Ferts From Greg Watson, A Recommendation

I am about to order from Greg Watson's. I know I need phosphate, nitrates, potassium, and micros. I hate chemistry. There are more letters than I would like. Would this order be correct?

CSM+B (MICROS)
KH2PO4 (MONO POTASSIUM PHOSPHATE)
K2SO4 (POTASSIUM SULFATE)
KNO3 (POTASSIUM NITRATE)

Do I need the K2SO4? If the KNO3 has potassium in it, do I need more in the K2SO4? I really hate chemistry! Thank you in advance.
 
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Nevermind, saw the sticky.
 
the premix one is crap. you have no control over your dosing. i guess if your going pretty low tech but just need some basic ferts, it might be alright, but i wouldn't recomend it.
 
Well the liquide stuff I use now I cant control the dosing either, I was just thinking about the dry stuff since everyone says its cheaper. But maybe I should try to learn more about dosing, seems like I have read tons of articles on ferts but still cant get a clear understanding of how much of what to dose. Do you also individually does the traces too? Or just the macros?
 
loaches r cool said:
I checked out Gregs site and saw the "PMDD Pre-Mix" that appears to be an all in one? For just a general fert without getting really specific on certain plants, would this fert alone suffice?
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You could use the PMDD if you are low tech and intend to stay that way. By low tech I mean low light and no CO2. Once you start increasing anything you're going to need to start tweaking dosages of this and that to balance the tank because the PMDD will not be adequate.
My suggestion is to dose individually, but lightly from the start to learn how to balance things. The knowledge will be of value down the road.

BTW, I would pick up the K2SO4 and dose it as well. Many people are using the "Estimative Index" and it calls for dosing this element as well.

Your last post shows good sense in my opinion.......'maybe I should try to learn more about dosing, seems like I have read tons of articles on ferts but still cant get a clear understanding of how much of what to dose'......
PMDD won't teach you anything. Get the elements and then ask the questions. It's really not as difficult as it seems.:):)

Len
 
djlen said:
You could use the PMDD if you are low tech and intend to stay that way. By low tech I mean low light and no CO2.
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Well if you note in my sig you'll see 'co2' so I do want the best for my plants, just been dreading the learning curve going to dry ferts. I also have med to high light on the tank although I dont go into any detail on lighting in my sig, I have composed a short article on my website on ODNO lighting and my custom canopy.

I just checked that link to the Estimative Index Dosing Guide, and I must say most of my q's are answered. :idea:. About the K2SO4 though, on the EI page it does say that it is unnecessary if you dose KN03 and KH2P04, unless you really need extra K. My other concern about how much to get seems to be answered to as it states a ound of each will last about a year. But I noticed the KNO3 is dosed at a 3X higher rate than the others so should I get 3 pounds of it and 1 pound of everything else?

The only problem I forsee myself having now is keeping on a schedule. Does everyone here really dose 3 times a week as indicated in the EI page? WOuld it be possible to increase the dosage to a once weekly dose or is that too much at once? I have trouble keeping to any organized schedule lol... I work rotating shift with long hours and have a 6 mo old, and am terribly un-organized... hardly anything gets done on time with me! And being somewhat of a handyman I am always trying to tackle too many projects around the house... ever since I got the python though alteast I have been able to now keep up on water changes. :)
 
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