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  1. dw1305

    EI Half Dose

    Hi all, I'll be honest, I'm just <"incredibly lazy"> and always follow the <"path of least resistance">. I look on the requirement for limited intervention <"as a positive">. cheers Darrel
  2. dw1305

    EI Half Dose

    Hi all, The issue you have is the tussle between a <"quick win and longer term stability">. I'm going to guess that a lot of us have been there, after the initial elation of having mastered plant growth comes the realisation that <"you can have too much of a good thing">. It should be OK, but...
  3. dw1305

    IFC Aquarium Fertilizer Calculator

    Hi all, It doesn't matter where the calcium (Ca++) and magnesium (Mg++) ions come from, they aren't exclusive categories. The "Target Calculator" value is the one you want. cheers Darrel
  4. dw1305

    Flourish and Flourish Excel

    Hi all, Floating Cell Media, like Kaldnes K1, is good. We have a few threads about it <"Is expensive bio media worth it?">. cheers Darrel
  5. dw1305

    Flourish and Flourish Excel

    Hi all, I bet they do, and <"it really annoys me">. Activated charcoal is actually a <"decent biological filter medium">, once it is no longer "activated". Personally I'd like to see a least a <"modicum of honesty"> from the vendors of filter media etc. I'm sure <"in the long run"> it would...
  6. dw1305

    Flourish and Flourish Excel

    Hi all, The zeolite will probably be an ammonia (NH3) specific one, they <"aren't products"> I'd ever use (there are much <"better ways of removing ammonia">). Activated Charcoal won't remove any "ions" and plants take up their nutrients from solution as ions. In terms of the Flourish Excel...
  7. dw1305

    micro and macro dosage

    Hi all, So we have potassium nitrate (KNO3) and magnesium nitrate (Mg(NO3)2.6H2O). Both compounds are highly soluble. The nitrate ion (NO3-) is the same in both cases, it doesn't matter where it has come from. So if there is a difference (assuming that we supply the same quantity of NO3- in...
  8. dw1305

    IFC Aquarium Fertilizer Calculator

    Hi all, No, just poorly phrased (by me). This is correct: I'm guessing that very few people with established tanks dose at full EI levels. Personally I'm always on the look out for slow growing plants that will limp along of <"petrol fumes">. cheers Darrel
  9. dw1305

    Phostrogen DIY

    Hi all, I don't know if they ship to Eire, but I've recently bought some cheap Solufeed 2 : 1 : 4 from eBay <"Solufeed 2:1:4 and Solufeed Sodium Free TEC or Solufeed Coir TEC Combination">. cheers Darrel
  10. dw1305

    Phostrogen DIY

    Hi all, It won't be in the IFC calculator. You would need to use a spreadsheet to <"work out the levels of one of the nutrients">, and that would then give you the level of all the other nutrients. <"Because of the toxicity of ammonia"> (NH3) to aquatic life you would need to make sure that...
  11. dw1305

    Phostrogen DIY

    Hi all, It is a concentrated plant food, it should be fine if used very sparingly in a heavily planted tank. As well as the 2% ammonia, the problem is that we don't know the rate at which urea (CO(NH2)2) will be converted to TAN ammonia. Cheers Darrel
  12. dw1305

    IFC Aquarium Fertilizer Calculator

    Hi all, Calcium chloride (CaCl2.nH2O) just adds Ca++ ions (dGH) and that allows you to decouple dGH and dKH. Have a look at @Roland's <"soft water tank">. @Roland is also a Sheffield resident. If you haven't used it all by then? It will last you a lot <"longer than that">, salts don't really...
  13. dw1305

    IFC Aquarium Fertilizer Calculator

    Hi all, OK., it is likely that that your plants will have a higher demand for the mineral nutrients than if you weren't adding CO2. Light (PAR) drives photosynthesis and photosynthesis rates, in aquatic plants, are normally limited by lack of CO2 (<"Dissolved Inorganic Carbon">). Because of...
  14. dw1305

    IFC Aquarium Fertilizer Calculator

    Hi all, Welcome to UKAPS You really need to <"thank the others">, my contribution was distinctly limited. Are you adding CO2? I have a bit of an issue with Seachem <"Seachem method of potassium dosing">. Despite what they imply, there isn't a difference between the magnesium (Mg++) you add...
  15. dw1305

