Manganese And Calcium Deficiencies

rs18alpha

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If I see these deficiencies in my plants do I add more CSM+B or buy MnSO4 and CaSO4 or CaCO3?

I saw a chart that says to increase CSM+B if the plant needs more Manganese.

The chart says to use CaCO3 and CSM+B if the plant needs more Calcium. I don't know if I should get CaCO3 or CaSO4 for the Calcium?

In short, the chart says to increase CSM+B for both deficiencies, but I don't know if I need to purchase anything for the Calcium?
 
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Phishless

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If I were trying to raise calcium I'd just use GH Booster from Colin.
That will cover Mg, K, and Ca.
The Ca is from CaSO4 in the booster.

CaCO3 will raise alkalinity, have no idea what KH you keep your water at.

Are you sure there is an Mn deficiency?
Mn is included in CSM+B

Any pics of the deficiency in plants?

I would always up macro dosing before I'd touch anything else.
 

rs18alpha

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Here are some pics, I hope they're good enough?

When you say to up the Macs. Do you mean all of them?

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Phishless

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I'd roll the dice on a K deficiency by the brown holes with yellow around them.
Other macro ferts could also be contributing to this, PO4 being another.
 

Phishless

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Are you using a macro solution that includes NO3, K, and PO4?
If so what are your NO3 levels? Maybe add more.
If NO3 & PO4 is high add more K2SO4 on it's own.
 

rs18alpha

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Per dose I get 7.5 ppm NO3 - 2ppm K and I get 1.95ppm K from K2SO4 and 3.3ppm MgSO4
My week totals are 22.5 N
22.5 K
6 PO4
9.9 Mg
 

rs18alpha

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I dose 7.5ppm KNO3 I do test my water, but it's been a while. I have to get better at that.
What should I be testing for?

If my totals are good, then what do you suggest I try to fix the problem?
 

rs18alpha

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I tested my water 2 hrs before the CO2 came on and right before my weekly water change.
PH 7
GH 11
KH 3
Phosphates 1.0
Nitrates 5 ppm
What do you think?
 

Phishless

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That's weak @ right before the water change.
Do you front-load macros for the week after the water change?

50% water change would bring you down to .5 PO4 & 2.5 NO3

It takes a lot of plants in a tank to absorb 3 - 3.5ppm of NO3 per day.

I tested my water 2 hrs before the CO2 came on and right before my weekly water change.
Phosphates 1.0
Nitrates 5 ppm
What do you think?

I would not be happy with this prior to WC.
Depending on the TDS pre water change I may opt to not change any water and add macros.
Now I wonder if micros are running this weak also?
 
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rs18alpha

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After a WC. I add 7.5ppm K.NO3 - 2ppm KH2PO4 - 1.95ppm K2SO4 I dose these 3 times a week.
I get from CSM+B 0.2ppmFe - MgSo4 3.3ppm I dose these 3 times a week.

What do you mean front load? i think I know, but please explain.
 
Aug 3, 2017
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Dear @rs18alpha ,

Continue on doing your weekly %50 WC.

After your water change; dose ( front load ) 20 ppm KNO3 ( 12.6 ppm K ), 4 ppm KH2PO4 ( 1.6 ppm K ), 6 ppm K2SO4 and 5 ppm MgSO4***.
Then daily dose 3 ppm KNO3, 1 ppm KH2PO4, 1 ppm K2SO4, 0.5 ppm MgSO4 and 0.2 ppm Fe through CSM B+. Dose micros before lights on and macros after lights off.

If you want to dose every 2 days, just double these doses. Keep in mind that it might work better if the micros were daily dosed in your situation.

Before starting any of this, please give some information regarding your CO2. Let's make sure that the CO2 is dialled in correctly before any dosing. After a week or two, we will see where things are and adjust accordingly.

***Do you know how much Ca and Mg is in your GH of 11. We can adjust the Mg and Ca dose accordingly if you could find that out.


Happy Fish Keeping :)
 
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rs18alpha

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How do I test Ca ,Mg in my Gh?
As far as my CO2, according to my last test which was a while ago I've got about 30ppm
I use the API liquid test kit to test my Ph and use one of those charts to find the CO2 levels. I know this isn't the best way but that's all I have.
I'm waiting for an inline pre filter that I'll be converting into a CO2 reactor. Once I get that set up the CO2 should be more consistent.
 
Aug 3, 2017
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Milan, Italy
Order in a pH pen as soon as possible. Until then, use your method of measuring to get the CO2 to about 45-50 ppm, measure just before lights on and just after lights off. Start dosing.

For GH you can check with your water company. You could also take some water into a decent shop and ask them to send it off to a test lab.

Example of a pH pen : https://www.amazon.com/HM-Digital-H...e=UTF8&qid=1544659151&sr=8-15&keywords=ph+pen
 

rs18alpha

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Right now my Ph is 7- KH 3 so my CO2 ppm is 30 according to Rotalabutterfly
So it looks like I need to get the PH down to 6.30 to reach 45ppm CO2

I have a copy from my water Co. and all I can see is Hardness (mg/l 66 to 190
or Hardness ( grains per gallon) 4 to 11 is this what you mean?