Calculate EI dosage for Tropica AquaCare Plant Nutrition+ N and P

[Ville]

Hi!
I've been using Tropia's "AquaCare Plant Nutrition+ with N and P" for a while but I can't settle on the right dosage. They recommend 5ml / 50L every week but it seems to be to little for a highly planted tank.

In the declaration some percentages are specified but they are all specified in the sole periodic elements.
I can calculate the ppm values of the amount I add to my tank every week but I don't know how this stands in reference to the recommended target ranges

NO3 range 10-30 ppm
K+ range 10-30 ppm
PO4 range 1.0-2.0 ppm
etc.

The declaration looks like this:

W/W% (Gew/Gew%, P/P%)

N: 1.34%
P: 0.10%
K: 1.03%
Mg: 0.39%
S: 0.91%
B: 0.004%
Cu: 0.006%
Fe: 0.07%
Mn: 0.04%
Mo: 0.002%
Zn: 0.002%

HEEDTA, DTPA, E123

250ml = 260g
500ml = 520g


I'm actually studying physics so I guess I should be able to calculate this myself but I'm not sure if I can only add the weight of the oxygen to N in order to get the NO3 value etc. I might be confusing myself.

I would be thankful for any pointers here.

 

[Philosophos]

Ya, if you add the mass of O3 to N then you'll get your total NO3.

I've actually got a spreadsheet to calculate dosage, Tropica was nice enough to include density in their product info *.pdf so that made life easier.

Here's what 1mg/L of TPN+ will give you:

Nutrient PPM

NO3 61.692015
PO4 3.188839
K 10.712000
Mg 4.056000
S 9.464000
B 0.041600
Cu 0.062400
Fe 0.728000
Mn 0.416000
Mo 0.020800
Zn 0.000020

I'd say 1mg for every 2-3L is a good dosing range for this stuff. It really could use more P and K; you should find another source for bulking both of those up. KH2PO4 and K2SO4 would be ideal, if you can't access it then it's a matter of your brand of choice.
Here's what 1mg for every 2L gives:

NO3 30.846007
PO4 1.594420
K 5.356000
Mg 2.028000
S 4.732000
B 0.020800
Cu 0.031200
Fe 0.364000
Mn 0.208000
Mo 0.010400
Zn 0.000020

 

[Tom Barr]

You are going to pay a lot for that dosing.
Most use dry ferts instead.

Regards,
Tom barr

 

[jonny_ftm]

I also switched from TPN to CSM+B for my 60gal tank. TPN costs too much compared to dry ferts. TPN+ costs even more because of the need of high N and P in our tanks compared to the low dosing of N and P in TPN. You'll waste micro to dose decent N and P

I kept my remaining stocks of TPN for my 12gal nano + some DTPA i finally got from Rex

 

[Ville]

Thanks guys!
I have a 250L tank do I guess TPN+ will be extremely expensive in the long run as you said Tom. A switch to dryferts seems to be the way to go then.
Now at least I know what i put into my tank. I figured i might need to add more macros but I couldn't figure out how much.

 

[Tom Barr]

Dosing calculations are also easier, more comparative when you use raw chemicals, less $ for shipping etc(10-20X less).
So you save several ways.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[barbarossa4122]

I am also using TPN and I am looking into Pfertz to supplement that, since TPN is so very expensive. And yes, I do have CSM+B also. Anyway for some reason I feel better to dose liquid commercial for micros.

I am also looking to subscribe to the Barr report

 

[Tom Barr]

NO3 is still NO3, no matter what the brand name is...........

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[Philosophos]

How about you just mix your own pfertz?

http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/6571-Poor-Man-s-Pfertz-Dosing-%28PMPD%29

If you don't want to use the urea, I can work it out as 100% KNO3. For that matter, I can teach you to mix more convenient stock solutions than just about anything else I know of.

Or you can go super simple and do dry dosing (be sure to premix just before dosing):
http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/2819-EI-light-for-those-less-techy-folks

 

[Ville]

Thanks Philosophos!
I ordered the dry ferts from http://www.aquawarehouse.se a couple of days ago. It might take some time before I get them since I also ordered some plants. Apparently they don't ship plants if the temperature is to low outside and they're located in the north of sweden where it's quite cold at the moment. I think making a mixture once I get them should be an easy task thanks to all the amazing info on this forum.