How 'rich' in nutrients is Tropica Aqua Soil

[Malarky]

How 'rich' in nutrients is Tropica Aqua Soil? I have a generous soil depth but unsure to what degree this might act as a substitute for additional Tropica Specialised fertiliser. Is there a better Tropica Aquasoil + fertilser combo than the one I am using given the soil is presumably supplying a lot of minerals (regime is 5 ml fertiliser once a week, 150 litr tank, no Co2, near daily 20 ltr water change, aim is heavily planted).

Related to this I just watched the Filipe Oliveira video on his dosing regime (Flourish micros one week, macros the next). The question I have is whether that kind of regime is only appropriate along with CO2 injection? My goal is non-C02.

 

[_Maq_]

The question I have is whether that kind of regime is only appropriate along with CO2 injection? My goal is non-C02.

Dosing micros (esp. iron) separately from macros (esp. phosphate) is a sound practice no matter whether you inject CO2 or not. Trace metals often form insoluble compounds with phosphate anion.

 

[whitecloud]

Maq, can you briefly explain how the common All In One producers are getting around this? And can it be guaranteed they are getting around this? I've tried a number of different all-in-one's and feel something is off. My light stocking and RO might not be helping (very little background N, P, etc...)

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Maq,

Unfortunately @_Maq_ is no longer posting.

can you briefly explain how the common All In One producers are getting around this?

You can keep the iron Fe(++(+)) and phosphate (PO4---) ions separate by supplying <"the iron in a chelated"> form (like FeEDTA or FeDTPA) in a light -proof container. You can also regulate the pH to keep it acidic <"All in One -Fertilizer making- Recommendation!">, to reduce the chance of calcium phosphate forming.

In the tank you have an oxidising environment where the iron and phosphate ions will combine to form <"insoluble iron phosphates"> - <"Micro from tap water"> and subsequent posts.

An insoluble phosphate compound, in the substrate, could become available in the reducing conditions that @Marcel G mentioned earlier in the thread.

Phosphorus is a bit of a strange element, in that both low and high pH values favour the formation of insoluble compounds. Under acidic conditions aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe) phosphates form and in alkaline conditions calcium (Ca) phosphate. Around pH6 - pH7 you get H₂PO₄ - ions and they are more plant available than the HPO₄-- ions found above pH7.

cheers Darrel