Dry Ferts

[fish_keeper2]

just wanted to add that the lfs i go to to get RO for my saltwater only charges 25 cent per gal.


btw im looking into a planted tank i was just wondering what the difference is between these dry ferts and the liquid stuff you can buy.

 

[George Farmer]

The easy dosing of dry ferts, add them directly to your tank. For example in a 100L tank, add 1/3 teaspoon of KN03 (Potassium Nitrate) every other day.

Ideal for larger tanks but lacks accuracy for smaller volumes - I wouldn't like to estimate 1/3 teaspoon or less for smaller than 100L. Personally I like to use the 1ml per 1ppm NO3 in my 33G. 100grams of KNO3 in 500ml RO will provide this. I add 5ml every other day using a Nutrafin test kit pipette (one full squeeze = exactly 5ml).

Another important point worth noting is that when dosing NO3 you should do it very gradually to start with if you have low starting levels i.e. if you have 5ppm NO3 then adding 10ppm in one go will probably harm the fish.

According to Aqua Essentials' advice then adding 1/3 teaspoon KNO3 into 100L direct will increase NO3 by over 11ppm, too much IMO unless you have massive growth rates.

 

[DaveW]

I think I'll stick to mixing it in a bottle first, it sounds more of a controlled method.

I mixed my ferts last night, the NO3 and PO4 dissolved straight away. But the SO4 is still sitting at the bottom of the bottle. I had to stop shaking it before my arm fell off. LOL. I'll have another go when I get home.

My NO3 is about 3-4ppm, if i add about 3-5ppm to the tank will it be safe or should the dose be lower?

 

[zig]

I mixed up a batch of SO4 the other day, i just made up 250ml, granted i had to shake the bottle quite hard but the 30 grams dissolved no problem, just make sure the water you use is not to cold, this wont make it any easier for you, also make sure the scales you use are accurate especially with SO4, as you will be mixing at maximum solubility most likely, and if your scales are a bit dodgy you could easily have more SO4 than will dissolve in a given volume of solution.

On the subject of dosing dry ferts, i prefer the accuracy of dosing from a made up solution where 1ml = 1ppm, my tank is 42 gallons and i have never had a problem mixing the dry ferts into a solution, i agree for large tanks dosing dry is probably better but it is still not as accurate as dosing from a solution.

If you have solubility problems just add more water and double up on the dosing, so 2ml = 1ppm etc.

I know its called the "Estimative Index" but i prefer more accuracy with my dosing, the method of dosing can be tailored to suit the individual, most people that are dosing the estimative index for a while will run with a modified version to suit their own individual tank, dosing the recommended amounts just blindly each time does not work for everybody, and is for the most part not needed, start off dosing the recommended amounts but do tests also after a while you will find a good balance.

I also noticed a while ago that the Rex Grigg website is now recommending first and foremost the making of ferts into a solution for dosing, obviously because its much more accurate, before he exclusively recommended the dosing of ferts dry but this is not the case anymore, so even he has shifted his stance.............but you read it here first folks, my gut instinct told me long ago that it was the way foreward and thats why i recommended it in the pinned guide.

Heres the link to Rex

Dosing

 

[George Farmer]

but you read it here first folks, my gut instinct told me long ago that it was the way foreward and thats why i recommended it in the pinned guide.

Who needs those US planted forums when we've got forward thinking guys like you eh?

 

[houndour]

The easy dosing of dry ferts, add them directly to your tank. For example in a 100L tank, add 1/3 teaspoon of KN03 (Potassium Nitrate) every other day.

Ideal for larger tanks but lacks accuracy for smaller volumes - I wouldn't like to estimate 1/3 teaspoon or less for smaller than 100L. Personally I like to use the 1ml per 1ppm NO3 in my 33G. 100grams of KNO3 in 500ml RO will provide this. I add 5ml every other day using a Nutrafin test kit pipette (one full squeeze = exactly 5ml).

Another important point worth noting is that when dosing NO3 you should do it very gradually to start with if you have low starting levels i.e. if you have 5ppm NO3 then adding 10ppm in one go will probably harm the fish.

According to Aqua Essentials' advice then adding 1/3 teaspoon KNO3 into 100L direct will increase NO3 by over 11ppm, too much IMO unless you have massive growth rates.

I got myself measuring spoons of 1/8th, 1/16th and 1/32th of a teaspoon (called a pinch smidgen and a dash). So it's possible to be more accurate.

