Calcium Nitrate as alternative NO3 source for EI?

[Shadow]

well you can dilute it with 2 liters instead of 4 liters, thus each dossing would be only 10ml. Or 1 liter, 5ml each dossing

[illumnae]

1kg in 2 litres would be 50g/100ml...beyond concentration point of 38g/100ml 1kg in 1 litre would be 100g/100ml

My worry is that putting in the K2SO4 and MgSO4 would push the solution beyond saturation point and would mean that I have to add even more water and dose e.g.50ml per dose, and have to store 8 litres of solution somewhere

[CK Yeo]

I don't have the solubility datas, but I don't think K2SO4 will full dissolve. Dose that dry is easier. The others should be easy.

Anyway dosing K is not rocket science. A bit more, a bit less is not going to make a lot of difference. I use the coffee stirrer spoon to dose K2SO4 during water changes...

ck

[illumnae]

hehe i'm just lazy and want to put everything in a single solution to dose I could certainly keep the KH2PO4, K2SO4 and MgSO4 separate, but that would mean dosing 1 liquid and 3 powders on macro day! I wish the authorities weren't overly cautious on KNO3 and just allow it again!

[Shadow]

does anyone try to apply for license?

[illumnae]

After applying for license it's still troublesome to arrange directly with Dr Mallick for purchase...

[medicineman]

Err... go to dr mallick and get some lushgro or go to wizuworld and get some macro+?

Should not be a huge burden unless your tank is painfully large.

[Shadow]

Actually lots of different, previously using dry KN03, 1Kg cost about $10-$12 and that will last for about 2 years for 3ft tank. How much do I need to spend to cover 2 years period with branded fertilizer?

[illumnae]

costs definitely skyrocketed when the govt decided to enforce the restriction on KNO3. hopefully they'll lax down soon...after flirting with commercial ferts and being somewhat satisfied, i miss the cheapness and efficiency of EI...really leaps and bounds better

[gemo82]

Sorry for bringing up an old thread. Just want to inform that calcium nitrate and magnesium sulphate should not be premixed as it will form a ppt of calcium sulphate which is insoluble.

Also, may I check with bro illumnae about the solubility of calcium nitrate? From what I found, it should be 129g/100ml of water, instead of 38g/100ml of water. Or am I wrong?

[ecocityhydroponics]

Calcium nitrate is available in Singapore

Checkout this site

http://www.ecocityhydroponics.com/lu...m-nitrate.html

[Plantbrain]

This will have no impact as far as dosing EI, use the Ca(NO3)2 and K2SO4 in place of KNO3.

[neverwalkalone]

This will have no impact as far as dosing EI, use the Ca(NO3)2 and K2SO4 in place of KNO3.

Sorry Tom, please clarify - are you saying that Ca(NO3)2 is NOT effective as a replacement of KNO3 as dosing EI, or it is only used in conjunction with K2SO4?

[Shadow]

You need K and NO3. With KNO3 you have both, no need to add seperate K2SO4 but with Ca(NO3)2 you will need seperate source for K

[neverwalkalone]

You need K and NO3. With KNO3 you have both, no need to add seperate K2SO4 but with Ca(NO3)2 you will need seperate source for K

Yes - noted that K will be needed via K2SO4. Was wondering if Tom meant Ca(NO3)2 will not provide the NO3 that KNO3 was primarily used for! I assume the dosage for Ca(NO3)2 is the same as in KNO3 given the similar molecular weights (ratio)....

[Shadow]

Not really, the amount of NO3 in 1 gram of KNO3 is different than 1 gram of Ca(NO3)2

1 gram of KNO3 in 50 gallon water will give you 3.24ppm of NO3
1 gram of Ca(NO3)2 in 50 gallon water will give you 2.78ppm of NO3