UC Roots vs HTH Super Shock It Treatment
Cultured Solution UC Roots
Let's first talk about UC roots. UC roots contains Hypochlorous acid of less than 0.1% and 99% or greater of water. The ingredients below are taken directly from their MSDS sheet as they do not provide the ingredients on the product bottle; I don't blame them, they are charging for 99% of water!
The ingredients:
- Hypochlorous Acid (< 0.1%)
- Water (>99%)
The usage instructions on the back of the bottle state:
| Hydro | dosage |
| Hydroponic Recirculating System | Add 1-7mL per gallon |
| Hydroponic Drain To Waste | Add 3-5mL per gallon |
| Final Harvest Flush | Add 5mL per gallon |
HTH Super Shock It Treatment (Canada)
Now let's talk about HTH Super Shock It Treatment (Canadian version). This product contains Calcium hypochlorite (65%) in a granular form. When you dissolve the pool shock in water it forms into Hypochlorous acid. Wait, what did I just say? Did I just say that pool shock, once dissolved in water, turns into Hypochlorous Acid? isn't UC roots just Hypochlorous Acid?
The ingredients:
- Calcium hypochlorite (65%)
First, I want to clarify that I just don't take a scoop of HTH Super Shock It Treatment and toss it in my reservoir. I first make a 1 gallon diluted batch of the mix then add the diluted mix to my reservoir. I mix a concentrated solution first of 5 grams of pool shock to 1 gallon of water in a storage container. Then I add 3-5 ml per gallon every 3 days or during my routine res change from the concentrated solution. uhmmm, isn't that the same usage instructions as UC Roots? hmmmmm.
HTH Super Shock It Treatment (USA)
The USA version of HTH Super Shock It Treatment is not the same as the Canadian version of HTH Super Shock It Treatment. The USA version of pool shock is not suitable for growing cannabis and should not be used in your reservoir as the "other ingredients" include calcium hypochlorite, sodium chloride, calcium hydroxide, calcium chlorate, calcium carbonate and calcium chloride. Why are the different? I have no clue.
The ingredients:
- Calcium hypochlorite (54.44%)
- Other Ingredients (43.56%)
Conclusion
UC roots and HTH Super Shock It Treatment dissolved in water are exactly the same product. There is no difference other than the UC roots is pre-mixed with water forming the Hypochlorous Acid. You can continue to pay for 99% water at a premium or you can mix 9,000 dollars worth of UC roots for $6.79. I'll leave you with that :)
Cost comparison:
| Product | Size | Cost | Notes |
| Cultured Solution UC Roots | 1 Gallon liquid | $99.00 (CAD) + shipping | Pre-mixed solution. |
| HTH Super Shock It Treatment (Canada) | 0.454 kg (1 lb) granular | $6.79 (CAD) | I can make 90.8 one gallon batches working out to be about 0.075 cents per gallon. |
References
HTH Super Shock It Treatment Canada(MSDS)
http://www.hth.co.za/msds/MSDS%20-%20HTH%20Calcium%20Hypochlorite.pdf
HTH Super Shock It Treatment USA (MSDS)
https://images.homedepot-static.com/catalog/pdfImages/98/9845cd42-1aba-4f62-957f-81130aeef889.pdf
UC Roots (MSDS)
https://cch2o.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/UC-Roots-SDS-USA.pdf
This post might be a shock for some people... get it "shock".... haha i crack myself up. Oh right the disclaimer, this is my personal opinion and I do not represent or sell any of these products. This is my personal research shared with you so you can make an educated informed decision.
Have a great grow!