Trace Elements Mix

[Aquafreak]

I bought some dry trace elements from the nursery and was wondering how I go about dosing it. Will I need to mix it in with some water?

Here are the analysis of the product;

Sulphur (S) as Sulphates 6.29%
Calcium (Ca) as Calcium Carbonate 10.00%
Magnesium (Mg) as Magnesium Sulphate 3.62%
Manganese (Mn) as Manganese Sulphate 2.88%
Iron (Fe) as Iron Chelate 2.73%
Copper (Cu) as Copper Sulphate 1.25%
Zinc (Zn) as Zinc Sulphate 1.00%
Boron (B) as Sodium Borate 0.09%
Molybdenum (Bo) as Sodium Molybdate 0.0038%

Thanks for reading

[Ray Pollett]

Most of us here in the states buy premixed made for aquariums. In the past we bought the ingredients and justed mixed it with water; then fed with small quanities. Since you bought it from a nursery it should be water soluable. Just go slow and let your plants tell you how much and often.

Ray

[Timmain42]

Funny, my plants don't tell me anything. When I ask a question, they just tell me to stop bothering them until the lights go out.

:rolleyes: :p ;)

j/k, I know, be observant.

[a_free_bird73]

Calcium carbonate is not very soluble so all what you will end up with is a cloudy solution with lots of floating stuff. There is a number of issues to consider with this mix.

1- Calcium carbonate will raise, KH, GH & pH. Do you care?

2- This mix contains copper sulphate (a component of some medications and highly toxic specially to snails and scaleless fish species). The concentration is so high relative to Iron, that in fact you will not be able to get 0.5ppm iron without putting your fish in danger.

3- Given the relative concentrations of the individual elements is not obtimised for aquarium use, you will still have to use other supplements to get the final concentration right.

It is a messy job but there are works around if you are prepared to do the hard work

[Aquafreak]

I do noticed the high concentration of copper in this trace mix, however I dose iron seperately, so it's relativity to the iron content is mute to me, but I don't know how much of the rest is sufficient without overdosing on the copper.