fertilizer questions... the sticky scared me!

Hello LiL,
I assume you didn't see the paper insert with exact measurements of mixing the KNO3? The address for the CSM+B is www.gregwatson.com (also on the bag it was in) which has very good directions on mixing.
Please don't feel that I'm "coming down on you" or otherwise upset, but I don't want others thinking I sent ferts to someone who didn't need them without instruction. I also sent info on attaining P and K.

Given your lighting, I would use ferts and even if I wouldn't, I would have sent them b/c you asked and I had plenty. Obviously you won't need them as much as if you were injection CO2 or using Excel.

There is a lot of info in the fert sticky...no one should feel funny or dumb/stupid/whatever if they don't get one point or many points!

Water changes will get your Nitrate down. Water changes gets everything down. If you do two 30% water changes a week (say every 3rd day), shoot for 5ppm NO3, .5ppm PO4, and 5ppm K right after the water changes plus dose the CSM+B as per Gregs site.

And no, I would never be upset for anyone seeking alternate opinions/ideas. I know I'm not always right ;)

-Bill
 
thanks bill, I saw the directions but was still confused given my lack of knowledge in fertilizers. how would I measure the ppm Im adding? plus, since my nitrates are high already would I want to add just some CSM+B and not KNO3? and if so how much?
thanks
 
The directions where to mix some powder KNO3 (1 TBsp) into 200ml of water. That would give you a solution of KNO3 or KNO3 in liquid form. Dosing 1ml (sorry, I didn't have any calibrated droppers :( ) of that stock solution into a 12 gal tank would add 1.13ppm of NO3(nitrate). So you measure the ppm by how many mls (milliliters) you add. That's what is so great about Chucks calculator (http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_dosage_calc.htm). You can change the amounts until you get it to the concentration you like to use. I like to mix so that 1ml of solution equals 1ppm of the desired nutrient. I figured you'd be buy the grocery store or drug store anyway to get some Fleet Enema (PO4) and NuSalt (KCl) anyway so you could look in the cold medicine isle and find something to measure mls with. Not to mention you're at a college...plenty of measuring devices there I'm sure!

Yes, you're correct. If you already have high nitrates (NO3), don't add any more.
From Gregs site (which I provided the link to) "A 1/2 liter of Plantex CSM Dosing Solution is a lot of solution for the typical aquarium, so you may wish to experiment by reducing the quantities to make a smaller batch. To reduce, you may wish to try 1 teaspoon of Plantex CSM+B and 1/6th liter of water (167 milliliters)." So, mix 1teaspoon with 167 milliliters (or 3/4 cup www.onlineconversion.com) and dose as you would Flourish.

Dose this help? I'm beginning to think someone put you up to this ;)

Bill
 
that does help a bit! and who would put me up to it anywho? :)
 
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