Picked up a few DIY ferts, now what?

S

Sumpin'fishy

Humble Disciple of Jesus Christ
Oct 16, 2002
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Savannah, GA
For my 20 gallon standard tank with DIY CO2 (~10ppm), 40w/gal light and pretty fully stocked with plants (but not crowded), I just bought some DIY fertilizers from various stores and I'm wondering how much of each to dose?

KNO3 -"Green Light Cut Vine and Stump Killer" (from Walmart): I hope this is the right stuff everyone is using!!! I currently have decent N levels, but how much of this will raise Nitrate say, 5ppm? or 1ppm? I'm sure my plants will start using up Nitrate as they fill out a bit more.

K -"NoSalt" (from Grocery Store): I have heard I need to dose enough for 20ppm K. How much of this "salt" should I add per dose? Once a week, twice? The ingredients are as follows: Potassium chloride, potassium bitartrate, adipic acid, fumaric acid, silicon dioxide, mineral oil.

PO4 -"Equate Complete Enema" (from Walmart): This is exactly the same as Fleets Enema, but a bit cheaper. Same composition. I am currently at around 0.1ppm PO4 (probably from food), but want to keep it between 2 to 5ppm. So how much of this will raise it , say, 1ppm or 5ppm?

I also picked up some Crushed Coral because I need to get my KH up a bit. It has gotten down into the 2.9 area, I'd like to keep it up around 4 at least. How much should I add to a mesh bag placed in the filter I have to get it into this area?

I am going to try this stuff tomorrow, so please let me know your suggestions. Anyone with experience, please chime in!
 
Doesn't anyone know how much of each of these products raises the nutrients to a certain level?

Man, it seems I always ask, get no real response, then take a guess and try my own way. Then I get 5 responses the very next day on how I SHOULD have done it!
 
Originally posted by Sumpin'fishy
Doesn't anyone know how much of each of these products raises the nutrients to a certain level?

Man, it seems I always ask, get no real response, then take a guess and try my own way. Then I get 5 responses the very next day on how I SHOULD have done it!
Click to expand...

Hey Fishy I feel the sameway sometimes. . . People are busy I guess, and since all this info is free I think we just got to wait it out. . .

Anyhow, regarding the question of "How Much?"

Check this page: http://www.nfis.com/~hartland/aqua/pmdd.htm
 
Absolutely agree! I'm not angry or anything. It's not like I have you guys on the payroll or anything!!;) It's just one of those things I've noticed!

Anyways, I'll check out that link .......thanks!
 
Fishy's gettin' irritated......relax guy, it's the weekend and some of us have to work. LOL
Anyway, with the ferts you mention you need to go light and measure if you have a test kit.
Here's a general rule of thumb that has worked well for me.....
KCl or K2SO4 - 1/4 tsp. per 20-30 gallons. I only dose K after the water change.
KNO3 - 1/4 tsp. per 20-30 gallons
PO4(Enema) - 2 drops per 20 gallons. Get a test kit for this if possible.
You need to pick up some SeaChem Flourish Trace - 5ml per 20 gal. 2 or 3 times a week.
I only dose P and KNO3 as needed. I try to keep the P at 1.0 ppm and the KNO3 between 10-20mg/l. That's why I suggest you pick up test kits for these if you don't already have them.
Also, pick up, at your pharmacy a container of epsom salt for Mg. It's a needed fert and will also help to bring up your kH. I dose this at 1/2 tsp./week in my 40 and 55 gals. I think you'd be alright with 1/4 tsp. in a 20.
And of-course the Tom Barr disclaimer.....always do a 50% water change every week to re-set the tank in case you make a boo- boo.
Study this carefully.....there may be a snap quiz at the end of the week.
Len
 
Thanks for all the input! I'll pick up some Epsom Salt, but why do I need Flourish Trace when I have Flourish (regular). I understand the only difference to be that Flourish is a broad spectrum fert while the Trace gives only those essential for growth. I'd rather cover all my bases and make sure I have everything. Am I misunderstanding this whole thing? Is there really a better reason to use Trace, and why?

Thanks again!
 
IMO the Trace has the essentials without too many extras. I use both, but use the Flourish sparingly. I've found I don't have to worry about over dosing the Trace so I can dose 2-3 times a week. I personally wouldn't use nearly that much Flourish. Just my opinion.
Don't forget the Fleet Enema(PO4). I found that it was a key to getting rid of my BBA. And I test PO4 and Nitrates 2-3 times a week to keep those levels where I want them.
Len
 
I'm already adding PO4 via a generic version of Fleet Enema (same stuff though). I did cut way back on the amount of crushed coral that I added though! My KH rose to well over 5.0 (almost doubling in about 2 days!) and my Crypts are letting me know about it! It's funny how I've seen a growth spurt in my Swordplants and Micranthemum, but they also don't look as good as they did a couple days ago. They grew in height but are now drooping their leaves. I'm assuming this is due to the chemistry changing so quickly (KH). I have noticed that since I did the water change and started adding the extra ferts, that my Nitrates had dropped to zero and I had to add some back in (slowly). I've dosed twice (last two days)and only have about 5ppm nitrate now. I'll boost that up to around 10ppm eventually I guess.

To be honest I really only noticed the drooping of the plants (crypts and others melting) since I started adding KNO3 (from Greenlight cut vine and stump killer). This is the right stuff right? Everyone called it Greenlight stump remover, but mine is what I wrote above. It's liquid and red in color. Please tell me I didn't get the wrong stuff! If this is the right stuff, then it must be the KH change affecting the plants. I was really happy with the CO2 concentrations I've been reading lately, though! Over 16ppm with my DIY canister. I have only been up to about 12ppm before. I don't understand how, but it seemed to be more saturated. At any rate, I should still see some benefits with the 2 TBSP I left in the filter.
 
Hey Sumpin',

I am wary about that Stump and Vine remover. I think it is the same stuff I saw in Walmart today. It actually listed the ingredients on the bottle and it didn't have the KNO3. It had some other stuff with a long, scary, complex name. . .
Double check that right away.

The KNO3 I did find was a powder/granules and I think the majority of them are.
 
The stump remover I use is a fine white powder. I got it at Lowes sold as Spectracide Stump Remover. It listed no ingredients other than to say, "Caution, contains Potassium Nitrate", which is exactly what you need.
I've never heard of or seen red, liquid stump remover. If anyone out there has I hope they write in and tell you it's ok. My advice is to do a large water change as soon as possible cause I don't know what you've put into your tank.
How are the fish in the tank?
Cryptocornes are funny when it comes to water chemistry. They tend to melt at the slightest deviation, but will come back fine if left alone. But I'm concerned about the "stump remover" you're using. Are there any ingredients listed on the bottle?
Len
 
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