Cheaper Way To Feed Plants?

[aaronnorth]

KH2SO4 is used to add extra pottasium - although there isusually enough dosed with the KNO3, nd a bit comes from the KH2PO4.

I dose 3ml per day. It is reccomended 5ml per 100l daily or every other day (daily dose is better than weekly).

 

[Tigermoth]

KH2SO4 is used to add extra pottasium - although there isusually enough dosed with the KNO3, nd a bit comes from the KH2PO4.

I dose 3ml per day. It is reccomended 5ml per 100l daily or every other day (daily dose is better than weekly).

Cheers for that, so how would someone know if there was a lack of K in the water and the need for K2SO4, i.e. plant symptoms?

On a different note, and if it's privileged info don't worry , but I was wondering how much TPN+ you use per week in your 60l tank? If it's costing £30 a year you must be going well over the recommended weekly dosage of 5ml in 50l (6ml in 60l).

 

[aaronnorth]

potassium defficiency shows as pinholes in the leaves.

I dose 3ml a day (21ml per week) although my tank is high tech and growth is quick.

(£15 for a 500ml bottle)

500ml/ 3ml = 166 days x 2 = almost 1yr



you can make a DIY TPN+ from dry powders, see this thread here: http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/allinone.htm

 

[Tigermoth]

Oh nose, not more expense. Cheers for that though, going to stick with making up solutions and keeping ferts separate.

Was also wondering what would be a sensible thing to keep the solutions in and a practical way to measure them for dosing. My 3ml pipettes will get tedious after a while.

 

[aaronnorth]

you can get storage containers http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...p;cPath=145_274

You can measure with a food measuring cup

 

[mfcphil]

potassium defficiency shows as pinholes in the leaves.

I dose 3ml a day (21ml per week) although my tank is high tech and growth is quick.

(£15 for a 500ml bottle)

500ml/ 3ml = 166 days x 2 = almost 1yr



you can make a DIY TPN+ from dry powders, see this thread here: [URL="http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/allinone.htm"]http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/allinone.htm[/URL]

Aaron the site I pointed to sells Potassium Sulphate 500g at £8.00 don't know if this could work out cheaper for you

 

[Tigermoth]

Are any of the solutions particularly corrosive then? Would PET bottles be ok for the made up solution? Otherwise it's another £10.

Just found a measure in the shed that goes up to 30ml.

 

[mfcphil]

Are any of the solutions particularly corrosive then? Would PET bottles be ok for the made up solution? Otherwise it's another £10.

Just found a measure in the shed that goes up to 30ml.

Its great when someone else is doing the same thing at the same time.
I just said to the wife I will need to get 3 bottle of some description and here you guys are talking about the same thing.

I ordered my ferts

1 Potassium Nitrate - 500g £8.00
1 Monopotassium Phosphate - 250g £5.00
1 Trace Elements - 250g £10.50

Hopefully that will keep me going for a while

 

[SuperColey1]

Any plastic containers are OK for the solutions. I use old Tropica PN ones.

I measure and dose using either 3ml or 10ml syringes dependent on which tank I am dosing. If the Nano that require 0.2ml trace the obviously I use a 3ml as it has 0.1ml increments. If it is 9ml in the main tank I use the 10ml which has 1ml increments.

I have K2SO4 but do not use it.

The AE stuff is superb in grain size. All these suppliers are selling the same product but the granulate size may be larger for some than others. You pay to get powdered compared to large salt size but then it dissolves easier in powder form so you get what you pay for here!!!

Trace from AE is top notch quality and has a good chelating agent in it. Traces are a different ball game altogether as there are different amounts of each element in different mixes. They 'should' all be fine but always be careful when buying them. Check first. And always buy chelated traces. The better the chelating agent the more likely it is that it will not break down quickly into unusable within your tank water.

Saving £4 on an 'unknown supply' compared to paying the extra £4 for a 'known supply' is often a dangerous game. Trying to penny pinch can often result in paying much much more than you wanted to and losing money rather than saving so think about this before trying to go the 'shortcut' route!!!

In this case it should be fine but just be careful. You don't want to pay for your stuff only to find it is no good and have to buy the one you thought was expensive!!! This is why people buy 'snakeoils' rather than pay £15 for TPN. They then comeback asking 'why do I have algae' to which I reply wetold you to buy TPN+ not 'budget brand's no nitrate, no phosphate miracle solution' and you didn't listen.

The recommended levels are not wrong on the labels of these products. They are aimed at the average medium planted standard light aquarium. They cannot and do not put 2000 combinations for every possibility on their bottles. The more experienced user will dose more as they know pretty much what they need. The person with 2 plants probably didn't need fertiliser so it doesn't matter they only add the recommended.

All about learning this hobby. Not just the science but how it can cost to cut corners or take shortcuts!!!!

AC

 

[Tigermoth]

Cheers for the sermon SC

Good to see you're still here. I never did get that bottle of beer off to you did I.
MTSs are doing fine, before you ask.

Just had a look at the Analysis of the trace elements from both sources. Although maybe Fluid sensor are just selling ajax dressed up as ferts.
Looks like the same stuff, only the odd 100th of a % difference. I've emailed Fluid sensor to see if theirs is fully chelated.

Aqua Essentials:
Boron 1.06%
Copper 0.23%
Iron 8.2%
Manganese 1.82%
Molybdenum 0.15%
Zinc 1.16%

Fluid sensor online:
Boron 1.05%
Copper 0.23%
Iron 8.4%
Manganese 1.82%
Molybdenum 0.15%
Zinc 1.16%

 

[Tigermoth]

Just got a reply from Fluid Sensor,

"Our trace mix is chelated with EDTA. (except the Molybdenum and Boron)
If you have anymore questions don't hesitate to get in touch.....fluidsensoronline.com"

Now that's not bad for nearly 9pm.

If there's anyone with an eagle eye who fancies a go at trialing the Fluid Sensor stuff and would be willing to post back with their findings, then I'll happily send a few weeks worth for them to try. SC?
If the Fluid Sensor stuff is as good as your own Aqua Essentials supply, then good, we can all start saving. If it's not up to scratch, I'll cover the charge for the fert and P+P. Any offers?
I have no affiliation with Fluid Sensor, I'm just looking to help save myself and any readers a few quid.

Cheers

 

[SuperColey1]

I used to work for a major garden products manufacturer and therefore have absolutely pot fulls of the macros. lol Try it yourself. If it looks like small grains of salt or smaller it should be fine.

Good to see you're still here. I never did get that bottle of beer off to you did I.
MTSs are doing fine, before you ask.

Whats this bit about?

AC

 

[Tigermoth]

I used to work for a major garden products manufacturer and therefore have absolutely pot fulls of the macros. lol Try it yourself. If it looks like small grains of salt or smaller it should be fine.

Good to see you're still here. I never did get that bottle of beer off to you did I.
MTSs are doing fine, before you ask.

Whats this bit about?

AC

You sent me some trumpet snails and a bunch of Riccia, remember? I was going to send you a bottle of my finest ale in appreciation.

 

[SuperColey1]

That must've been ages ago. lol. I've been to bed since then

AC

 

[Tigermoth]

It was June 2007.
I've lost a few brain cells since then as well.