution:

  1. Start with 10L of tap or well water.
  2. Add 25 mL of SNAP A.
  3. Mix well.
  4. Add 25 mL of SNAP B.
  5. Mix well.

The video below demonstrates:

The order by which SNAP A and SNAP B is added doesn’t matter. What is important is that they are not mixed together before being added to water. It is also important that the solution is mixed well before adding the next nutrient solution. SNAP comes in two bottles because it has components that will chemically react with each other if mixed in high concentrations. The components will form soluble and insoluble salts that will render them useless for hydroponics use. The video below demonstrate what would happen if SNAP A and SNAP B is mixed together.

Smaller volumes of working solution can also be prepared if needed. Simply add 2.5mL of SNAP A and SNAP B for every liter of water (diluting in between).

Common Questions

Can I use distilled water?

Using distilled water is not recommended. SNAP is designed to work with Philippine municipal water sources which are typically alkaline (pH values above 7). SNAP is designed to lower that to a pH range that plants require. Distilled water is neutral and using this to prepare the working solution will result in a solution which is extremely acidic.

ph meter reading 3.7pH
The pH of the working solution when distilled water is used.

Can I use rainwater?

It depends on the conditions on how the rainwater is collected. Pure rain water is very similar to distilled water and is not recommended for the same reasons mentioned above. The video below demonstrates this:

A 1:1 mixture rainwater and tap water can be used.

How do I use the measuring cup that is included in my SNAP Hydroponics Kit?

Please refer to the picture below:

Picture of measuring cups with text instructions.
How to use the measuring cup included in SNAP Hydroponics Kit

I’ve seen an instructional video saying I need to add 75mL of SNAP A and SNAP B. Is that correct?

Old formulations of SNAP Hydroponics uses 75mL. Current formulation requires only 25mL of SNAP A and 25mL of SNAP B.

If you have any questions please leave a comment below. Good luck and happy growing!