potassium ferts

[hoppinghippo]

Hi just wondering, what form is the potassium in for liq ferts like seachem? like is it part of a compound like Mallick's K2so4? or is it by itself? all these ferts only specify that it contains whatever nutrients, like Mg, Ca, etc, but I've always wondered in what form is it addded in the commercial mixture, like Mg definitely cannot exist on its own else your tank will get fireworks heh. cuz debating to get K fert, or general fert incl K, or Mallick's ferts. prob is, I don't like the So4 part of Mallick's K2So4.

currently using ferropol but I feel the Fe content is too high to use for daily or weekly basis, so thinking of getting other ferts to provide other nutrients on daily basis while using ferropol for its Fe content on maybe monthly basis. thanx!

[loupgarou]

heh.. usually all these ferts are either in a chelated form with something like gluconate/edta.

sometimes would also be in k2so4, kcl etc..metallic salts.

depends on what they say.

since seachem iron is just ferrous gluconate, I expect their potassium to be the same...

[vinz]

For ferropol, use the recommended dosage as a guideline only. If you have a test kit, adjust the dose to maintain about 0.1ppm Fe in the water. That should settle the other nutrients as well.

I'm on Flourish now, but considering switching to Ferropol or other fertiliser that contains more K and Fe.

[hoppinghippo]

vinz: flourish doesn't have K or not enuff K? and with ferropol, what I've found is that if you're conservative with it, there isn't much of a growth diff, but when you push the envelope a bit more, there's good growth but also plenty of algae esp spot, which prob comes from Fe content. what I am hoping is that the concentration of non-Fe nutrients might be the limiting factors and if I can dose them without Fe, I could still get the growth.

[vinz]

Seachem Flourish is unique amongst the different brands of aquatic fertilisers. Seachem has lower than normal K and Fe in Flourish and provide you with Flourish K and Fe as individual products so you can customise the dosage of those 2 elements according to your tank needs.

Will note your experience on Ferropol.

[PeterGwee]

I doubt the cause of the spot algae is cause by iron...it could well be the high level of nitrate or phosphate that is causing it instead...check the level of those 2 first. []

[vinz]

Actually, it's the opinion of some that spot algae is an indication of good water quality... but then I've seen healthy planted tanks that are spot algae-free. Others have comments?

[hoppinghippo]

I don't know about good quality indication but what I know is when I"ve an outbreak of spot algae, my plants are usu growing like crazy, once I control the spot algae thru water change, my plants have a def reduction in growth.

[PeterGwee]

Once you do water change your fert level drops..that is probably why your plant growth slows down. What you need to do is to do more water changes but at the same time redose the amount of fert required (Fert level constant while phosphate and nitrate level decrease).

Oh..one more thing..I think your tank might be Nitrate limited after doing water change...need to get a test kit and make it about 3-5ppm using KNO3.

[Allen_1971]

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On 12/30/2002 1:16:28 PM

I don't know about good quality indication but what I know is when I"ve an outbreak of spot algae, my plants are usu growing like crazy, once I control the spot algae thru water change, my plants have a def reduction in growth.
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I have no specific proof of this, but judging from what you say, the nutrient requirements of spot algae and that of the plants in your tank are very close. As such its difficult to get the balance such that your plants grow well without spot.

As for your concerns using K2SO4, I had similar concerns, but basically convinced myself using some calculations that it would be safe.

You can check this thread out to read what I went through

[Addie]

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On 12/30/2002 11:08:55 AM

Actually, it's the opinion of some that spot algae is an indication of good water quality... but then I've seen healthy planted tanks that are spot algae-free. Others have comments?
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I have recently experienced spot algae only after my tank is 3-4 weeks old when my tank nitrogen cycle is complete. I can only find some hair algae on the glass before the cycle complete. It seems like this is a sign of good water quality (when cycle complete). Plants are doing well before and after the appearance of spot algae.

Again, I don't have techinical proof on these. It is to share my experience on spot algae.

[hoppinghippo]

Peter: I do redose after water change, prob is that my fert dosage seems to be like allen described, which is spot algae seems to thrive on the same amts of fert as my plants, so its a tradeoff.

allen: thanx for the link, been looking for that! I think I"ll try out Dr Mallick's K2so4, prob a lot cheaper than commericial K!

addie: yep, that's the usual experience, no planted tank is complete without the spot algae!! hope your tank's doing fine after the cycling!