    Front Loading

    Hi all, That is one of the problems, our eyes are really poor at judging light intensity. That was the reason for running bright and letting the plant mass grow until it uses up <"all the available PAR">, but I've probably never had a light that allowed me to go full <"Klingon">. You will need...
  16. dw1305

    Front Loading

    Hi all, I agree that high light, lots of nutrients and low levels of Dissolved Inorganic Carbon (DIC) is likely to lead <"to lots of green algae">. Personally I use a floating plant <"as my net curtain">, but <"reducing light intensity"> is another option. We have a thread <"Long term effects...
  17. dw1305

    Front Loading

    Hi all, I'd stop the CO2 (or just add ~ 15 ppm?) and then you can use the <"Duckweed Index"> to keep you in the "Goldilocks Zone" - <"Low Tech Fertiliser Dosing. Whats your technique?">. Because your fertiliser addition is based on the growth of a non-CO2 limited plant, you can modify your...
  18. dw1305

    Plant deficiencies and the Fe Experiment

    Hi all, It depends on pH, so basically how <"hard and alkaline your tank water is">. Fe DTPA and Fe EDDHA are better chelators than FeEDTA in harder water and FeEDTA is better than <"ferrous (Fe++) gluconate">. I use rainwater and I am fine with FeEDTA, if I used our tap water in the tank...
  19. dw1305

    Plant deficiencies and the Fe Experiment

    Hi all, No, it isn't essential. I use 95% sand, <"but don't vacuum etc">. Partially why I chose a floating plant for the <"Duckweed Index"> was to take the complexities of what <"happens in the substrate"> out of the equation. Cheers Darrel
  20. dw1305

    Plant deficiencies and the Fe Experiment

    Hi all, It isn't washed out of the sediment, it just becomes plant available. It is only Mn++ ions that plants can utilise. Under aerobic, alkaline ("oxidising") conditions the manganese will remain as the oxide (MnO2) and unavailable to plants. The manganese dioxide (MnO2) is reduced (under...
  21. dw1305

    Seachem method of potassium dosing

    Hi all, There are only trace amounts, but it is meant to effect the formation of the calcium carbonate (CaCO3) skeletons of hard corals etc. You will need someone who has kept marines to tell you more. Cheers Darrel
  22. dw1305

    Seachem method of potassium dosing

    Hi all, It is only the phosphates of the alkali metals (sodium (Na), potassium (K) etc) that are soluble, so form 3Na+ and PO4--- ions. This is fine if you only have Na+ ions in solution, but as soon as you have calcium (Ca++) ions etc. in solution? They form insoluble calcium phosphate (Ca3...
  23. dw1305

    Plant deficiencies and the Fe Experiment

    Hi all, That is it, it is just a <"numbers game">. cheers Darrel
  24. dw1305

    micro and macro dosage

    Hi all, Sort of, except you won't need to add another 50 mL of water, the dissolved salts will fill some of that "space". cheers Darrel
  25. dw1305

    Front Loading

    Hi all, Go for that. I think Nilocg Thrive is one of the more reasonably priced "Aquarium" fertilisers. @Zeus. has a tab in the IFC spreadsheet that gives a cost analysis. cheers Darrel
  26. dw1305

    Front Loading

    Hi all, Front loading should be all right. <"Thrive all in one"> doesn't contain ammonia (or urea) so that isn't an issue. Ingredients below: My <"only problem"> with it <"would just be cost">, at $28 for 500 mL. GUARANTEED ANALYSIS Total Nitrogen (N) 2.5600% 2.5600% Water Soluble Nitrogen...
  27. dw1305

    TNC Complete dosing

    Hi all, What does the <"floating plant look like">? Because it has access to <"atmospheric CO2 (and first dibs on the light)"> any deficiency symptoms will be mineral nutrient (fertiliser) related. <"Global Monitoring Laboratory - Carbon Cycle Greenhouse Gases"> Have a look at <"What is the...
  28. dw1305

    Vinegar Concentrations

    Hi all, No. It is just like alcohol (ethanol) it doesn't matter if you started with Rye, Potatoes, Barley, Maize, Sugar Cane etc. cheers Darrel
  29. dw1305

