dosage advice - Calcium Nitrate

[cheeboonyong]

Hi,

this is my usual dosing regime for my 4 footer planted tank.

Weekly
Lushgro Aqua - 30ml
Lushgro Micros - few drops
Potassium Phosphate - just under a 1/4 teaspoon

I don't dose anything else, although I have some coral chips in the filter to act as buffer. I suspect the coral chips provide a stable dose of calcium carbonate.


Occasionally I will get BGA, which I suspect is due to me under-dosing the Nitrate which primarily comes from my Aqua.

I just got a box of Calcium Nitrate to supplement recently.

So I have NPK all taken care of, with the micros to take care of the rest.

Specifically though, will I be adding too much Calcium, i.e., do I need to add Magnesium to complement it? Was reading somewhere before that there has to be a bit of balance between Calcium and Magnesium.

[vinz]

You would probably need to supplement with Mg. The commonly published ration is 4:1 Ca:Mg. We usually assume that our tap water has the correct ratio. The ratio is necessary for some kind of ionic balance (sorry the science was over my head) so that the plants can absorb both. And K is also part of the balance.

[Goalkeeper]

i always thought the micro will include all these. Realised lushgro micro doesn't have Mg. any recommended brand for Mg?

[Jimmy]

i always thought the micro will include all these. Realised lushgro micro doesn't have Mg. any recommended brand for Mg?

Magnesium Sulphate from eco city

[vinz]

Usually the Micros only include a small balanced proportion of Ca and Mg. Not really enough to make a diff if you need to balance Ca from CaNO3. Mg usually dosed from Magnesium Sulphate Heptahydrate (MgSO4.7H2O). Common name Epsom Salts. It is usually cheaper off the shelf at the pharmacies. I only see one brand at our major pharmacies, a dark green box that is food grade.