Dr Mallick's LushGrow Aqua fertiliser: No Calcium?

[cheeboonyong]

Hi,

just wanted to check with those who are using the Aqua from Dr Mallick. I noted that calcium was missing from his list of nutrients. Will I see calcium deficiency eventually if I only use the Aqua?

Also, the Aqua has all the micro nutients. So do I still need to dose the Micro series? Seems like the Aqua has everything, then why do people still use the Micro?

[PeterGwee]

Our tap water usually has 3dGH which I personally think should be enough if you do large regular weekly water changes. Unless you are sure that all the nutrient requirements have been met and you still have calcium or magnesium deficiency symptoms, I would rather look elsewhere for the problem first.

Upping traces using Aqua can be difficult as it already contains nitrate which is why some people prefer to use micros instead.

[bclee]

Personally, I do experience Ca deficiency without additional Ca dosage. It maybe due to lack of base fert in my setup.

If you are using Lushgro Aqua, Lushgro Micro may not be neccessary, unless you are trying to up the traces without increasing NO3. (Lushgro Aqua contains NO3.)

If your plants show signs of Ca deficiencies and you are pretty sure about that, you can add Ca using CaSO4 (may be available from Dr. Mallick's). Personally, I use Seachem Equilibrium as a Calcium supplement (also contains Mg, Mn, K, Fe).

BC

[juggler]

Dr Mallick said he left out Ca because he said fish food has Ca already.

Ca is also available in our tap water provided you do weekly water change.
For my case, I am using MICROS and I put some coral chips in my filter to supply the Ca, Mg and kH buffer.

Some of us use MICROS because it is more concentrated and we don't want excess NO3 (from AQUA) in our tanks.

AQUA is more for general purpose use.

I know Geoffrey uses both!

[bclee]

A table on coral sand composition that I've gotten from Coral Calcium News.com.

BTW, this site is about coral calcium health supplement. But the composition should give us a very rough guide on the contents of coral sand.



BC

[bclee]

Yet another table of analysis from a different source showing a much lower Mg content.



It seemed to me that contents of coral sand may vary significantly.

BC

[cheeboonyong]

Thanks everyone for reading and responding with all the helpful info. My tank has a persistent high NO3 and PO4 problem. So I'm thinking I'll be using mainly Micros then, instead of the the Aqua to cut down on the N being introduced. Will supplement with K2SO4 to fix the K requirement. As for the Aqua, I'll cut down to 1/3 dosage.

What do you guys think?

By the way, what are some of the typical symptons of Ca deficiency?

[vinz]

Most of liquid fert do not contain Ca. Of the ones I've checked only Flourish has Ca and in very small amounts only.

Before you change anything else, just dose K2SO4. If K is the only limiting factor, the NO3 and PO4 usage may go up.

[geoffrey]

You should be more concern about the lack of PO4 in Aqua than Ca if you are using coral or changing water regularly.

Yes, I use both Aqua and Micro together because I feel the TE from Aqua is abit low. With Micro, I trace TE with Fe to 0.25~0.5ppm.

[geoffrey]

If you are using the estimative method that Gwee is advocating, I would think Aqua, used together with KH2PO4 and Micro will more than suffice.

All you need after changing 50% of water is add Aqua accordingly (25ml of Aqua to 50L gives about 15ppm NO3; 25ppm K; 0.1ppm Fe), some PO4, and if you wish, Micro.