I have done a bit of reading recently about DIY micro mixes and potential issues with CSM+B and EDTA. I live in New Zealand and have previously imported CSM+B for use in my 300 litre (~75 gallon) dutch style aquarium. However, I have moderately hard tap water (8.1pH, 9dKH and GH of 13ppm) and have always been concerned about issues with EDTA given that with CO2 injection the lowest my pH reaches is ~6.8.
I currently dose my own macro mix based on EI and also dose DTPA Fe 11% but I have been inspired by @burr740 to eliminate CSM+B and replace with my own mix. I'm trying to get all of the ingredients together locally - the main issue is obtaining them in lower quantities. I have a couple of questions though:
1) Plantex CSM+B has EDTA chelated Cu, Mn, Zn, and FE. I will use DTPA Fe in my mix, but what about the others? I note that @burr740 uses non-chelated salts and I recall reading somewhere that @Tom Barr suggested that it wasn't particularly advantageous to use chelated micros for anything other than Fe? Could someone kindly clear this up for me and explain why you might or might not use other chelated salts in a bit more detail?
2) I note that @burr740 includes NiSO4.6H2O in his custom mix (see forum post here), but I don't see this in CSM+B and the other trace mixes I have compared either. It doesn't look like @burr740 is visiting this forum any more but I am hoping someone might be able to enlighten me on the benefits of including nickel?
I currently dose my own macro mix based on EI and also dose DTPA Fe 11% but I have been inspired by @burr740 to eliminate CSM+B and replace with my own mix. I'm trying to get all of the ingredients together locally - the main issue is obtaining them in lower quantities. I have a couple of questions though:
1) Plantex CSM+B has EDTA chelated Cu, Mn, Zn, and FE. I will use DTPA Fe in my mix, but what about the others? I note that @burr740 uses non-chelated salts and I recall reading somewhere that @Tom Barr suggested that it wasn't particularly advantageous to use chelated micros for anything other than Fe? Could someone kindly clear this up for me and explain why you might or might not use other chelated salts in a bit more detail?
2) I note that @burr740 includes NiSO4.6H2O in his custom mix (see forum post here), but I don't see this in CSM+B and the other trace mixes I have compared either. It doesn't look like @burr740 is visiting this forum any more but I am hoping someone might be able to enlighten me on the benefits of including nickel?