[MoreliaViridis]

Macrandra variegated bouncing back from previous micro dosing.
I think I'm getting somewhere with current mix right now

Excuse cloudy water...it was right after water change.
Procerpinaca palustris reddening up nicely.
This plant was another trace indicator plant. When something was off with trace this plant was one of the first to react.
Bacopa colorata is also more pink.

Syngonanthus macrocaulon suffering from urea dosing.
I've heard somewhere monocots prefer NO3 over NH4...In my experience this is 100% true.
I can replicate leaf tip burning whenever I want just by adding more urea or NH4.
I might reduce urea to 10% of total N dosing...see if that does anything.

Erio setaceum and Tonina also struggling from urea dosings.
Never had good result with setaceum on heavier dosings. Especially micros. And apparently urea.

 

[DennisSingh]

What nh4 are u using? Do u find urea or nh4 safer?

 

[MoreliaViridis]

What nh4 are u using? Do u find urea or nh4 safer?

I used urea.
It was 2.7 ppm N with ratio of 2 NO3 : 1 urea.
So about 8 ppm NO3 + 4 ppm NO3 equivalent of urea.

Urea is my only NH4 source for now so I cannot tell.
I guess urea is safer.

 

[DennisSingh]

I used urea.
It was 2.7 ppm N with ratio of 2 NO3 : 1 urea.
So about 8 ppm NO3 + 4 ppm NO3 equivalent of urea.

Urea is my only NH4 source for now so I cannot tell.
I guess urea is safer.

I made that mistake awhile back thinking urea was nh4.

Thought u were trying (nh4)2so4 or another, so was wondering results. I've tried urea dry dose in small amounts although I tend to get carried away at times but didnt like the results, algae and melting.

 

[happi]

I wouldn't blame the Urea, Urea is actually a very good source of Nitrogen. both of these plants "Erio setaceum and Tonina" actually become invasive in the aquarium when urea is dosed. there are other factors to consider such as light, Co2 and other nutrients, even a change to the micro mix can play an important role.

I been dosing urea for decade now and never looked back at dosing NO3, plant grew best under urea dosing. you are either dosing too much or not dosing other nutrients correctly.

@MoreliaViridis can you post a recipe you used for micro and macro? I will take a look at it if you like and see if i could find any problem.

 

[MoreliaViridis]

I wouldn't blame the Urea, Urea is actually a very good source of Nitrogen. both of these plants "Erio setaceum and Tonina" actually become invasive in the aquarium when urea is dosed. there are other factors to consider such as light, Co2 and other nutrients, even a change to the micro mix can play an important role.

I been dosing urea for decade now and never looked back at dosing NO3, plant grew best under urea dosing. you are either dosing too much or not dosing other nutrients correctly.

@MoreliaViridis can you post a recipe you used for micro and macro? I will take a look at it if you like and see if i could find any problem.

Lighting is bit over 100 PAR at substrate.
Substrate is few month old aquasoil.
CO2 is not a problem. I add plenty with powerhead producing good flow.
There is good amount of surface agitation.


Macro for a week:
It was 12 ppm NO3, 2 ppm PO4, 8.4 ppm K.
Syns did great. To be honest they didn't care about ratios for me.
Ya add more they grow better..except setaceum. Did good under less N.

Then I tried 8 ppm NO3 + 4 ppm NO3 equivalent of urea.
So 1.8 N from KNO3 and 0.9 ppm N from urea in total of 2.7 ppm N
P and K stayed the same.
And syns started to burn their leaf tips.

I did try higher urea content(2.26 N) few months ago. They changed quicker.
This time they took about a week.

I made a new batch without urea. Been dosing for few days.
I think its getting better. Too early to tell.


Micro for a week:
Fe gluconate 0.14 ppm. I would love to add more but this is absolute maximum that my macrandra will tolerate.
Other traces are not chelated.
Ratio is mostly similar to the "Burr mix". Cannot remember too much.
I added tiny bit more of B and Macrandra did not like it... hence no color on lower parts..
Also contains some citric acid because...why not I had it rolling around in my room.

I don't think it is micros because syns also did well under previous dosing.
They always took micro changes like a tank....except setaceum.
I fiddled around with Zn and Cu this time. Macrandra seems to like it.


I might try your recipe for micros next time. See how that goes.

 

[happi]

Lighting is bit over 100 PAR at substrate.
Substrate is few month old aquasoil.
CO2 is not a problem. I add plenty with powerhead producing good flow.
There is good amount of surface agitation.


Macro for a week:
It was 12 ppm NO3, 2 ppm PO4, 8.4 ppm K.
Syns did great. To be honest they didn't care about ratios for me.
Ya add more they grow better..except setaceum. Did good under less N.

Then I tried 8 ppm NO3 + 4 ppm NO3 equivalent of urea.
So 1.8 N from KNO3 and 0.9 ppm N from urea in total of 2.7 ppm N
P and K stayed the same.
And syns started to burn their leaf tips.

I did try higher urea content(2.26 N) few months ago. They changed quicker.
This time they took about a week.

I made a new batch without urea. Been dosing for few days.
I think its getting better. Too early to tell.


Micro for a week:
Fe gluconate 0.14 ppm. I would love to add more but this is absolute maximum that my macrandra will tolerate.
Other traces are not chelated.
Ratio is mostly similar to the "Burr mix". Cannot remember too much.
I added tiny bit more of B and Macrandra did not like it... hence no color on lower parts..
Also contains some citric acid because...why not I had it rolling around in my room.

I don't think it is micros because syns also did well under previous dosing.
They always took micro changes like a tank....except setaceum.
I fiddled around with Zn and Cu this time. Macrandra seems to like it.


I might try your recipe for micros next time. See how that goes.

you are adding bit too much P compared to N. you can use any micro recipe that you like.

Post #46

Which potassium should I use?

Tonight I mixed a macro dosing solution being very careful to balance out the Potassium. I test with a low range Potassium test to make sure it doesn't accumulate. I used an Ohaus scale and a volumetric cylinder for accuracy. 500 ml Macro Dosing Solution/66 l x 25 Doses 26,912 mg KNO3 4,726 mg...

www.plantedtank.net

if you want to try this, try to maintain 5-10 ppm Potassium weekly if you feel the need to add additional potassium.

 

[DennisSingh]

Morelia I think ur right on the urea. I'm always trigger happy in using urea for that growth burst. But I wouldnt go past .2 to .4ppm range for syn mainly the most sensitive ones. Its potent like a steroid. Too much will cause melt. So I've learned not to use it at all as issues always occurred overtime dosing. I'm always tempted though but it's always had the same result for me.
I'd like to try urea, nh4, kno3, urea dose but I think that's just asking for trouble. Kno3 is the safest.

I'd really like to try the nh4 especially, not even with the urea. As to mimic that new soil growth. With new soil, all u gotta do is the water changes and things keep booming. But...what's wrong with the growth rate speeds of my plants right now without?