D I Y Plant Ferts

[novamadcars]

im just wondering if thairs away of making plant ferts from home as im sick and tired of paying the prices thay want in shops any info would be great cheers

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

depending on your tank set up you could start using dry ferts to mix your own. Here's a link to a U.K site that supplies them

http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...x&cPath=145_146

Read the important links on the right of the page to get info and visit the Planted tank section of the forum and read the pinned EI article, all you need to know .

 

[K-fee!]

Hey, I have been looking for the exact same thing. Thanks for the link

I have a 10 gal and I am looking to add the below to my tank:

KNO3 - Potassium Nitrate
KH2PO4 - Monopotassium Phosphates
K2SO4 - Potassium Sulphate

Trace Elements: contains
Boron 1.06%
Copper 0.23%
Iron 8.2%
Manganese 1.82%
Molybdenum 0.15%
Zinc 1.16%

I have never been good at working out this. I would like to mix all these together to make 1 dry mixture. How much of each do I need to mix for a 10 gal? e.g 2 teaspoons of blah with 1 teaspoon of that

Thanks

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Hi guy's, what you need K-fee is a dry ferts calculater. I use Chuck's free download calculator. here's the link.

http/www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_aquacalc.htm

The programe is brilliant you get a dry ferts calculator, CO2 charts and lots of great links to articles.

 

[K-fee!]

Sir/Madam (your profile says 'not telling' so not sure ) I could kiss you

 

[demonmagus]

probably because alexandcarmen is two people

 

[K-fee!]

probably because alexandcarmen is two people

lol

I have hit another problem!

This calculator is confusing me. If you want to add so much potassium nitrate it says 'posassium in potassium nitrate. This is the same for the 'nitrate in potassium nitrate. Example below in dry form added to tank

nitrate in potassium nitrate - 0.31 grams added to tank will add 5ppm

next

posassium in potassium nitrate - 1.97 grams added to tank will add 20.06ppm

How does this work though? It is only measuring 1 of 2 chemicals so in turn by added potassium nitrate to the tank to reach 5ppm and then again adding potassium nitrate to reach 20.06ppm of potassium will this increase the concentrations of both because the chemicals are not separate to start with.




EDIT

Think I may have got mixed up

To increase Nitrate: Use KN03 (Potassium Nitrate)
To increase Potassium: Use K2SO4 (Potassium Sulphate)

Lol

 

[vidiots]

probably because alexandcarmen is two people

lol
I have hit another problem!
This calculator is confusing me. If you want to add so much potassium nitrate it says 'posassium in potassium nitrate. This is the same for the 'nitrate in potassium nitrate. Example below in dry form added to tank
nitrate in potassium nitrate - 0.31 grams added to tank will add 5ppm
next
posassium in potassium nitrate - 1.97 grams added to tank will add 20.06ppm
How does this work though? It is only measuring 1 of 2 chemicals so in turn by added potassium nitrate to the tank to reach 5ppm and then again adding potassium nitrate to reach 20.06ppm of potassium will this increase the concentrations of both because the chemicals are not separate to start with.

EDIT
Think I may have got mixed up
To increase Nitrate: Use KN03 (Potassium Nitrate)
To increase Potassium: Use K2SO4 (Potassium Sulphate)
Lol

KNO3 contains both potassium and nitrate. It is 39% potassium and 61% nitrate. Adding KNO3 will raise the levels of both. The calculator is just telling you how much of each is increased.

To raise potassium without changing nitrate you would add K2SO4, which will raise both potassium and sulphate.

 

[excaliborg]

According to Aquatic-gardeners.org you can supplement your substrate in moderation with things like peat/soil (~1cup/ square foot).

 

[JamesC]

I have detailed exactly how I make up my ferts here - http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/fertiliser.htm along with where I have brought the chemicals.

James