was about to post link but Mgamer20o0 beat me to it. Found this site last night that has all-in-one ferts.
http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizer.html
http://www.greenleafaquariums.com/aquarium-fertilizer.html
I need an all-in-one fertilizer. Ideas please.
- Thread starter captmicha
- Start date
I've bought from both sites, myself but it does seem that greenleafaquariums.com is the cheaper option depending on shipping.
Er, so...
The Green Fertilizer Package: Micros & Macros has EVERYTHING but is not pre-mixed... If I bought this, I'd be getting 3 lbs of ferts for $19. But if I bought the PMDD Pre-Mix, I'd be getting only 1 lbs of ferts for $10 MINUS phosphates, which I'd have to shell out more money for.
My questions are: Is there any reason why I can't mix NPK together? Or even mix together NPK AND Plantex CSM+B together? Would some kind of chemical reaction occur when you mix acids and bases or it would turn into salt or something? Or maybe because the NPK and the Plantex CSM+B have different dilution rates?
Is there a particular reason why the PMDD doesn't include phosphates? Why do they stress that the PMDD is for experts? Isn't that easier to use than The Green Fertilizer Package: Micros & Macros since with this you have to mix it yourself??
I think, with these questions answered, I will FINALLY be set and will have no more questions.
The Green Fertilizer Package: Micros & Macros has EVERYTHING but is not pre-mixed... If I bought this, I'd be getting 3 lbs of ferts for $19. But if I bought the PMDD Pre-Mix, I'd be getting only 1 lbs of ferts for $10 MINUS phosphates, which I'd have to shell out more money for.
My questions are: Is there any reason why I can't mix NPK together? Or even mix together NPK AND Plantex CSM+B together? Would some kind of chemical reaction occur when you mix acids and bases or it would turn into salt or something? Or maybe because the NPK and the Plantex CSM+B have different dilution rates?
Is there a particular reason why the PMDD doesn't include phosphates? Why do they stress that the PMDD is for experts? Isn't that easier to use than The Green Fertilizer Package: Micros & Macros since with this you have to mix it yourself??
I think, with these questions answered, I will FINALLY be set and will have no more questions.
If you aren't going high tech and are feeding fish/inverts in the tank then I wouldn't be too concerned with phosphates IMO. I don't know the exact reason why they don't include them but it may be because they are usually in decent supply in most tanks, IDK.
Bakc about 15 years ago, the prevailign theory was PO4 = algae.
That has changed, slowly...........but now few folks argue for it(under painful public humiliation for being shown wrong by many folks who dose copious amounts of it)
Still, back when ferts where just being sold on line........a no# of folks still wanted the old recipe.
So it is an artifact of a day gone by.
Most include PO4 these days in their dosing.
Do not include PO4 and any trace mixes together.
Regards,
Tom Barr
correct
$20 plus shipping gets you 3 pounds of ferts.
things you diy your self tend to be cheaper then having someone wrap it all up ready for you to go. i would also think less on the exact pounds and more on how much usage. you can go buy 5 pounds of one of the cheaper ferts vs like csm which is more money.
the phospates can interact with the csm. thats why its not added together.
personally i always thought it was for the newer people or people short on time or didnt want to bother with each fert on its own. if you buy pmdd you have little options other then stick with it. if you bought your own dry ferts you can mix some up pmdd style see if its for you. if not there are several other options on how to fert the tank. i always say find the one that you think works best for you.
also with the Green Fertilizer Package you would have to add mgso4 since pmdd calls for that as well.
Great! I'll get the Green One. Having to dose just two formulas is fine. NPK, which I'll mix together, and seperately CSM+B.
THANK YOU so much everybody! I now know what to get.
I don't understand why, according to http://www.aquariumfertilizer.com/index.asp?Option1=infopage3, CSM+B has 1.50% magnesium.
THANK YOU so much everybody! I now know what to get.
?? But the ready made (Green Package) stuff has it too. It says it includes 1/2 lbs of Plantex CSM+B.
Analysis:
Regular CSM / CSM+B
Fe 7.0% 6.53%
Mn 2.0% 1.87%
Mg 1.5% 1.40%
Zn 0.4% 0.37%
Cu 0.1% 0.09%
Mo 0.05% 0.05%
B 0% 1.18%
Or maybe I'm not understanding what you mean.. Am I missing something?