    Vinegar Concentrations

    Hi all, Yes. You don't need it in your macro-mix. cheers Darrel
  30. dw1305

    First Batch of Liquid Macro Ferts

    Hi all, It is really useful when you are producing a fertiliser (or <"remineralising">) mix from different compounds. You can, but in this case the pH makes absolutely no difference to solubility, so I'd just use DI water. cheers Darrel
  31. dw1305

    First Batch of Liquid Macro Ferts

    Hi all, You can add the vinegar (or any other weak acid), but you don't need it. All the salts of monovalent ions are all soluble, so you won't get any precipitates, unless you exceed the <"total solubility limit">. In that specific case the least soluble salt will come out of solution first...
  32. dw1305

    First Batch of Liquid Macro Ferts

    Hi all, Yes. cheers Darrel
  33. dw1305

    First Batch of Liquid Macro Ferts

    Hi all, You need to make it up to 1000 mL (with DI) when the salts are already in solution, other wise you'll end up with a lot more than 1000 mL of solution. You should be fine. The potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4) will <"actually lower the pH"> (you've add two H+ ions). It is...
  34. dw1305

    Estimative Index

    Hi all, Perfect, just add a small amount of tap (~10% by volume) and that supplies calcium (Ca) and dGH : <"Solufeed 2:1:4 - IFC - low on P,K,Ca - user error?"> "Mg / L" and "ppm" are equivalent, so 10% tap addition to 90% RO gives you 10 ppm Ca and 1 ppm Mg. If you want to work out the dGH...
  35. dw1305

    Estimative Index

    Hi all, I'll try James, but you've <"mentioned Seachem"> and the toys are <"already out of the pram">. Just don't, we have a "Seachem Equilibrium" thread: <"Seachem method of potassium dosing">. We actually have a lot of these threads and you are remineralising your RO water with the...
  36. dw1305

    make ammonium nitrate

    Hi all, That is right. Should be near enough. cheers Darrel
  37. dw1305

    seachem % quantity

    Hi all, Because it is a horticultural fertiliser the phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) content will be quoted as oxides. I'm busy at the moment, but I'll link in the calculation <"DIY Fertilizer Formula Recommendation"> Cheers Darrel
  38. dw1305

    seachem % quantity

    Hi all, There will be a company that sells something similar, either a multinational like Yara <"Where we operate | Yara International"> or a more local company <"Water Soluble Fertilizers">. cheers Darrel
  39. dw1305

    dilute nutrients solution

    Hi all, Absolutely fine, divide into equal portions, top both back up to 500 cm3 with RO water. cheers Darrel
  40. dw1305

    seachem % quantity

    Hi all, What @ElleDee says - <"Help with plant care (existing plants)"> Yes. All potassium (K+) etc. ions <"are the same in solution">. It was just one that was available in the UK. There will be <"commercial hydroponic fertiliser"> mixes available in every country, it is just a case of...
  41. dw1305

    Potassium carbonate - Potas

    Hi all, That makes sense, but I'd just use another potassium (K) salt, they <"are all soluble">. If you can't get <"potassium nitrate"> (KNO3), dipotassium phosphate (K2HPO4) would give you a useful anion as well. For alkalinity <"carbonate hardness (dKH)"> I'd honestly just use some tap...
  42. dw1305

    Potassium carbonate - Potas

    Hi all, Yes, I'd guess it would be potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3), or a mix with potassium carbonate (K2CO3), rather than potassium carbonate on its own. It might also contain an acid, possibly <"cream of tartar"> (KC4H5O6). It should say on the ingredients. Other options for compounds it...
  43. dw1305

    How long do dry salts last?

    Hi all, You can, and you can also tell whether they've absorbed water (even though not when they are in the sachets), yellow is hydrated and purple dehydrated. cheers Darrel
  44. dw1305

    Getting Started with Ferts Dosing

    Hi all, I'm hoping that, over time, some empirical science <"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213343720304504">* does fill in the gaps. (Figure from linked paper). Personally I'm probably just going to <"work on tweaks for improving it in practice">, rather than trying to...
  45. dw1305

    Getting Started with Ferts Dosing

    Hi all, It is going to depend on a lot of factors. That is the real issue with a numbers or water testing based approach, you are dealing with a <"multi-factorial situation"> with a huge number of variables. Personally I don't have <"many fish in my tanks">, other people will <"have a lot...
  46. dw1305

    Getting Started with Ferts Dosing

    Hi all, That is the point really, none of us do. Realistically, even if we have access to analytical equipment <"New bit of kit - MP-AES">, that is a level of accuracy that is going to be problematic in terms of time, reagents etc. <"Testing parameters for EI">. Honestly that is the...
  47. dw1305

    How long do dry salts last?

