dry fert explanation

[Rivercats]

Speaking of dry ferts I've heard of dry prime where can I get some of this ??

Thats a new one on me... never heard of it.

 

[blizowman1]

It's called seachem safe I think found it on amazon last night........

Ok so I've decided to buy all my ferts separately so I can dose more precisely but what all am I gonna need is the question.... I know the micro macro mix has


Potassium nitrate
Potassium sulfate
Magnesium sulfate
Plantex CSM+B

Then I was thinking about buying some

Calcium sulfate
Mono potassium phosphate
And maybe some iron chelate 13%

Will I even need these three last ones as a just incase type thing to have I'm planning on buying all my test kits too. I already have the API master kit, and a seachem iron kit. I'm ordering a phosphate and a gh/kh kit do I need just a kh kit too? And I'm getting a dropchecker to monitor my co2 also I'm getting serious about exactly what I need...
My tank runs a 3x54w t5ho 6700k Catalina fixture sitting on legs on top of the tank. I have a aquaclear 70 running two bio bags and a sponge. A sunsun 303b with sponges and pot scrubbers, a 550 Hydor powerheads and a 425 Hydor nano powerheads. 120lbs of Eco complete with 30lbs of flourite mixed into it. With a 5lb pressurized co2 system.

 

[Rivercats]

You macros would be: Potassium nitrate
Potassium sulfate
*Mono potassium phosphate

MgSO4 Magnesium Sulfate is a macro nutrient and unless you have ultra soft water or water with a Gh and Kh under 4 you don't need to add it. Most all tap water has enough Magnesium in it that it normally doesn't need to be added to the tank. Your Gh reading will tell you if you need it. As for the calcium sulfate again depending on your water supply and the Kh reading of your tank water will determine if you need it. You want your planted tank water to be at 4 for both Gh and Kh. So you can get them but don't know if you'll need them. I wouldn't worry about Iron since the micro mix has plenty of iron in it. The test kit I have from API has 1 test in it for Kh and one test in it for Gh, it's a dual test kit.

 

[blizowman1]

Ok so I just looked and te macro mix has magnesium in it so idk why they would have it as a micro maybe it was supposed to say the mono potassium phosphate stuff instead



And I'd wanna mix the potassium nitrate and potassium sulfate together and the the mono potassium phosphate in its own thing? Then the plantex CSM+B in its own thing then the calcium and magnesium in there own thing if I get those

 

[Rivercats]

Personally I mix the potassium nitrate in one container, then potassium sulfate and potassium phosphate in a second container, then the CSM+B in a third container. If you get the magnesium and calcium I would leave them unmixed and use them dry if needed. I have both but have only used the calcium a couple times.

Then you can dose nitrates seperate from your potassium and phosphates. This can allow you to add more or less of each for your tank. For example I add a lower than normal dose of nitrates to my tank and I dose potassium and phosphates slightly higher than a normal dose. This works for my tank. In the beginning you want to dose as recommended which is 1ml for every 10 gallons of water. See how you growth and general health of your plants does for a few weeks plus monitor your nitrates and phosphates to be sure your staying within your recommended levels. Then you can adjust your doses as needed. At least that is how I did it.

 

[blizowman1]

Ok so potassium nitrate = nitrates

Potassium sulfate= potassium

Mono potassium phosphates= phosphates

Plantex CSM+B = iron, magnesium etc...

Is there a way to test for potassium or will extra of it not effect the tank?
And will extra iron effect the tank

 

[Rivercats]

No magnesium in the micro mix. And yes you have them right and too much iron can kill fish. I keep my level between .01 to .03

Almost forgot, I personally don't know of a potassium test but doesn't mean there isn't one.

 

[blizowman1]

alright rivercats....ive aquired 110 bucks in gift cards.....i need to figure out what im gonna get with it for my tank....i figured the phosphate test kit, kh test kit, gh/kh test kit.....drop checker and the liquids off ebay......and my ferts probably from aquariumfertilizer.com cause i find it cheaper....now ive been dosing the micromacro mix and its been working great, should i just get some potassium and iron extra and let that be it or should i get it all seperate and mix it myself and if so what should i get and is there any other test kits i should get???? help me out i know its kind of a repeat but im hoping you can bring it all home so i can get it ordered and on its way....its hard to find good help so thank you

 

[Rivercats]

You only need the one test kit that API makes, it has two tests in it, one test for KH, and one test for GH all in the same box so you don't need to order a seperate KH test kit.

If you ordered their all in one mix then you shouldn't need anything else. Personally I don't use it and know nothing about it so you might want to email them with that question.

 

[blizowman1]

So gh/kh are two seperate test in one box? What do you use each test for to figure out???

 

[Rivercats]

Kh is a measurement of the waters buffering ability, or its ability to absorb and neutralise acid, its alkalinity. The more alkalinity or the higher the Carbonate Hardness of the water the less likely you are to have pH swings in the water. Plants do well around 4 and snails if kept also need a Kh of 4 or above or they begin to have shell deterioration.

Gh is essentially a measurement of Magnesium and Calcium ions in the water. Which most aquarium plants do well in a Gh around 4.

And yes, the API test kit has one test for Gh and one test in it for Kh. Just be sure the box says GH and KH General & Carbonate Hardness Test kit.

 

[blizowman1]

So if the kh is below 4 then I need to add calcium and if gh is below 4 I need to add magnesium?

 

[Rivercats]

That's what I do but never have to add magnesium as my tap water has plenty in it. I have on occassion had to add calcium BUT it seems after a year my tank has stablized at a KH of 4 with my 50% weekly WC's. So I'm lucky, my tank is right where I want it.

 

[blizowman1]

i wish i already had my phosphate kit so i would know if i need to order some when i buy my ferts

 

[blizowman1]

So I'm looking at this aquariumfertilizer.com website and try have a couple things

Barr's GH booster- contains potassium sulfate, calcium sulfate, magnesium sulfate

Calcium chloride- used as a ph buffer and to adjust the calcium hardness of the water

Calcium sulfate- supplies calcium to plants without increasing alkalinity

And magnesium sulfate

 

[Rivercats]

I wouldn't buy anything unless you find your tank needs it down the road.

 

[blizowman1]

so if i do end up dosing calcium which calcium should i buy which one is the right calcium

 

[blizowman1]

and do tanks usually need to be dosed with phosphates?? should food and fish poo make phosphates....and does and excess of phosphates cause algae problems??

 

[Rivercats]

so if i do end up dosing calcium which calcium should i buy which one is the right calcium

If you don't want to raise alkalinity then use the Calcium Sulfate. If you want a ph buffer then use the calcium chloride.

Phosphates are a macro nutrient needed by plants. Fish food can add phosphates but usually not enough to supply what is needed by plants. And it's excess nutrients period along with other factors that cause algae. Lighting tends to be the biggest factor in algae issues. I have alot of non-green plants so I run a high phosphate low nitrate tank and don't have algae issues. You want your phosphates to be .5-1ppms. I run mine at 1.5-2ppm.

 

[blizowman1]

Would I need to add calcium if I'm not trying to raise alkalinity?