Hi all,
I'm new to the forum but not the planted tank hobby. I've always bought my planted tank fertilizers for my hi-tech tanks but recently I've taken a liking to organic chemistry though and at this point I want to mix my own sauce AND understand what I'm doing with these organic chemicals and elements. My only reading on plant fertilization has been Diana Walstad's Ecology of the Planted Aquarium.
I'd like to make a baseline Poor Man's Dosing Drops that don't break the bank.
I think I understand the 1 to 1 ratios of KNO3, MgSO4, and K2SO4. Those aren't hard to understand and weigh out assuming that my baseline fertilizer contains 25 percent of each of those elements combined with CSM B or the equivalent. I do not understand how to complete the final, what I assume is, 25 percent CSM B mixture. I've read several articles and forum posts regarding the composure of CSM B but all of the ingredients never equal 100 percent. An example
CSM B is composed of
1.50 percent magnesium
0.10 percent chelated copper
7.0 percent chelated iron
2.0 percent manganese
0.06 percent molybdenum
0.40 percent zinc
0.04 percent boron
How do I mix ingredients together that don't equal 100 percent? What is filling in the gaps in this mixture that I'm not aware of? Am I reading this wrong?
I'm thankful for any education or answer that you may provide. I would like to greatly increase my understanding of plant fertilization, organic chemicals, and their specific roles in plant development. Please prescribe any reading that you assume might increase my knowledge.
Thanks,
Emett
I'm new to the forum but not the planted tank hobby. I've always bought my planted tank fertilizers for my hi-tech tanks but recently I've taken a liking to organic chemistry though and at this point I want to mix my own sauce AND understand what I'm doing with these organic chemicals and elements. My only reading on plant fertilization has been Diana Walstad's Ecology of the Planted Aquarium.
I'd like to make a baseline Poor Man's Dosing Drops that don't break the bank.
I think I understand the 1 to 1 ratios of KNO3, MgSO4, and K2SO4. Those aren't hard to understand and weigh out assuming that my baseline fertilizer contains 25 percent of each of those elements combined with CSM B or the equivalent. I do not understand how to complete the final, what I assume is, 25 percent CSM B mixture. I've read several articles and forum posts regarding the composure of CSM B but all of the ingredients never equal 100 percent. An example
CSM B is composed of
1.50 percent magnesium
0.10 percent chelated copper
7.0 percent chelated iron
2.0 percent manganese
0.06 percent molybdenum
0.40 percent zinc
0.04 percent boron
How do I mix ingredients together that don't equal 100 percent? What is filling in the gaps in this mixture that I'm not aware of? Am I reading this wrong?
I'm thankful for any education or answer that you may provide. I would like to greatly increase my understanding of plant fertilization, organic chemicals, and their specific roles in plant development. Please prescribe any reading that you assume might increase my knowledge.
Thanks,
Emett