pH and nitrAtes dropping.

[Xzap]

8/20/05

Finally got a po4 test kit.

My po4 is 0.1 and my kh is 3 or 53.7.

I do have hair algae on some leafs, not bad but it's there.
Are my numbers out of balance ?

Thx,

Dave

 

[greenmaji]

To prevent algae the recomended ratio of NO3:PO4 is 23:1-10:1.. and recomended NO3 levels in a planted tank is around 10ppm.. so your recomended PO4 level would be .435-1ppm of PO4.. it seems you need to dose some PO4.. HTH

 

[Xzap]

Cool beans green.. I've got a lb of po4 so I can start that now

How do I figure my dosing amount tho ?

Thx,

Dave

 

[Xzap]

Just curious.. would a UV sterilizer affect hair algae ?

Thx,

Dave

 

[czcz]

Green, why 23:1?

Dave, I believe UV will only treat free floating algal spores, and not algae already attached to plants.

 

[Xzap]

Would a UVS kill/stop all alage or are some types resistant to it ?

Thx,

Dave

 

[greenmaji]

czcz.. for some reason 23:1 is what steve hamton recomends on his site.. LOL.. Im by far no expert.. most people stick to 10:1 because its easier to do..
And UV is only good for floating algae and parisites.. it wouldnt help prevent hair algae or elimiante it..
and chucks calculator is how you calculate your dose of PO4..
check the ferts. sticky there should be a link to it..

 

[Xzap]

Thanks Green

Dave

 

[Xzap]

Ok, If I mix 5 TBS of no4 with 16 oz of water and dose that over a 7 day period, that would bring me up 0.97 ppm Phosphate, I'm at 0.1 now ? Shouldn't bring me up to about 1 ppm no4?

Dave

Wait that doesn't sound right. I need to recalculate !

 

[greenmaji]

It sounds like you calculated up to 1.07ppm PO4.. that would be close.. Im assuming you have your NO3 at 10ppm.. From looking at the calculator you should be working with KH2PO4....what is the no4 comming from?

 

[Xzap]

Here's what I'm looking at..

And I'm gonna dose with Mono Potassium Phosphate, correct ?

dave

 

[greenmaji]

http://www.gregwatson.com/proddetail.asp?prod=PotassiumPhosphate
KH2PO4
Mono Potassium Phosphate 1 lb.
Yes.. thats the stuff..
and that that is how many ml there are in 16 ounces

All looks well to me..
That is assuming you have 10ppm of NO3..

 

[greenmaji]

Im kindof curious how your going to measure the solution.. cc's or mils.. maybe childrens medicine doser?

 

[Xzap]

OK, ates are 10.
So if I mix 5 TBS with 16 oz of tank water and then dose it in 7 equal doses ?

Dave

 

[greenmaji]

every CC or ML of your solution will raise the PO4 .97ppm.. and it will make 473 total doses..

 

[Xzap]

Thanks green. How long would I need to dose, or would that be based on testing.

Thx,

Dave

 

[greenmaji]

I would base it on testing..

 

[czcz]

Dave, yeah, 16oz still needs to be dosed per mL. You could dry dose 1/32tsp ("smidgen" per your measuring spoons) and get your target levels, assuming KH2PO4.

There's also K2HPO4 out there, which I believe is potassium phosphate, and mono potassium phosphate is called such because potassium is normally diatomic, but I may be wrong. If you do have K2HPO4, per an earlier post saying you had potasium phosphate, your dosing will be slightly more, since K2HPO4 is ~54.5% PO4 and KH2PO4 is ~69.8% PO4 (K is heavier than H). This isnt a big deal as dosing does not need to be exact, just a heads up.

It is best to spread your weekly total dose to a couple or more smaller doses, but as such low ppm I doubt this necessary. I would just dose with water change, or drop 1/16th tsp into your ECS since it gets used up in about two weeks

 

[Xzap]

Hey cz, thanks !
I believe I'll just dry dose a smidgen a day for a week and see where that puts me.

Thx,

dave

 

[czcz]

Dose a total of 1/32tsp / smidgen per week to start. It is unlikely your tank has very high PO4 uptake.

How do your plants look? Since you're getting to the point of dosing P, you may need to address K and trace soon. too. Is this your local clay tank? Perhaps you already have Fe and nutes in your substrate. Would love to read more of your observations from this experiment.