    Hi all, Often happens. In fact it is pretty much inevitable with any fertiliser mix that contain salts that are hygroscopic <"Hygroscopic compounds – Hygroscopic Cycle">. You <"can still use it">. The easiest option is to oven dry the mix at a fairly low heat and then smash the mix back up...
  48. dw1305

    Solufeed 2:1:4 - IFC - low on P,K,Ca - user error?

    Hi all, Point taken. I make no excuses for myself, I could do better, but <"I'm happy bumping along the bottom">. I think <"observation is always the key">. Since I've spent more time with Ecologists it has taught me that inferential methods can be just as powerful as empirical ones. cheers...
  49. dw1305

    make ammonium nitrate

    Hi all, Words of wisdom in my opinion. cheers Darrel
  50. dw1305

    Solufeed 2:1:4 - IFC - low on P,K,Ca - user error?

    Hi all, You need @_Maq_ for <"the ratios">, they are derived from <"Marschner's Mineral Nutrition of Higher Plants"> . - <"GH+KH RO Reminiralzation Product Help.">. @_Maq_ said, in <"Humble and improving display tank">: I will have a different ratio (I don't know what it is, and it will...
  51. dw1305

    Solufeed 2:1:4 - IFC - low on P,K,Ca - user error?

    Hi all, I wouldn't specifically use <"remineralising salts">. I use the tap water as a source of Ca++ and 2HCO3- (1 : 1 dGH : dKH) and I add magnesium (Mg) (and potassium (K)) with the fertiliser. <"I'm a pretty shoddy aquarist">, but @Geoffrey Rea uses <"his tap water as a remineraliser">...
  52. dw1305

    Solufeed 2:1:4 - IFC - low on P,K,Ca - user error?

    Hi all, Just add less tap water. I don't add a set amount, I just <"use a conductivity meter"> to <"keep me in the datum range">. In my case the <"tap water is pretty consistent"> all year around, but the <"rain-water is softer in the winter">. There is nothing appealing about sodium...
  53. dw1305

    Miracle Gro dosing for low tec

    Hi all, Yes, you are definitely right and I'm definitely wrong. Back to the drawing board for me I'm afraid. That is why I use a slosh of pale blue Miracle-Gro, I can't add up, but my colour vision is fine. cheers Darrel
  54. dw1305

    make ammonium nitrate

    Hi all, Probably dry dosing, just to avoid the urea being converted to ammonia in the stock bottle. That may be over cautious, I'll add in @Zeus. cheers Darrel
  55. dw1305

    Miracle Gro dosing for low tec

    Hi all, I've <"used it">. I'll do the calculation, but honestly a <"slosh of pale blue solution"> is the way forward. Serial dilution is your friend here. We have 80 milligrams per 10 litres or 8 milligrams per litre Miracle-Gro and milligrams per litre is equivalent to ppm. Now we are just...
  56. dw1305

    make ammonium nitrate

    Hi all, I understand that, but <"personally I wouldn't">, partially because I'm a fairly slap-dash scientist and aquarist. This is a discussion that has been knocking around UKAPS for a long time: <"Dosing with Ammonia and Urea"> I'm <"not aCO2 user">, for example, and I'm generally a bit...
  57. dw1305

    make ammonium nitrate

    Hi all, Unfortunately <"it is a bit complicated">, but because your fertiliser is 15 or 16% nitrogen (N), which means you have <"NitroChalk">, which is probably the "hydrated double salt - 5Ca(NO3)2•NH4NO3•10H2O" which still doesn't quite work, some I'm going to guess plus some unreacted CaCO3...
  58. dw1305

    make ammonium nitrate

    Hi all, That is the <"same in a lot of countries">, all nitrate compounds are potential explosives, but some give you a bigger bang. Can you get <"urea (CO(NH2)2)">? Personally I would be much happier <"using urea as a TAN source">, purely in fish welfare terms. You need the RMM of NH4NO3...
  59. dw1305

    Solufeed 2:1:4 - IFC - low on P,K,Ca - user error?

