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I just got my Greg Watson order and I don't know how much K is in Mono Potassium Phosphate. Thanks!

For my 40G
I have been doing
KNo3 1/4 tsp 3 days a week

Going to do...

KNo3 1/4 tsp 3 days a week
K2So4 1 tsp 3 days a week
Kh2Po4 1/8 tsp 2 times a week

If I am on the wrong track help me out.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Maybe I should have put this in the plant area. Could I be moved?? Thanks!

LF, tetratech, Bensaf, nowherman. Anybody out there?

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

K2So4 1 tsp 3 days a week

Overkill on the potassium.

The KN03 and KH2PO4 should give enough K for your needs. I don't add any additional K other then this.

If you still want to keep the K higher just 1 dose a week after water change is sufficient. 3 times is definately way more then you'll ever need. Depending what micro fert you are using there may some K in that also.Or up the Kno3 just a tad will give more K and a bit more N which is always useful.

Can't remember,I assume you are using Co2 ?

If this hadn't been on the main page I'd probably never have seen it, certainly doesn't fall under technical tinkering. A spoon is not that difficult a piece of equipment

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Spoons can be scary

Thanks for your help! Thus far.

Do I want to keep doing KNo3 3x a week or am I over killing it?

Do I want to do the Potassium Phosphate once a week? How much K do I get from this?

Don't mess with Potassium Sulfate unless I want more K?

I am running Co2 right now but its DIY. I have three bottles of brew going. Two to a bubble lader and the other to a corlife limewood air stone.

Get me on the right track here.

Thanks!





55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

My choice:

1/2 tspn Kno3 x 3 per week
1/8 tspn KH2PO4 x 3 per week
both these on same days.
10ml of Micro fert x 3 per week
alternate days to macro dosing.

Gh 3 dgh or higher.
Try to keep Co2 20-30ppm

This will give all you need.

This will also be sufficient K. Most all plant/algae issue are caused by too low Co2 and N. I like to keep the N up and KNO3 will also provide extra K.

BTW each dose of above macros will be giving you 10ppm of Potassium also

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

That seems like a lot.... I only have a 40G

.5 tsp of KNo3 gives me 11.37 ppm No3 (don't I want about 5 ppm?)

.5 tsp of KNo3 gives me 7.18 ppm of K (wanting 20 ppm?)

.13 tsp of Kh2Po4 gives me 3.37 ppm of Po4 (wanting 1 ppm?)

Seems like a little over kill on some of this stuff. I know that you don't want to have things under done but this seems like a little much.

I have no idea on how much Co2 I have coming out but my plants have been seeming to do really well and the fish aren't freaking out so I guess its good.

I have had very little algea issues with this tank since I set it up in August. I had a very small out break of hair algae but I killed that with excel and i gets a small amound of green spot on the class. Thats it. Thanks for you help.





55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

5 tsp of KNo3 gives me 11.37 ppm No3 (don't I want about 5 ppm?)

5ppm is very low, about the lowest you could get away with. Are your plants on some kind of super model diet? Feed 'em. 10-20ppm is a much better target. Some plants are better/faster at grabbing N, 10-20ppm makes sure all are well fed.

.5 tsp of KNo3 gives me 7.18 ppm of K (wanting 20 ppm?)

Don't forget the K in KH2PO4 also ! Why 20ppm ? Ask yourself this. After Co2 , N is the most important nutrient. In terms of a plant bio mass, most is made up of carbon after that the next biggest is N. So if that's the case why do you think 5ppm of N is fine but 10ppm of K is bad ?

.13 tsp of Kh2Po4 gives me 3.37 ppm of Po4 (wanting 1 ppm?)

I must admit I didn't check this one on my calculator. Reduce to 1/16 tspn. 1ppm is fine.

I used to be fussy about measuring the P doses, because of the small fractions. I just chuck it in now, I don't worry if it's a bit more. The plants love P, have no problems with algae, forgotten what green spot looks like.

