Nutrient Calculator

The Habitat nutrient calculator works out an accurate hydroponic feeding recipe for your setup: choose your crop and tank size and it calculates how much of each fertiliser to weigh out, so your solution lands at the right strength instead of a guess. It is free to use and built by Habitat Hydroponics in Windhoek around fertilisers actually available in Namibia.

Getting the mix right matters because nutrient strength (EC) and pH decide how well your plants can feed. Too weak and growth stalls; too strong and you burn roots. The calculator does the arithmetic so you can spend your time growing.
📊 Target EC by crop

Where each crop likes to sit. Pick your crop below and aim for its band — source-water EC is included.

Leafy & herbs Fruiting
0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0
mS/cm
Microgreens
0.8–1.2
Leafy greens
0.8–1.4
Strawberries
1.2–1.5
Cucumbers
1.7–2.5
Peppers
2.0–3.0
Tomatoes
▸
2.0–5.0

Tomatoes can climb higher late-season — up to about 5.0 for a mature crop.

🌱 Source & target EC
Hygrotech
Hygrotech NPK
Hydroponic (NPK + Micro Nutrients)
0 g
Calcium Nitrate
Calcium Nitrate
0 g
Potassium Nitrate
Potassium Nitrate (if required)
0 g
Aquasol Nutri
Aquasol NPK
Hydrofood (NPK + Micro)
0 g
Calcium Nitrate
Calcium Nitrate
0 g
Potassium Nitrate
Potassium Nitrate
0 g
Need more control?

Once you have your recipe: weigh each fertiliser, dissolve it fully in the tank, then confirm the strength with an EC meter such as the Bluelab Conductivity Pen before planting. The recipes use fertilisers we stock locally, including Hygrotech, Aquasol Nutri Hydrofood, calcium nitrate and Omni K potassium nitrate. Rather have it mixed for you? Our mixing service does the weighing and blending, ready to pour.

Frequently asked questions
What EC should my crop run at?

The EC range guide at the top of this page lists the target band per crop. As a general rule, microgreens and leafy greens feed lightly, at roughly 0.8 to 1.4 mS/cm, while fruiting crops such as cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes feed harder, from about 1.7 mS/cm upwards (a mature tomato crop can run to 5.0). Seedlings always start weaker. Check the reading with an EC meter rather than trusting the mix alone.
Can I use borehole water?

Yes, but test it first. Namibian borehole water often carries lime and a high starting EC, which changes how much nutrient the water can accept. Our guide to managing hard borehole water covers testing and what the numbers mean.
Why are hydroponic nutrients split into A and B parts?

Because concentrated calcium (part A) reacts with the sulphates and phosphates (part B) if they sit together, forming solids your plants cannot absorb. Kept separate and only combined once diluted in the tank, everything stays dissolved and available.
How accurate is the result?

The arithmetic is exact for the fertilisers listed; your water is the variable. Water that starts with a high EC or heavy lime shifts the final numbers, so always verify the mixed solution with an EC meter and adjust from there.