Dry ferts

[George9]

Hi
I would like to get some better ferts than flourish. But dry ferts seem so much more complicated than I though.
I want it for my 60 g somewhat heavyish planted tank. I have 108 watts of t5 HO I believe, root tabs and flourish weekly. Plants look okay, but not as good as they can.

First, should I have co2 if I go the dry fert route? I've been looking at aquariumfertilizer.com and green leaf aquarium, they seem identical. Question Is, what kind do I buy? I see all these different chemicals like potassium nitrate and all that jazz, but I don't know which ones are needed.

How do I dose them? I heard about the EI method and the pps (I think it is) and the EI seems easier, but not sure. Could I combine these frets into one solution and dose? How often?

Thanks in advance, and pardon my stupidity lol

 

[paytertot]

I'd like to know about this also so I'm subscribing. I've heard of the latter brand, and I think they have some sort of complete package. Have you looked at that? I don't know any more than you do, hopefully others with more knowledge will chime in to help you out

 

[blert]

http://greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizers-supplements/micro-macro-fertilizers.html

Then decided your dosing scheme.

 

[George9]

http://greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizers-supplements/micro-macro-fertilizers.html

Then decided your dosing scheme.

So, do I mix them together? Or dose separately?

I'd like to know about this also so I'm subscribing. I've heard of the latter brand, and I think they have some sort of complete package. Have you looked at that? I don't know any more than you do, hopefully others with more knowledge will chime in to help you out

Hmm, I have not heard of the latter brand. I should look it up

 

[paytertot]

The latter brand meaning green leaf Aquarium

 

[Aspencer]

I bought dry ferts, mixed in bottle so I pour two 5 ml of mixtures into tank each day, micro in one bottle and macro in one bottle. Much cheaper than store bought ferts...I use PPS PRO regiem...google it.

 

[George9]

Ok, I'm starting to understand this. So, I will get two water bottles (probably going to buy two of those dosing container things) and I'll mix a certian amount of KNO3, KH2PO4, K2SO4 on one bottle, and Plantex CSM + B in one bottle? Then dose 6 ml of each (or total?) each day. So, should I fill the bottles up with regular dechlorinated bottles? I found a calculator that tells how many grams of each depending on the bottle size.

I'm going to buy this I think: Micro & Macro | Aquarium Fertilizer | Green Leaf Aquariums
I'm using this calculator to figure out how many grams of each: https://sites.google.com/site/aquaticplantfertilizer/home/pps-pro

 

[Aspencer]

There is a spreadsheet that tells you how much ferts to put in to dose a certain amount..for example, my mixtures are for 10 ml per 10g so I can dose each tank the correct amount...55g is dosed 50 ml.

 

[Aspencer]

When beginning, I always get green water for about a week. I just change water every day and soon, the system is in balance and now crystal clear water with little or no algae, but I want algae on the glass for my MTS since I have sand substrate so I leave the lights on for 11 hours on my 55g. You will find the point where everything is in balance. Water changes are the key for fish and plants.

 

[George9]

There is a spreadsheet that tells you how much ferts to put in to dose a certain amount..for example, my mixtures are for 10 ml per 10g so I can dose each tank the correct amount...55g is dosed 50 ml.

How do I know how much say, potassium nitrate I need though? I found a spreadsheet that tells how much to put in each mixture, but not how much to get to a certain amount.

 

[Aspencer]

For 5 ml dosing per 10g...
K2S04 8.85 grams
KH2P04 .9 grams
MgS04 6.15 grams
I do not dose KN03 since I have NitrAtes in water already

other bottle
CSM+B 12 grams

Bottle are .75 liters or 500 ml I think.

 

[Aspencer]

It is also a function of lighting...

10g 24 watt per CFL for 9 hours
20g L one 34 watt T5H0 for 9 hours
55g one 34 T5H0 for 11 hours

I am totally sure of my bulbs

 

[George9]

For 5 ml dosing per 10g...
K2S04 8.85 grams
KH2P04 .9 grams
MgS04 6.15 grams
I do not dose KN03 since I have NitrAtes in water already

other bottle
CSM+B 12 grams

Bottle are .75 liters or 500 ml I think.

Hmm, I guess I don't need KNO3 either because I already have about 20 PPm of nitrates. I'm going to buy two of those special bottles made for dosing. The calculator I have says I would need this much for a 32 ounce bottle:
K2SO4- 55 grams
KH2PO4- 5 grams
MgSO4- 38 grams
The calculator says MgSO4, but the fertilizer pack contains K2SO4. Which should I buy?

and the micros
Plantex CSM + B- 76 grams.

Does this seem like a right ratio? I would dose 6 ml per bottle, per day right? will this affect my 50% weekly pwc schedule?

Thank you for your help btw

 

[Aspencer]

Mine is the same..it is all good...I use wine bottles with liquor bottle pours...use what you have...

I used to use root tabs but water soaks into the gravel or sand. I don't use excel either but I do not have high light.

 

[Aspencer]

I dose 5 ml per 10g...you want to have the plants have what they need, water changes get rid of the excess. I do water changes every 3 days because I like pristine water.

 

[George9]

Okay! That is what I will do then.
couple last questions.
Do I fill the rest of the bottle up completely with water after I mixed the powder?
I dose about 6 ml of each of the two bottles, correct?
Should I buy MgSO4, or K2SO4 instead? Does it matter?
Will one 50% PWC per week be okay with this method

 

[Aspencer]

Okay! That is what I will do then.
couple last questions.
Do I fill the rest of the bottle up completely with water after I mixed the powder? Correct, pour powder through funnel into bottle and add water and shake.
I dose about 6 ml of each of the two bottles, correct?
Right, one bottle Macro, one bottle micro...add separetely
Should I buy MgSO4, or K2SO4 instead? Does it matter?
I add both in my mixture..different tanks are different..for example, my 10g grows anacharis like a weed but my 20g and 55g just sustains it.
Will one 50% PWC per week be okay with this method

Just test your water until you see a pattern. I change when water has over 20 NitrAtes.

 

[blert]

Careful when premixing... I can't remember which ones they are (and I don't feel like searching it right now) but, if I recall correctly, there are two, that if mixed, will react together and encourage the growth of mold in your bottle.

 

[George9]

Just test your water until you see a pattern. I change when water has over 20 NitrAtes.

Thanks!

Careful when premixing... I can't remember which ones they are (and I don't feel like searching it right now) but, if I recall correctly, there are two, that if mixed, will react together and encourage the growth of mold in your bottle.

Ahh, really? I'm going to try and search which ones.

 

[Aspencer]

Careful when premixing... I can't remember which ones they are (and I don't feel like searching it right now) but, if I recall correctly, there are two, that if mixed, will react together and encourage the growth of mold in your bottle.

I thought I saw that CSM+B had that problem but was stored with access to sunlight. I have not had that problem but one bottle last less than a month.

I also remember, but may be wrong, that they had problems when mixing all in one bottle.