    Hi all, My suggestion as well. cheers Darrel
  60. dw1305

    Dosing ferts in cycling tank with cloudy water

    Hi all, I don't know where you live in Sweden, but you may be able to <"pick your own soil"> particularly if you live near any drumlins <"https://faculty.washington.edu/tswanson/302add/ESS Readings/drumlins_sweden.pdf"> or terminal moraine? I'll add in @Tyko_N, they may have some suggestions...
  61. dw1305

    ammonium dose

    Hi all, The maths for this is simple enough, you just need the "1% ammonium (NH4)" from <"the packaging"> and you know straight away that you have added a very small amount of Total Ammoniacal Nitrogen (TAN). If you want the formula (and it is the <"same process for any compound">): The...
  62. dw1305

    Dosing ferts in cycling tank with cloudy water

    Hi all, I'm a <"sand user"> and only add a minimal amount of <"humus and clay">, so I'm probably not the best person to talk to. Having said that I'd follow @Tim Harrison's tutorial if I was going to go down the soil route <"Soil Substrate or Dirted Tank - A How to Guide">. cheers Darrel
  63. dw1305

    Dosing ferts in cycling tank with cloudy water

    Hi all, No, that is fine. I think the tint is probably from the dark sphagnum (moss) peat. I think you have two options, start again with a <"mineralised soil"> or carry on with what you have. At this point, personally, I'd probably carry on with what you have, although this may prove to be...
  64. dw1305

    Dosing ferts in cycling tank with cloudy water

    Hi all, Nice. What was the soil? If it had a large peat component? That might explain some of the water colour. The cloudiness could be clay colloids, which should eventually settle out, or may be long chain humic compounds. That would be the idea. The problem for us is really too many...
  65. dw1305

    Dosing ferts in cycling tank with cloudy water

    Hi all, Welcome to UKAPS. I'll copy in @Tim Harrison, he is our dirted tank expert <"Soil Substrate or Dirted Tank - A How to Guide"> I think we need to know a little more about the soil and particularly, is all that depth soil? on the right of the picture. cheers Darrel
  66. dw1305

    Phosphate deficiency?

    Hi all, They look pretty healthy to me and not noticeably deficient in anything. Cheers Darrel
  67. dw1305

    Micro fertiliser without K

    Hi all, Normally you can get a water report from your water supplier using your postcode <"https://www.southeastwater.co.uk/help/water-supply/water-quality/">, the problem is that they are now <"less and less informative">. cheers Darrel
  68. dw1305

    Micro fertiliser without K

    Hi all, I'd just use a hydroponic fertiliser, they are much <"more economical">. Have a look at the Solufeed range <"Solufeed 2:1:4 and Solufeed Sodium Free TEC or Solufeed Coir TEC Combination">. You may also struggle with iron (Fe) availability using <"Seachem Iron">, it is <"ferrous (FeII)...
  69. dw1305

    Micro fertiliser without K

    Hi all, I'd definitely go to using a hydroponic fertiliser, it is going to be a lot cheaper in the long run. Have a look at <"Solufeed 2:1:4 and Solufeed Sodium Free TEC or Solufeed Coir TEC Combination"> They do. I'm not sure you can say that. Personally I'd be <"a lot warier"> with...
  70. dw1305

    Micro fertiliser without K

    Hi all, It isn't a liquid, but the <"Solufeed Coir TEC"> should do and it is a lot cheaper. That would also do. Agreed. I'm going to tell you the problem is likely to be with your test kits. It is quite <"difficult to test for potassium (K) via colorimetry">, purely because nearly all...
  71. dw1305

    Remineralisation solution precipitate

    Hi all, That should be fine, they are both soluble salts. I'd dose them a little time apart, because of potential solubility issues, even in the tank. cheers Darrel
  72. dw1305

    Remineralisation solution precipitate

    Hi all, You really have to dry dose it as @Happi says. The problem is that it has very low solubility in water <"Calcium sulfate - Wikipedia">. This applies to all the different hydration states (<"water of crystallization">). The only way you could make a solution would be to make a...
  73. dw1305

