Making stock solution of dry fertiliser

[o2bubble]

Did anyone here tried this and works? I am thinking making a 4 litre bottle of EI dosage for my tank with Calcium Nitrate, Potassium Sulphate, Potassium Phosphate and Magnesium Sulphate. Is it Calcium Nitrate and Potassium Phosphate can't mix?

[gemo82]

Without KNO3, I used the same chemicals as you did. Yes, Calcium Nitrate and Potassium Phosphate cannot mix as it will result in a white precipitation. So what I did was to dissolve Calcium Nitrate alone, and the rest into another bottle. When dosing into the aquarium, let one solution mix well with the water before you dose the other, to be sure the two solutions do not mix together in high concentration and precipitate out.

One problem I see with using the above chemicals is that you will be dosing quite a lot of sulphate into the water, which some bros here experienced adverse effects on their shrimps. So far, I have been dosing for 10 months and it seemed fine. But then again, I do not have sensitive CRS in that tank, only cherries.

[barmby]

I think the folks at APC do that. They call it Perpetual Preservation System (PPS). quite profound. Read till i see star, no, many stars!!

http://sites.google.com/site/aquaticplantfertilizer/

[felix_fx2]

Ok, now i see stars with you... so many charts...

[blue33]

too much calcium you may get bigger leaf and abit more and your plant may just go heaven, lots of time it really depend on different user.

[o2bubble]

Thanks guys for the information and advise. Can someone point me to a reliable calculator for making such a EI based fertiliser stock solution? What are the neccessary chemicals needed? Are above mentioned ones (except iron as I'm using seachem iron) enough and the recomended ppm ranges? I intend to try making one this weekend during my spare time to try out.

[Fuzzy]

Yes you have all the macro nutrients covered.

You could consider using a commercial formulation for micro or trace nutrients if you find that dosing iron isn't enough.

[o2bubble]

Btw, does Calcium Nitrate raises the KH and Magnesium Sulphate raises the GH and by how much?

[gemo82]

If I am not wrong, both raises GH, but not KH.

GH measures the concentration of Calcium and Magnesium cations.
1 dGH = 17.848ppm of either of the cations.

KH measures the concentration of carbonates and bicarbonates.
1 dKH = 17.848ppm of carbonate, or half that ppm of bicarbonate.

[o2bubble]

Thanks.. will need to carefully consider and find out how much of these to add as I do not want to raise my GH. My tap water is already 4 to 5 dGH

[Growe]

I discovered that need not really dose Calcium and Magnesium. GH in Singapore is generally high. My GH is 8.0 from the tap. So my dry dosage:-

Potassium - by Potassium Chloride (4tsp) to 1 liter of water give above 40 ppm (over 2 week) for my 240 liters tank

Nitrate - Calcium Nitrate (no choice since better Potassium Nitrate) is no longer available
Another way, add fish load for your bio filter to produce more Nitrate

Phosphate - Potassium Phosphate - 3 tsp to 500 ml water (you can use for very long) 1ml solution give 0.1 ppm for my 240 liter tank

Add Dr Mallick MICRO to add the rest of MICRO NUTRIENT.

Should do the job

[MiminoloGy]

Dr Mallick still sells Potassium Phosphates?

Sorry to hijack

[dannyfish]

I discovered that need not really dose Calcium and Magnesium. GH in Singapore is generally high. My GH is 8.0 from the tap. So my dry dosage:-

Potassium - by Potassium Chloride (4tsp) to 1 liter of water give above 40 ppm (over 2 week) for my 240 liters tank

Nitrate - Calcium Nitrate (no choice since better Potassium Nitrate) is no longer available
Another way, add fish load for your bio filter to produce more Nitrate

Phosphate - Potassium Phosphate - 3 tsp to 500 ml water (you can use for very long) 1ml solution give 0.1 ppm for my 240 liter tank

Add Dr Mallick MICRO to add the rest of MICRO NUTRIENT.

Should do the job

May i know how you mix the dry fertilizer?

Mix with how much water and how much of the dry fertilizer?