Don't worry about micro managing. Remember we are trying to dose to excess. Trying to keep the doses small and just right is more trouble then it's worth. A slight excess never causes issues, shortages always cause problems and there's no such thing as a slight shortage. There's either enough or not enough.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Wingdsc,

I resisted at first too, but now I pretty much do exactly what Bensaf has told you to do. I'm glad he corrected the po4 dosing, I thought that seemed high. I purchased so4 from gregwatson a long-time ago and I've never opened the ziplock bag it comes in. My plants get all their K from the no3,po4 and the micros. I don't see any deficienies in my plants. I agree strongly about lot's of N. I see strong full, fluffy leaves as a result. The only wildcard I see in your setup is the diy co2. Not that it can't be done on a 40g, but you really will have to stay on top of it to make sure your bubble rate is consistent. Another thing too, DO NOT SKIP WATER CHANGES. I don't think I have ever skipped one since setting up my 72g. Dump half the water each and every week. It will keep fish healthy and the excess you put in their will always be diluted.

BTW - In case you don't know they do sell spoons, for small quantities like 1/8, 1/16, 1/32. Sometimes they are labeled Dash (1/8), Pinch (1/16), and Smidgen (1/32). You could find them in home stores like Bed Bath Beyond and Linens and Things. They would be useful for measuring po4.

My Scapes

Bensaf,
Ok I am game to try it. Thanks for the corection on the Po4.

Tetratech,
Thanks for the heads up on the small spoons. I am going to have to find some of them.

Friday morning I added in 1/8 tsp of Potassium Phosphate and one stem of my Sunset Hygro grew easly 3 or 4 inches through the day.

Water changes are not a problem I have been doing 50%'s for the past few months and I haven't skipped a water change in a really long time.

Still working on getting a real Co2 system.


55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Hey Wingsdlc,

Now that it is all said and done I finally found this thread .

I guess a little too late though as Bensaf gave you all the info you need

Next time, shoot the nerds a PM so we know you have a thread that requires our attention.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Next time, shoot the nerds a PM

So that would be who?

Just remember I coach soccer, play softball, bowl in a men's league. Just because I'm a closet planted tank junkie doesn't make me a nerd. Did I mention I ski triple black diamonds and that I...never mind.

My Scapes

Did I mention I don't ski, never played softball in my life, haven't played soccer in over 10 years, and suck at bowling

And currently my back is hurting to a point where I wonder if I even can do a water change today (back went out from snow shovelling last weekend).

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Ahh a PM... what a great idea... duh!

So this Co2 issue... You guys think the top gun is where its at? If so why? What makes it better than the Dr. F and S?

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=9935&N=2004+113779

I like that the Doc comes with other junk like the glass diffuser and tubing.

http://aquariumplant.com/cgi-bin/cart/pr007.html

Either way I am going to have to find a tank too. I guess I just really don't know what I want or what I am looking for... for sure... Jumping feet first into the unknown.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

back went out from snow shovelling

Let me guess, you didn't bend your knees. Isn't being 40-something fun. Sorry to hear about your back. I think you need to set back on that nice couch you have in front of your tank, pour yourself a frosty one and teach the wife how to do the weekly water change.

My Scapes

you didn't bend your knees

Yeah, that's it, and a big metal shovel and over 12 inches of wet snow, grrrrr.

And the wife and water changes, I don't think so. I would never hear the end of that request.

Wings, tetratech and I both have the Top Gun, and at least I am very happy with it. Bottle is from local welding supply shop.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

tetratech and I both have the Top Gun, and at least I am very happy with it. Bottle is from local welding supply shop

Yep me too, got my 5lb bottle from local welding store as well. About $85 filled. I'm still using the same original fill in my tank from when I started it up and I'm streaming co2 into it.

BTW - The foster & smith one is azoo (in case you didn't know) seems like a good deal, because they give you a diffusor and timer.


My Scapes

So that would be who?

Just remember I coach soccer, play softball, bowl in a men's league. Just because I'm a closet planted tank junkie doesn't make me a nerd. Did I mention I ski triple black diamonds and that I...never mind.

Yeah, I'm with tetra.

I work out 3 times a week, I've got hairs on my chest, and my arms and my a.... uh, never mind

Anyway just 'cos we like pwetty flowers doesn't make us nerds.....just a bit neurotic

---

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

and my arms and my a.... uh

You mean Arm Pits, right

Well, in order not to look like a total wuss:

- I power walk cross-town twice a day (to and from work) and so far nobody (except joggers) has ever passed me.
- I carry the Rank of Sergeant First Class (of the German Army)
- I smoke Marlboro (like a cowboy ), albeit Lights
- I drink almost exclusively German Beer

So - is that manly enough for you guys

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well if you guys aren't nerds then you are nothing more than a bunch of dorks! You guys have been great help though!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric