Mixing My Own Ferts?

[Ben M]

hi, i have a 4ft, 216l moderately planted tank. for the last few months i have been using 5mls of TPN+ daily, but i would like to have a go at mixing my own ferts. but i have a few questions... well, quite a lot really.

1.i am assuming that it is cheaper to mix my own dry ferts, but about how much difference would there be from the TPN+?

2.do i need any special equipment to measure out ingredients? if so, what would i need, and where can i buy them?

3.do i have to mix the dry ferts daily, or could i mix them weekly, and then dose daily?

4.what chemicals/ingredients do i need, and where can i buy them, (preferably cheaply)?

5.what mix/recipe should i use as a guide?

6.will mixing my own ferts allow the plants to grow better because i can alter amounts of each ingredients to prevent deficiencies?

i think that's all. sorry for waffling on a bit lol.

cheers

 

[lljdma06]

1.i am assuming that it is cheaper to mix my own dry ferts, but about how much difference would there be from the TPN+?

I don't know the exact figure, but I know some here who can have a years of ferts for only a little more than a bottle of TPN+. It is cost effective.

2.do i need any special equipment to measure out ingredients? if so, what would i need, and where can i buy them?

A friend of mine uses a jewelry scale that can measure about 1000 grams and that should go to about 2 decimal places. I use one for mixing my 4dkh solution. I imagine distilled water to create the stock solution, but I am not sure.


3.do i have to mix the dry ferts daily, or could i mix them weekly, and then dose daily?

I think you can mix them to suit your needs. Daily or create a stock solution for weekly use.

4.what chemicals/ingredients do i need, and where can i buy them, (preferably cheaply)?

You'll need powder form for the macro nutrients and then a trace formula. They are sold at most hydroponics stores and depending on where you're located. eBay has them too.

5.what mix/recipe should i use as a guide?

This is beyond my scope to answer as I deal primarily with lower light systems or smaller systems where the cost of using TPN+ isn't a factor. I have a link for you from a website developed by one of our former TFF members, went by the username JamesC. Great guy. It also has useful links to where to obtain them. I have it in PARC for sure.

http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/dosing-methods.htm

6.will mixing my own ferts allow the plants to grow better because i can alter amounts of each ingredients to prevent deficiencies?

You can adjust the dosing to account for your water chemistry. For example, I tend to need less trace because my city water has a high mineral content. Others have high nitrates, it depends.

i think that's all. sorry for waffling on a bit lol.

You are not waffling, these are good questions. TPN+, IMO will not be cost effective for you since you do have a larger tank, so that you are exploring dry fert mixing is a good thing. I apologize that I cannot help you out more, but I hope that with the link you find the answers you are looking for.



llj