 

[Aqua Essentials]

I think I'll stick to mixing it in a bottle first, it sounds more of a controlled method.

My NO3 is about 3-4ppm, if i add about 3-5ppm to the tank will it be safe or should the dose be lower?

Adding that much will be fine. The bottom line is that just do what ever works for you. I don't consider there to be a right or wrong way whether you dose directly or prepare the mixture in advance.

With regards to adding 1/3 teaspoon of KN03, yes it does increase the levels to 11ppm but I haven't found it to have any adverse effects to either fish or shrimp what so ever. Please note that I do offer the option to mix your ferts in solution on my website.

The Estimative Index is designed to take the stress and strain out of fertilising, and its effectiveness is a real break through in terms of keeping planted tanks healthy. I still challenge the concept that you need to be really accurate when dosing ferts - providing you algae is under control and your plants grow as expected, then why make it more complicated?

 

[George Farmer]

I still challenge the concept that you need to be really accurate when dosing ferts - providing you algae is under control and your plants grow as expected, then why make it more complicated?

Good point. I suppose most of us just like to know exactly what we're adding. For years nitrates and phophates were regarded as the archenemy of the hobbyist, now we're adding them almost daily! I think it's this collective subconscious "fear" of adding what used to be known as toxins that makes us strictly monitor what we are adding to our tanks. It take a great leap of faith to start adding dry direct IMO, especially in smaller tanks.

As well as piece of mind though there's also the practical aspect. I find it so quick and simple adding my 1 pipette each of KNO3 and KH2PO4 every other day.

 

[DaveW]

I feel a little bit stopid now! )

I'm using Chuck's PAC as recommended you guys, and thought I best check (after another ten minutes of shaking). Well, I'm trying to get 100ml @ 1ppm, and it won't dissolve. It will only dissolve 12gms and I'm trying to dissolve 27. ) ) I didn't notice the big red message on the right hand side, probably because I was using teaspoons instead of grams.

I'm off to add some more water. What was it I said the other day ..... "you learn something new every day".

 

[zig]

but you read it here first folks, my gut instinct told me long ago that it was the way foreward and thats why i recommended it in the pinned guide.

Who needs those US planted forums when we've got forward thinking guys like you eh?

Too right........i forgot to add a smiley in there the first time B)

 

[jimbooo]

hi everyone. better late than never hey, sorry tied up with christmas.

in answer to your questions yes i do mean HOURS and yes i do use RO water.

and yes my arm wants to fall off when i'm done. i definatly see the benefit of dry dosing in larger tanks.

 

[littleimp]

for tanks 40G and upwards getting a 1ml = 1ppm solution of potassium nitrate to dissolve takes a lot of effort. i have to shake mine for about 2 hours before it's dissolved. on the 50G it took 3 hours and wont dissolve if the solution is below room temp. i have to heat mine on a radiator before dosing to get rid of the crystals in the bottle. theyre the size of golf balls.

before anyone says it i'm still way within maximum solubility

for tanks 40G and upwards getting a 1ml = 1ppm solution of potassium nitrate to dissolve takes a lot of effort. i have to shake mine for about 2 hours before it's dissolved. on the 50G it took 3 hours and wont dissolve if the solution is below room temp. i have to heat mine on a radiator before dosing to get rid of the crystals in the bottle. theyre the size of golf balls.

before anyone says it i'm still way within maximum solubility

Have to second this one. If you can't get the 1ppm/ml withing solubility you have to increase the amount. I have to do this as the size of the tank I've got doesn't allow me to use 1ppm/ml becuase it exceeds solubility of the chemicals in water.

i.e.

I add the grams into the calculator to make it 0.2ppm/ml & dose 5ml to get 1ppm.

I do this on all the chemicals so I don't get confused & dose wrong amounts.

All of mine are set at 5ml/ppm.

 

[George Farmer]

hi everyone. better late than never hey, sorry tied up with christmas.

in answer to your questions yes i do mean HOURS and yes i do use RO water.

and yes my arm wants to fall off when i'm done. i definatly see the benefit of dry dosing in larger tanks.

Try heating up the water first. I put mine in the microwave for a minute or so.

 

[jimbooo]

in hindsight i have to agree. i have to heat my potassium nitrate on a radiator to redissolve it before i can dose it.

 

[nonot8946]

You can just dump it in. I used to shake it up, but the fish tried to eat the cloud anyways. If you're worried about them eating the crystals, dump it into your filter.