Would you recommend adding silica to the formula?

bamboo sticks are a lot cheaper to hold up your plants than buying silica

Yeah add it. But always first. Or foliar. If used throughout your stems will become really strong. That is one noticeable effect. Have a look at the Lucas Formula if using general hydroponics. So much simpler

think 10-30ppm is the target? can look up such reference information through google and get better specifics. or, just use vermiculite instead of perlite in your substrate and that will provide enough on its own. don't worry about brand when it comes to adding Si... find the cheapest option with the specific molecule you want to use. i know some places try to charge 5-10x for ubiquitous shit. always add it last.. Si and Ca are the two things you have to worry the most about causing a precipitate -- but only at much higher concentrations than what you will feed. Once other parts are diluted, adding the calcium or silicon is safe.

Armor Si is included in GE Professional 10-Part Nutrient System Flora series feed chart. You can check dosage here: generalhydroponics.com/wp-content/uploads/assets/GH_FloraSeries_FeedCharts_USD.pdf They have charts for aggressive, medium and light feed - anyway, start small. I know that Seaweed they have included in the feed chart for NovaMax series, I use it. Didn't see in Flora series feed charts.

Si is good, I use it in my grows, I normally get it from the rock dust powders but it can be used in liquid form as well. The best form is monosilicic acid but its pricey, its available right away and does not fuck the PH to much. Most Si products are potassium silicate and they have a very high PH, and if their PH is lowered to much it messes em up. You can also use amendments that have Si like DE, rice hulls, rock dusts but they are not the best available forms biut they do provide some. There is a new rock dust on the market that gives the plants Ca and Si and when the Si is broken down its in pant available form of acid. its called wollastonite. This is best in grows where you don't get runoff like soil or in garden beds. Can be used in other styles just might wash away the benefit of it. Make sure you add it in first if its KSi then PH adjust after if its needed. Give it a good stir and let it sit for 20 min. It will fall out of solution if its not done right and get real cloudy. This is Silicon Dioxide normally and not available to plants and takes a lot to breakdown. Good Luck!

I’m using GH as well and I did use silica. I used a different brand, but no matter. It’s supposed to make plants stronger and also help them be healthier and be better at fighting off pests. I can say my plants were definitely strong and didn’t have any pest issues. I would recommend it. Just make sure to add it to your mix first. Good luck