Creating Fert solution from dry ferts

[lcassidyjr]

Hi, Folks! I've been out of the planted aquarium game for a few years and found a Betta that forced me to set up a small planted tank for him. I'm getting ready to mix my ferts and had a question about Wet's calculator.


I'm going to do a low light EI schedule and when I went to calculate my solution I noticed that I can only do one fert at a time. KNO3 and then KH2PO4. If I mix both doses in the same solution will this throw off the dosing? Or do I need a solution for each macro? In the past I mixed them together but can't find my calculation notes to see if each fert was adjusted for the combination.


Also, Using Tom's lowlight EI method, do I need to use K2SO4 in addition to the KNO3 and KH2PO4? or will just those two work?


Thanks for the help, everyone.

 

[Christophe]

KNO3 and KH2PO4 are fine to combine. The only thing to consider in mixing them is that you get potassium from each. Since you'll likely use a lot more KNO3 than KH2PO4, most of the K is provided by it.


In low light, low-demand systems, you'll most likely get enough K without needing the sulfate.

 

[lcassidyjr]

Thanks for the feed back. it's all starting to come back slowly, haha.

 

[geektom]

I hope you don't mind me jumping on here- I am trying to figure out the same things.

The tank will be: 20 US gallon regular, CO2 injection, medium light (24" Finnex FugeRaye Planted +), fully planted (semi-dutch)

According to the rotalabutterfly calculator, from the EI dry ferts kits I purchased from Green Leaf Aquarium (I figured it was a good way to learn), my dosing will yield the following:

KH2PO4:
PO4 1.3 ppm
P .42 ppm
K .54 ppm

KNO3:
K 4.73 ppm
N 1.69 ppm

K2SO4:
K 7.5 ppm (?!?)
S 3.08 ppm

This means that totaled together, I will be at 12.77 ppm of K- is that right? Am I supposed to be taking into account how each compound adds more K?

Just when I thought I was figuring it out, now I am really confused again.

 

[Amanda Adkins]

That's a pretty heavy dose of phosphates along with a heavy dose of potassium. You would do well to reduce those and get some magnesium and calcium in the mix along with some micro nutrients.

 

[geektom]

That's a pretty heavy dose of phosphates along with a heavy dose of potassium. You would do well to reduce those and get some magnesium and calcium in the mix along with some micro nutrients.

Thanks, Julia- I am dosing micros on T/Th/Sat using Green Leaf Aquatic's "CSM+B" formula.

Seeing as I am using the calculator everyone recommends, how should I determine how much to reduce?


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