Replacement for KNO3?

[bossteck]

Hi Colin,

Due to the my tank size (5x2x2.5, 700+ litres including sump) I rather use dry fert as it would be cheaper in the long run. But I take your point on the convenience and ease provided by Lushgro Aqua, I am quite keen to try it out. Maybe after I exhaust my current stock of dry fert.

Meanwhile, I would still like to know if the S in K2SO4 would be harmful to fishes if allowed to build up over time.

[blue33]

If you change water weekly it will not build up. I normally change at least 50% water weekly.

[bossteck]

That's the thing, I don't want to change water weekly, not following EI.
700+ litres change 50% is no joke.

Is there some way I can calculate, how many teaspoons of K2SO4 before things start to border on dangerous level so I know water change becomes a must?

[blue33]

I still think weekly water change is still a must even without using EI, you dont want your fauna living with the feces for more than a week.

[barmby]

Eric, I used to apply K2SO4, 2 tsp three times a week. The fishes still do great.

See:-


But I am struggling with my Blyxa Japonica. Sometime it melted. (Sometime only) I still cannot narrow the root cause.

However, this does not mean K2SO4 doesn't work.

At the same time, I dose LushGRO Aqua 15ml three times a week. I look at my CO2 very closely. Weekly water change.

And yes, my tank size is 5x2x2 I love big tank. Only big tank can win competition (hint to Adrian)

[bossteck]

Disagree. Just ask anyone who owns a koi pond.

Weekly water changes is do'able for smallish tanks, but for large tanks, it is no longer a must.

The whole idea of having larger volume of water is so that you could get away with a lot of things, laziness included.

Weekly water changes is a must if you're using EI, because you are basically adding more fert than you need, and the regular water changes is used to remove the excess before more fert is added.

[bossteck]

Hi Colin,

Do you happen to keep track how long your Lushgro Aqua would normally lasts? If there isn't that great a difference between dry and ready made, I will do the switch very soon

[blue33]

And yes, my tank size is 5x2x2 I love big tank. Only big tank can win competition (hint to Adrian)

LOL... i knew that, only the big tank can win, infact my 2ft tank can win no.60 is already a miracle to me and others (hardly small tank can win below 100) , but with my young children around( house full of children/baby stuff), CO will not approve at all. Most likely it will only happen many years down the road. LOL...

[blue33]

Disagree. Just ask anyone who owns a koi pond.

Weekly water changes is do'able for smallish tanks, but for large tanks, it is no longer a must.

The whole idea of having larger volume of water is so that you could get away with a lot of things, laziness included.

Weekly water changes is a must if you're using EI, because you are basically adding more fert than you need, and the regular water changes is used to remove the excess before more fert is added.

IMO. I still think changing water is a must, you will see lots of refreshing to the fauna and plant. Really is individual preference.

[bossteck]

Let's then agree on "Weekly water changes would be beneficial'

So... I suppose there is no sure way of determining effect of sulphur / sulphate on the livestock in our tanks?

By the way, I do monthly water changes... mainly because I can't recycle the tank water fast enough, hate to see water go to waste, using it to water potted plants.

[Shadow]

LOL... i knew that, only the big tank can win, infact my 2ft tank can win no.60 is already a miracle to me and others (hardly small tank can win below 100) , but with my young children around( house full of children/baby stuff), CO will not approve at all. Most likely it will only happen many years down the road. LOL...

ahh.... I can't agree more. With small kids around .. they want to help but end up meshing it up . I gave up my fish/study room once my 2nd sons born. Now I can only do tank maintenance after 12 am and before 7am

[Shadow]

Let's then agree on "Weekly water changes would be beneficial'

So... I suppose there is no sure way of determining effect of sulphur / sulphate on the livestock in our tanks?

By the way, I do monthly water changes... mainly because I can't recycle the tank water fast enough, hate to see water go to waste, using it to water potted plants.

Are you planning to have shrimps around?

Maybe you want to try PPS dosing from APC. It is a bit tedious because you need to measure your plant intake.

[blue33]

Let's then agree on "Weekly water changes would be beneficial'

So... I suppose there is no sure way of determining effect of sulphur / sulphate on the livestock in our tanks?

By the way, I do monthly water changes... mainly because I can't recycle the tank water fast enough, hate to see water go to waste, using it to water potted plants.

Yes. I ever try to dose almost like 10X the dosage and straight away all my shrimps and some fauna go HEAVEN, that was when i was still newbie trying out all the ferts and experimenting. ...

[blue33]

ahh.... I can't agree more. With small kids around .. they want to help but end up meshing it up . I gave up my fish/study room once my 2nd sons born. Now I can only do tank maintenance after 12 am and before 7am

LOL... we experienced the same thing. Now my elder son tank is like washing basin for my younger son.

[bossteck]

Are you planning to have shrimps around?

Maybe you want to try PPS dosing from APC. It is a bit tedious because you need to measure your plant intake.

Hi Robert,

No shrimps, I am keeping altums and a few dwarf bristlenose plecos in the tank.

Measuring plant intank means measuring the amount of left over fert? Which means lots of test kits?

[barmby]

Hi Eric,
Lushgro Aqua 1000ml pack would normally last me 3 months. Every 7 days, I will dose 15ml each time. Btw, I still can dose 2 x tsp of K2SO4 and 3 x 7 PPM of PO4 weekly. The fishes still do great. Btw, my tank has no shrimp (toooooo troublesome)

PS: Btw, for past three months I have stopped dosing K2s04. I am trying something..

[Shadow]

15ml of lushgro Aqua for 566 liters tank give you only 0.84ppm of NO3 and 1.37ppm of K per dose. Isn't that too low? unless my calculation wrong

[barmby]

hi robert, I only have 417litres or 110 US GALLON of water in the tank. BUT you are right. no matter what, it is still too low based on theory. Maybe my plants are low feeder Oh yeah.. Maybe daily dose of blood worms x 1 cube help to contribute NO3..

[barmby]

Hi Eric, for you

$22 for 10 litres!!

try la.

cheers

[StanChung]

FERILIZER? LOL.
I also keep tweaking my K2SO4/KNO3 %. to suit which plants. Neverending.