DIY Macro question

1405 Views 7 Replies 3 Participants Last post by wildstick, Mar 11, 2014

wildstick

Discussion Starter · Mar 10, 2014

According to this article (http://www.plantedtank.net/articles/Fertilizers-in-a-Planted-Tank/1/)
Nitrates can be supplied via potassium nitrate (KNO3). The target range for nitrates 5-10 ppm.
Phosphates can be supplied via monopotassium phosphate or Fleet Enema. The target range for phosphate is .5-1 ppm or approx. 1/10th nitrate levels.
Potassium can be added via potassium sulfate (K2SO4) or potassium chloride(No-Salt). The target range for pottasium is 20 ppm. Pottasiumm is difficult to test for and is not toxic to fish even at much higher dosages, so it is generally dosed at water change time to a sufficient level to bring the water change volume to that level.

And so i decided to make my own ferts, that comes up with this results
for 1 liter distilled water each chemicals:
KNO3 250g = 8.10ppm
KH2PO4 13.75 = 0.51ppm
KCl 500g = 13.85ppm
with the help from http://rota.la/

my question is if i mix these three solutions will i get the same results?

This is 3x a week dosing

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Darkblade48

· #2 · Mar 10, 2014

What values did you enter into the calculator to arrive at those results? I do not see how you managed to arrive at the numbers that you have in your post.

Furthermore, I doubt that you will even be able to dissolve that much solute into water.

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wildstick

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 10, 2014

my tank is 5gal
and it will be dosing 1ml 3x a week
all solutions will dissolved in 1L distilled water

KNO3 is about 250g
KH2PO4 is 13.75 g
KCl is 500g

I believe that this value is only for the single solution.

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Darkblade48

· #4 · Mar 10, 2014

500 grams of potassium chloride will not dissolve in 1L of water.

The rest will dissolve, though for the potassium nitrate, you are getting close to saturation. This is assuming you have a separate bottle for each chemical.

You probably do not want to mix them all into 1 container either, as you will probably force stuff out of solution quite easily.

I would advise you to increase your dosage volume (e.g. to 5 mL or 10 mL); this will alleviate the problem that you currently have.

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Zorfox

· #5 · Mar 10, 2014

I agree with DB.

Increasing the dose will help with dissolving the fertilizers. Not to mention things change. If you mix a years supply of solution chances are you will be dumping it down the drain in a few months.

The recipe below will last 16 weeks dosing a 5 gallon with full EI dosing.

Container = 1 liter
Dose = 20ml

KNO3 11.573 g (~2 ¼ teaspoons)

K 4.73 ppm
NO3 7.50 ppm

KH2PO4 1.763 g (~ 1/3 teaspoons)

K 0.54 ppm
PO4 1.30 ppm

Now totaling those numbers you get this...

K 5.27 ppm
NO3 7.5 ppm
PO4 1.3 ppm

A full EI dose of K is 7.5 ppm. If you want full EI dosing that leaves a K deficit of 2.23 ppm. I think 5.27 ppm is adequate for most situations. However, if you want to add this deficit add the amount of KCL below

KCL 4.024 g (~ 7/8 teaspoons)

K 2.23 ppm

I personally don't mix fertilizers in one container. I like the flexibility to alter each nutrient at will. That said, you can mix them. Also, when using the calculator mentioned look for the solubility warning in red. The KCL you suggested fires the warning message.

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wildstick

Discussion Starter · #6 · Mar 11, 2014

Zorfox said:
The recipe below will last 16 weeks dosing a 5 gallon with full EI dosing.

Container = 1 liter
Dose = 20ml

KNO3 11.573 g (~2 ¼ teaspoons)

K 4.73 ppm
NO3 7.50 ppm

KH2PO4 1.763 g (~ 1/3 teaspoons)

K 0.54 ppm
PO4 1.30 ppm

Now totaling those numbers you get this...

K 5.27 ppm
NO3 7.5 ppm
PO4 1.3 ppm

this value is for single container only?

for a separate containers each chemical, what would be my recipe?
for example 1L each solution.

I already have the ff:
1Kg KNO3
55g KH2PO4
1Kg KCl

Thank you

Click to expand...

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Zorfox

· #7 · Mar 11, 2014

wildstick said:
this value is for single container only?

for a separate containers each chemical, what would be my recipe?
for example 1L each solution.

I already have the ff:
1Kg KNO3
55g KH2PO4
1Kg KCl

Thank you

You can add them all to one or individual containers. The amounts added and the ppm they yield won't change. Just keep your trace mix separate which I'm assuming you didn't mention. You do need to use a trace mix such as Plantex CSM +B.

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wildstick

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 11, 2014

ok that sounds good, and im ready for my ferts. i will also be using a micro but it will be a premix.
now i can start my own macro with that numbers.

thanks

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