Is this a good source of Dry Ferts?

[Brian_Nano12g]

Just getting more and more into planted tanks, the more I research, read, and learn. Right now for fertilizers, I'm dosing Seachem Flourish, Excel, Flourish root tabs, and API Leaf Zone for extra iron and potash. Doing DIY CO2, which i plan to upgrade to pressured in the near future.

I was thinking of getting some dry ferts as i read that its dirt cheap in comparison to liquids.

Would Green Leaf Aquariums
http://greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizer.html
be the best source?

or

http://www.aquariumfertilizer.com/index.asp?Option1=cats&Edit=2&EditU=1&Regit=2

Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Rivercats]

Yes it is a good place to get them and yes it is way cheaper especially if you have a large tank. If you go that way order thier plastic doser/mixer holding containers. They make dosing really easy. Oh, something I accidently learned while talking to fellow aquarist is that apparently the micro mix solution can grow fungus and by adding flourish excel at a rate of 5 ml of Excel to every 250 ml of Plantex CSM+B will preserve it

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

Which source has better and more economical value, GLA or AquariumFertilizer.com?

And which has the container you're referring to?

 

[Rivercats]

I've only used GLA. They are 500ml or 1000ml dispensing bottles at the bottom of the fertilizer page at GLA.

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

Would it be sufficient to just get the CSM+B / NPK mix? Is that a pretty comprehensive regiment that will provide all around micro and macro nutrients? What about Iron?

 

[aqua_chem]

That's only micros, but will sufficiently cover iron.

I use GLA as well.

Edit: misread that. The package with all four is the way to do it.

 

[Rivercats]

Yes, that is the way to go, but understand that the Plantex CSM+B is one bag, and then the NP&K are another 3 bags. You have to either dry dose or mix the NPK together in RO/Distilled water for macro solution and the CSM+B in RO/Distilled for your micro mix. Iron is in the CSM+B mix but I have iron chelate on hand also as my plants require more than what CSM+B provides. I dry dose extra iron chelate as needed.

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

Is there a mixing guide/chart that comes with this stuff to help me in mixing? I never had dry ferts so i don't really know what I'm doing..lol

 

[aqua_chem]

I would advise just doing EI rather than premixing.

 

[Rivercats]

No directions but here is what I use:


Macro Solution

In 1 liter bottle:
59 grams K2SO4 (Potassium Sulfate)
65 grams KNO3 (Potassium Nitrate)
6 grams KH2PO4 (Mono Potassium Phosphate)
41 grams MgSO4 (Magnesium Sulfate)
Fill with distilled water and shake well. Let sit overnight.

Micro Solution

In 1 liter bottle:
80 grams of CSM+B or equivalent trace element mix
Fill with distilled water and shake well. Let sit overnight.

Dose 1 ml of each solution per ten gallons of tank size. Dose prior to lights turning on.

I also add 5 ml of Excel or so to every 250 ml of Plantex CSM solution to keep it mold free.

This is dosing PPS-Pro method (Perpetual Preservation System). Dosing El is different and I don't use that method simply because you have to do a 50% water change weekly and with a 220 gallon tank that simply is too hard to do. I have found the PPS method works great for me. I also dose with Flourish Excel for available carbon instead of using CO2.

 

[Brian_Nano12g]

Thanks guys. Thank you Rivercats, especially for the detailed recipe and dosing.. This is very helpful.

 

[boadams87]

Rootmedic.net is having a BOGO sale now and its good stuff.