Hi I have 0 Nitrates in all my planted tanks. Even in my Vivarium with Newts and Toads that put out a whole lot of waste...but I still have 0 Nitrates...
Shoudl I be woried that my plants might not have as much as they can absorb? Or should I just continue to let them suck it all up?
When i upgraded lighting and my nitrates were 0 constantly (with lower light they only got there now and then) i started having an algae bloom.
I am dosing KNO3 now and things are better.
I have a bunch of stuff I'm dosing but I don't really know what I am doing I jsut does what they say on the bottle.
I have
KentFreshwater Plant
Flourish Excel
and Flourish Trace.
I think the Kent and Trace both have micros so I'm thinking to alternate them. Anyways I don't have hardly any algae, except on my Anubias.
I don't really understand dosing at all even though I read the sticky. I have never sceen anything for sale that adds KN03 or Nitrate or Phosphorus...So I guess I really just don't add these things at all.
I am not familiar with the Kent product, but I googled it and it appears to contain just traces. No nitrates or phosphates.
Most dedicated plant folks prefer to dose NO3 and P separately anyway. You can provide these using separate Flourish products, amongst other products. Or you can try to track down KNO3 and KPO4 powder from a hydroponics store (much cheaper) or order from Greg Watson. If you would like to read up on plant ferts a bit look here: www.rexgrigg.com http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/articles.htm
Low nitrates could certainly add to an algae bloom. But again, if your light isn't high, and the system seems to have been stable for a few months, you could argue in favor of leaving well enough alone.
There is a Hydroponics store jsut downt he street actually lol I never sceen one untill the other day. I will try to find those things there, but I'm confused on the dosing. And I need to have my GF buy those enemma for me because I'm way to embarased to buy them myself...
It is my understanding that there is a potassium phosphate powder that you can use. The next time I go to the hydroponics store I'll probably pick some up, but the Fleet is quite economical (you are right, it is also a source of P). I use about 3 mL per week in my 45 gallon (3wpg, >20 ppm CO2) so one enema would last you a long time. Nothing to be embarassed about by buying a product used as a laxative.
You might also pick up KNO3 powder. It is not that expensive either.
Since you are already adding Excel you may well have most things covered once you pick up the P and N.
im adding excel because it is pretty cheap for my tanks (20 gallon) 3 gallon and vivarium... I just dose alot (what I thik shoudl go in there) into the Vivarium I dunno how much water is in there...only one deformed guppy int here anyways as food experiment.
I do have DIY C02 in my 20 gallon with a bubble difuser...The excel seems to help kill of hair algae which I had growing in there and I figure it wont hurt anything.
