Need help regarding kNO3 and KH2PO4

[hirowen]

Hi AQ,

My current tank is 1.5ft (42.5litres).
Flora: Nana, some stem plants, and moss.
DIY Nutrafin CO2 1 bubble every 2 second.
No Base fert, only root monster.
2 DC fan (26-28 degree celsius)
No measuring kit so don't know abt water parameter.

Below is my planned regime:

Mon: Seachem Flourish, Seachem Excel
Tues: Seachem Excel, KNO3 + KH2PO4
Wed: Seachem Excel, Flourish
Thurs: Seachem Trace, Seachem Excel, KNO3 + KH2PO4
Fri: Seachem Excel, Flourish
Sat: Seachem Excel, KNO3 + KH2PO4
Sun: 40% WC, Seachem Trace, Excel, KNO3 + KH2PO4

Question is:
- How much KNO3 and KH2PO4 should i put in? (I am poor in calculating chemistry, can someone please enlighten me?)
- Those tsp you guys refering to is those 2.5ml or 5ml?
- Is my weekly rountine regime ok?

Thanks in advance!

[|squee|]

Teaspoon is the 5ml one.

Your routine sounds alright to me. How strong are those lights? You need to keep up the DIY CO2 really good though.

I helped you key in the values at APC's Fertilator.

[hirowen]

Thanks Terence. My light is 1 x 24watt PL and 1 x 9watt PL..
0.02 tsp is so hard to estimate.
One more question, 0.25tsp KNO3 and 0.02tsp KH2PO4, according to my regime, do i have to divide it by 3? or I juz have to dose 0.25tsp KNO3 and 0.02tsp KH2PO4 3 times per week?

[PeterGwee]

Do 1/8 teaspoon of KNO3 3x a week, 1ppm of PO4 from stock solution mixture (you can try 1 teaspoon per 500ml of water...add 10ml of the stock solution 3x a week) and a general trace mix of 3ml 3x a week. CO2 is your main achillies heel and nothing will work if you let it go downhill.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[hirowen]

Thanks Peter! However, the seachem trace only recommend me to dose twice per week.

[|squee|]

I ignored all my trace element's suggested dosage and do it three times a week

[PeterGwee]

Use the flourish as the general trace mix and not the trace which is leaner.

Regards
Peter Gwee

[valice]

You might want to try using the MacDonald's stirrer which you get with coffee... It roughly holds about 1 gram of crystal... I measured it with a known spoon used in Oxycure which holds 2 grams of Oxycure crystal...

[hirowen]

Thanks all of you all! I have cleared my doubts! Cheers!

[hirowen]

Hmmm, I know this question has been asked quite a number of times in AQ but i somehow rather forgotten le.
When is the best time to add in the fert? Before lights on or after?

[|squee|]

No best time, as long as you add it in everyday.

[hirowen]

haha! ok! Thanks! Saw my stem plant grow taller and healthier already.

[FishFan]

Hi All,

Just to add on with a question.

For the dosing of KNO3 and KH2PO4, what I have been doing is to dissolve the powders in a container of water before before adding the solution into the tank. It is practise acceptable? Or would it be better to pre-dissolve the powders and to store them as a stock solution and to dosing using this stock? Thanks.

[|squee|]

Both are acceptable. Even dumping the powders straight into the tank causes no problems. I've been doing that since I started powder-dosing.

[oblivion]

don't mind i ask a few qns here
tell me if you think im hijacking.....
I'm using the seachem range.
if using bottled ferts like that, what is the suggested fert routine?
dose daily?
im following the label instructions of twice a week but results not as good as i liked..

[|squee|]

Then dose double dosage (Seachem ferts are diluted in water) three times a week. Keep up on the CO2. Try and experiment. If you have enough plant mass in your tank and housekeeping is good overdosing won't be a problem.

[aquarius]

Both are acceptable. Even dumping the powders straight into the tank causes no problems. I've been doing that since I started powder-dosing.

Won't that particular area that you dosed have algae or more algae problem? My reasoning is that whether the tank is moderately dense or densely planted the outlet flow from the filter won't be able to get the powdered fert to circulate throughout the tank?

[valice]

Nope... In fact, that's the reason for good circulation of our tanks... And because we try to plant densely, a more powerful filter is actually required sometimes than what is actually recommended to achieve this circulation...

Else, use a powerhead to get the nutrients and CO2 circulated nicely... Also the reason why you will notice BBA or what not algae occuring at places of poor circulation, instead of places where the fertilisers land...