    Calcium and dosing fertilisers

    Hi all, You might be able to get <"Vitax / Chempak Sequestered Iron"> or similar I do and I don't, if I can buy an acceptable mix I'll use use it, it is usually the most <"economical option"> - <"Solufeed 2:1:4 and Solufeed Sodium Free TEC or Solufeed Coir TEC Combination">. If I want...
  74. dw1305

    Calcium and dosing fertilisers

    Hi all, Probably manganese II sulphate (MnSO4.nH2O) <"Sulphate of Manganese | Viridis Garden">. I'd have to check, but I think the monohydrate (MnSO4.H2O) is the usual salt sold (it is pale pink), but it is hygroscopic, so it might be better to dry it and assume it was anhydrous. cheers Darrel
  75. dw1305

    Calcium and dosing fertilisers

    Hi all, Not sure about branded, but one containing FeEDDHA <How long EDTA/DTPA micros last in soft water ?">. There may be one available to you via a hydroponics web site? <"Fe EDDHA sources">. Seachem use <"ferrous (FeII) gluconate"> - <"Fractal"> and that is a less good complexor /...
  76. dw1305

    Calcium and dosing fertilisers

    Hi all, Yes, but fortunately iron (Fe) deficiency is one of the <"easier deficiencies to diagnose">. Have a look at the links in <"Should i start to fertilize?">. cheers Darrel
  77. dw1305

    Seachem method of potassium dosing

    Hi all, Point taken, it definitely makes keeping ions in solution easier. I don't use rain water <"If it's yellow, let it mellow and RO is the devil"> specifically because of its softness, I use it because I've always used it, from long ago, back before <"I was a planted tank keeper">. I...
  78. dw1305

    Seachem method of potassium dosing

    Hi all, I agree, in the long term we can only move forward with experimentation and <"the scientific method">. I'm a pretty <"shoddy scientist and aquarist">, and I'm willing to <"bump along the bottom">. Others will have <"higher standards">. If there was a dip meter, like a thermometer, or...
  79. dw1305

    Seachem method of potassium dosing

    Hi all, I just start from a slightly different place, basically use a <"commercial fertiliser mix"> and then use the <"growth, colour and vigour of a floating plant"> to tell you whether you are adding enough nutrients, and whether <"those nutrients are plant available">. If you have a...
  80. dw1305

    Seachem method of potassium dosing

    Hi all, <"That's me">. I just need to start using <"Seachem fertilisers">, and avoid contracting <"Fish-keepers lung">. cheers Darrel
  81. dw1305

    Seachem method of potassium dosing

    Hi all, I think that Pontederia (Eichornia) crassipes (Water Hyacinth) is the ultimate "turned up to eleven" plant. Basically it can utilise <"all the nutrients and sunlight you can throw at it">, but it needs plenty of everything, including temperature <"Implications of global climate change...
  82. dw1305

    Seachem method of potassium dosing

    Hi all, We can't tell, but because NH4+ is: <"weakly bound as a cation">, preferentially used by plants and a <"low hanging fruit"> for microbial action I think we can safely predict that most of the TAN will be mopped up pretty quickly (and converted to the protein) by both plants and...
  83. dw1305

    Seachem method of potassium dosing

    Hi all, I'm not a plant physiologist, but I understand that there are <"kinetic advantages"> for plants to uptake fixed nitrogen (N) as the ammonium ion (NH4+) from TAN (ammonia (NH3) / ammonium (NH4+)). Having said that I'm not personally too bothered what form that <"fixed nitrogen is...
  84. dw1305

    Seachem nitrogen clone help

    Hi all, Yes, you are both right, you just need the relative percentages of nitrogen in either compound. Ammonium sulphate ((NH3)2SO4) is ~ 21% nitrogen (N) and urea (CO(NH2)2) ~ 46%. So 46 / 21 = 2.19 and 19.4 * 2.19 = 42.5 and I'm guessing the difference is just rounding errors. It would...
  85. dw1305

    Seachem method of potassium dosing

    Hi all, Yes the same for me. Years ago I used to make up "missing nutrient" hydroponic growing solutions for work, but I pretty quickly realised that they didn't "work" for most of the trace elements, presumably because it was impossible to totally exclude them from the solutions and <"any...
  86. dw1305

