Kno3 Advisable With My Tank?

[mtv8dmarine]

Given my aquarium specs. here Would it be beneficial to supplement with KNO3?

Thanks!

 

[SuperColey1]

For the lights, fish stocking and quantity of plants in there you shouldn't need to add anything

AC

 

[mtv8dmarine]

Ok thanks. I was just wondering because the new leaves on some of the plants never turn a deep green, they stay pretty light...but not yellow.

 

[SuperColey1]

If you're doing water changes then it won't hurt to put a small pinch in each week. See if it does help.

After all no tank or setup is the same and what works for one may not work for another. With something like this where it isn't going to hurt anything there is no harm in trying for yourself and finding your own answers

Let us know the result if it is noticeable Give it 3-4 weeks though before assessing.

AC

 

[mtv8dmarine]

Thanks AC! I'll try to find that place others get their powders from and order some up.

 

[SuperColey1]

For all you in the US. This place is good:

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

If anyone decides they are going the dry powder route always buy the following seperately and not a mix. this way you know what is in your mix, you can alter the mix if you need etc.:

Potassium Nitrate (KNO3)
Potasium Phosphate (KH2PO4)
Traces (CSM+B)

Potassium sulphate (K2SO4) is optional. you shouldn't really need it as there is Potassium in the first 2 but some people like to add this as well.

Magnesium Sulphate (Epsom Salts) is another optional as some people's water may have a satisfactory, even high GH but find it is all calcium)

Regards
AC

AC

 

[mtv8dmarine]

I have between 7 and 9 dGh. I'm not sure if that's high or low. I should be good without the KH2PO4 and the Epsom Salts though correct? Or are they worth trying too?

 

[SuperColey1]

I have between 7 and 9 dGh. I'm not sure if that's high or low. I should be good without the KH2PO4 and the Epsom Salts though correct? Or are they worth trying too?

If you buy anything then it is the KNO3 and KH2PO4. The tap water 'should' be able to cover everything else via water changes. I would suspect tap+fish waste is already giving you enough N and P too but thats what we're testing

If your tap water is low in magnesium you're one of the few unlucky ones

AC

 

[mtv8dmarine]

The only thing I can find there is Mono Potassium Phosphate (MKP). Is this what you meant? I would venture to say you meant what you said...just not available through PAF I suppose.

 

[SuperColey1]

Potassium Nitrate (KNO3):
http/www.aquariumfertilizer.com/index.asp?Option1=inven&EditU=2&Regit=12&ReturnOption1=cats&ReturnEdit=2&Returnitemname=&ReturnShowItemStart=

Potassium Phophate (KH2PO4):
http/www.aquariumfertilizer.com/index.asp?Option1=inven&EditU=2&Regit=10&ReturnOption1=cats&ReturnEdit=2&Returnitemname=&ReturnShowItemStart=

Traces (CSM+B)
http/www.aquariumfertilizer.com/index.asp?Option1=inven&EditU=2&Regit=5&ReturnOption1=cats&ReturnEdit=2&Returnitemname=&ReturnShowItemStart=

Magnesium Sulphate (MgSO4)
http/www.aquariumfertilizer.com/index.asp?Option1=inven&EditU=2&Regit=8&ReturnOption1=cats&ReturnEdit=2&Returnitemname=&ReturnShowItemStart=

AC

 

[mtv8dmarine]

I picked up both the potassium nitrate and phosphate. It ships from Oakland, CA USA...about 7-8 hours north of me so I imagine it will arrive after the Labor Day weekend holiday. Should be just in time for next week's water change. I will photograph the tank again and put them in my journal as a reference and see what happens over the following few weeks.

 

[SuperColey1]

If you do notice an improvement you then have to work out what is causing the improvement.

Therefore dose both. give it 2 weeks.

If you see an improvement then we know it is either N, P or K. Stop dosing the KH2PO4 and just dose the KNO3.

after 2 weeks if you still see an improvement you now know it is either N or K.

Stop dosing KNO3 and dose just KH2PO4.

If you still see improvement it is the K. If you start to see a deterioration then it is the N

If it is the N then just dose KNO3 from there on.
If it is the K then buy some K2SO4 and just dose that. Put KNO3 and KH2PO4 in the drawer for possible future use (they won't go off)

If you don't see improvements for any of the dosing then we are now looking for something else like Mg or trace etc.

AC