I’ve seen some digital gram scales on ebay for around $24.00 that are accurate up to 0.05g. I was thinking of getting one to measure out my dry fertilizers but I wanted to know if the difference in accuracy between just measuring out the ferts with teaspoons or tablespoons is all that much different then measuring the weight of the fertilizers. Thanks.
Is it a good idea to buy a scale to measure out dry fertilizers?
- Thread starter Jeremy S
- Start date
Measuring in grams is always more accurate than tsps./tbsp/.
The question is, how accurate do you need to be. I use the plain old tsp. method because I am religious about my large water changes every week and have found no problems with dosing that way. I just scoop it and shake it to make it level and pour it in.
I imagine with a tiny tank(2,5.5 or even 10) you might want to be a bit more accurate, although I have a 10gal. (hosp./quarr.) and don't do it any differently for that one than the others.
Large weekly water changes rectify a lot of different types of mistakes.
Len
The question is, how accurate do you need to be. I use the plain old tsp. method because I am religious about my large water changes every week and have found no problems with dosing that way. I just scoop it and shake it to make it level and pour it in.
I imagine with a tiny tank(2,5.5 or even 10) you might want to be a bit more accurate, although I have a 10gal. (hosp./quarr.) and don't do it any differently for that one than the others.
Large weekly water changes rectify a lot of different types of mistakes.
Len
If you can get a good deal on a scale, it might be worth it.
I measured 5 different teaspoon models and measured their 1/4 tsp weights for KNO3, level. Then measured 10 samples with each spoon.
These 10 weights were averaged to give 1.67grams per 1/4 treaspoon. I have a lab scale.
So even if you are off say 10-20%, run it through the Chuck Gadd calculator and you'll see you might be off by 1-2ppm as far as NO3 is concerned.
That's still more accurate than any NO3 test kit, even the Lamott test has trouble decerning 1ppm increments.
PO4/K/Traces are not as critical as CO2 and NO3 and can dosed to excess a little over a fairly wide range.
Regards,
Tom Barr
I measured 5 different teaspoon models and measured their 1/4 tsp weights for KNO3, level. Then measured 10 samples with each spoon.
These 10 weights were averaged to give 1.67grams per 1/4 treaspoon. I have a lab scale.
So even if you are off say 10-20%, run it through the Chuck Gadd calculator and you'll see you might be off by 1-2ppm as far as NO3 is concerned.
That's still more accurate than any NO3 test kit, even the Lamott test has trouble decerning 1ppm increments.
PO4/K/Traces are not as critical as CO2 and NO3 and can dosed to excess a little over a fairly wide range.
Regards,
Tom Barr