    Seachem method of potassium dosing

    Hi all, They are definitely "impurities". You can <"analyse for trace metals"> using Inductively Coupled Plasma / Mass Spectrophotometry (ICP / MS). cheers Darrel
  87. dw1305

    Seachem method of potassium dosing

    Hi all, I think the sulphate salts are present just because they are constituents of the <"polyhalite evaporite fertiliser">, that forms the major constituent of "Seachem Equilibrium". There is a description of the polysulphate evaporite mineral deposition here...
  88. dw1305

    Seachem method of potassium dosing

    Hi all, I don't think they add it. I'd guess that it is actually an impurity in whatever base <"polyhalite salt they use">. That is why it contains such a lot of potassium (K) they haven't added it, it was already there. I still think we are starting from here, or pretty close, <"Polysulphate...
  89. dw1305

    Seachem method of potassium dosing

    Hi all, Ahh, <"close, but no cigar">. It doesn't preclude "Polysulphate®", plus some other salts. I still think I'm in the <"right ball-park">, just not possibly at the right game. cheers Darrel
  90. dw1305

    Seachem method of potassium dosing

    Hi all, Without me going to look, what is the K, Ca and Mg content of "Seachem Equilibrium"? I'd need to change the oxide values of Polyphosphate (K2O, CaO & MgO) to their elemental values*, but it would confirm (or deny) that they are the same. *Edit, don't even need to do that: 48% sulphur...
  91. dw1305

    Seachem method of potassium dosing

    Hi all, I'm guessing that the potassium salt (potassium sulphate? (K2SO4)) is mainly used as a cheap filler to bulk the volume up. I'd also guess that salt is K2SO4 as it is likely to be the cheapest potassium salt to buy in bulk (after potassium chloride (KCl)). Seachem definitely say "no...
  92. dw1305

    Seachem method of potassium dosing

    Hi all, They just want to <"sell you a product"> <"Seachem Equilibrium restores and maintains mineral balance and GH">. Potassium (K) doesn't actually have any effect on dGH, it is a monovalent (K+) cation. If you want to raise dGH you can use "Epsom Salts" (MgSO4.7H2O) and calcium chloride...
  93. dw1305

    Easy Life ProFito

    Hi all, You can dose it daily or weekly, it really doesn't make much difference. It just supplies <"micro (trace) nutrients"> and, in most cases, they aren't going to have much effect on plant growth, unless one of those trace <"nutrients is deficient">. You would need to supply the plants...
  94. dw1305

    Does My Dosing Regime Fit

    Hi all, Brilliant, I'm really pleased it has helped. Personally, I'm a <"pretty lazy and shoddy aquarist">, but I'm going to say that all our members would be pretty happy with that <"as plant growth">. cheers Darrel
  95. dw1305

    Does My Dosing Regime Fit

    Hi all, That is looking very healthy. cheers Darrel
  96. dw1305

    Anyone use Triple Super Phosphate?

    Hi all, It probably wouldn't be my phosphate (PO4---) source of choice (it is made by pouring phosphoric acid (H3PO4) onto mined rock phosphate) but I'd just dry dose it. Personally I'd go with potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4) if I wanted a separate phosphate source. You aren't going...
  97. dw1305

    Fe EDDHA sources

    Hi all, I think it is only the para para form that isn't plant available in solution, but I don't know the reason. No. Cheers Darrel
  98. dw1305

    Holiday Dosing, how much to frontload

    Hi all, That sounds a plan, but I'd leave both lights on. If anything <"really unexpected"> <"went really wrong"> it won't limit plant growth and will give you a bit of <"wriggle room">. cheers Darrel
  99. dw1305

    Does My Dosing Regime Fit

    Hi all, I'd just carry on with the same dosing (having swapped K2SO4 for MgSO4.7H2O). You can buy MgSO4.7H2O cheaply as "Epsom Salts", sold for baths <"Westlab Epsom Salt | Holland & Barrett"> etc. If you want to know how many ppm (Mg / L) you've dosed? You can use an aquarium calculator...
  100. dw1305

    Fe EDDHA sources

    Hi all, I'd guess that they are both the same product differently branded. The Chempak <""> doesn't actually contain a lot of iron. On the box it says "DTPA 1.2% and EDDHA Fe 0.8% ...... total iron soluble in water is 2.0%. " If you bought a 250g box, you've only actually 5g of iron chelates...
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