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DIY Fertilizer Mixing – Need Advice on Ingredients & Hard Water Use

O

okla03

Member
Joined
9 Jun 2024
Messages
85
Location
London uk
Hi everyone,

I’m mixing my own fertilizer and following this formula:

500 ml solution, 20 ml per 50 gallons

Step #1

  • Start with 450 ml distilled water
Step #2

  • Add 0.25 g potassium sorbate and mix until fully dissolved
Step #3 (Pick one of the following, white vinegar preferred)

  • 0.25 g sodium benzoate
  • 0.5 g ascorbic acid
  • 5-10 ml white vinegar
Step #4

  • 31.545 g Solufeed 2:1:4, mix until fully dissolved
  • 5.721 g Solufeed Sodium-Free TEC, mix until fully dissolved
Step #5

  • Top up with distilled water to reach 500 ml

Questions:​

  1. Do I have everything I need, or am I missing anything?
  2. I live in London, where the tap water is quite hard. Can I use this mix with my tap water, or do I need to dilute it with RO water?
  3. Right now, I mix my tap and RO water to get TDS 125 and dose Tropica Specialised 15 ml/day in my 270L tank. Would my plants be fine if I switched to using my tap water without RO?
Any advice would be appreciated!
 

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I can’t help except to say that I used Ascorbic Acid in my mix and it went mouldy after a while. I continued using it but also added a small amount (sorry, I didn’t measure it) of Citric Acid powder and the last batch has been absolutely fine. The Citric Acid went in first.
 
Result of your masses and regime
1742128016862.png

Clone of TSN with a touch off Epsom salts
1742128050879.png
1742128084194.png


So depends on what levels of ferts your after

RO water is best, but boiled tap water also very acceptable
 
Last edited:
Zeus. said:
Result of your masses and regime
View attachment 228241

Clone of TSN with a touch off Epsom salts
View attachment 228242
View attachment 228243


So depends on what levels of ferts your after

RO water is best, but boiled tap water also very acceptable
Click to expand...
Thank you for sending the calculator map! I'll definitely give it a try. I'm not very confident with determining the exact fertilizer levels I need, so I might need some time to figure it out. Also, I'm changing 100L to 120L of water each week—does that affect the fertilizer levels I should use?

The calculator suggests adding 60.84g of Solufeed 2:1:4 and 15.21g of Magnesium Sulfate Hepta to a 500ml container and dosing 15ml a day. This would replicate tropical specialized levels, I believe. I just want to make sure I'm reading it correctly before I proceed. I really appreciate your help!"
 
okla03 said:
Thank you for sending the calculator map! I'll definitely give it a try. I'm not very confident with determining the exact fertilizer levels I need, so I might need some time to figure it out. Also, I'm changing 100L to 120L of water each week—does that affect the fertilizer levels I should use?

The calculator suggests adding 60.84g of Solufeed 2:1:4 and 15.21g of Magnesium Sulfate Hepta to a 500ml container and dosing 15ml a day. This would replicate tropical specialized levels, I believe. I just want to make sure I'm reading it correctly before I proceed. I really appreciate your help!"
Click to expand...
Just to add my RO is on 30ppm at this time
 
okla03 said:
I'm changing 100L to 120L of water each week—does that affect the fertilizer levels I should use?
Click to expand...
No, and 100 to 120l WC sound plenty IMO for level of ferts

okla03 said:
The calculator suggests adding 60.84g of Solufeed 2:1:4 and 15.21g of Magnesium Sulfate Hepta to a 500ml container and dosing 15ml a day. This would replicate tropical specialized levels, I believe. I just want to make sure I'm reading it correctly before I proceed. I really appreciate your help!"
Click to expand...
the masses was for
1742131383671.png

When the IFC clones a commercial fert or any regime, its works out from the dosing regime you choose and the size of tank you enter the amounts of salts needed that will yield the same level of ferts over a week. So same fert from a different dose or dry dosing- what I call a 'Pseudo clone'

There is no need to make a true clone as it makes no real difference to plants. Plus DIY ferts are more prone to mould so making DIY ferts to last months can end up with mount.

For 270 litres and dosing 10ml x 3 a week
1742132794490.png

Just ask which dosing frequency/etc you like and a post the result
 
Zeus. said:
No, and 100 to 120l WC sound plenty IMO for level of ferts


the masses was for
View attachment 228245

When the IFC clones a commercial fert or any regime, its works out from the dosing regime you choose and the size of tank you enter the amounts of salts needed that will yield the same level of ferts over a week. So same fert from a different dose or dry dosing- what I call a 'Pseudo clone'

There is no need to make a true clone as it makes no real difference to plants. Plus DIY ferts are more prone to mould so making DIY ferts to last months can end up with mount.

For 270 litres and dosing 10ml x 3 a week
View attachment 228246

Just ask which dosing frequency/etc you like and a post the result
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the explanation! That makes sense. So as long as the weekly nutrient levels are similar, the exact dosing method doesn't matter much for the plants. I hadn't thought about DIY ferts being more prone to mold—how long would you say is safe to store a mixed solution before it becomes a problem?

Also, I'm including pictures of my tanks just for reference. If I use only RO water with 30ppm, should I remineralize it with tap water or something else, or can I just add it as it is?

At the moment, I don’t have algae, and most of my plants are growing okay, but I feel like they could be doing better. I’m not sure what to adjust to improve things. My light level is {see the photo}—do you think I should increase the light or the fertilizer
 

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1742139905734.png
8 weeks worth of ferts doesn't give much of a chance for mould, storing in a cool dark place is best or fridge / freezer. Splitting up the volume mixed makes sense IMO.

RO water @ 30ppm should be fine IMO as it is - just watch the plants for deficiencies

With the DIY clone you will also be dosing more PO4 and K, this may also benefit the plants. If theres no/very little aglae then things are looking good also IMO. If the plants are growing fast it just makes more work every week also
 
okla03 said:
I’m mixing my own fertilizer and following this formula:
Click to expand...
Why use anything else other than water and your two Solufeed mixes. I use Iron EDTA and Iron EDTA plus other trace minerals, both from Solufeed. I just weigh out my amounts and dissolve in rain water. I make up two strengths, one 'concentrated' which I them dilute 10:1 to make 'dilute' the dilute I add to my tank every other day.
Never had a problem with precipitation of ingredients or mould or algae. The trace elements are chelated and are therefore stable if keep in the dark.
 
Zeus. said:
View attachment 228253
8 weeks worth of ferts doesn't give much of a chance for mould, storing in a cool dark place is best or fridge / freezer. Splitting up the volume mixed makes sense IMO.

RO water @ 30ppm should be fine IMO as it is - just watch the plants for deficiencies

With the DIY clone you will also be dosing more PO4 and K, this may also benefit the plants. If theres no/very little aglae then things are looking good also IMO. If the plants are growing fast it just makes more work every week also
Click to expand...
Thanks again! I appreciate the advice. I was adding 6g of Epsom salt every week while using Tropica Specialised. Now, when I start using the clone one, do I still need to do that?
 
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