Degree of purity of ferts.

[AmirM]

Hello Evrybody,
I've been reading a lot about EI and would like to try it, as things are not going well for my 1st planted hightech aquarium...
I was asked which degree of purity of KNO3 and KH2PO4 I need?
Do I need the analytical level of purity or any other will do?
Thank you
Amir
________
Yamaha Wave Blaster History

 

[Tom Barr]

These are salts, thus they tend to have very high melting temps and are rather easy to get very pure. They are typically called agricultural grade purity, but that is fit for human consumption and crops and any horticultural use.

There was some clown (Troll) that appears every so often claiming we all need to switch to lab grade fertilizers etc and bad mouth's the folks that sell the agricultural grades. The person is a known troll.

Folks have been using ag grade for about 15 years and the aquarium companies that make a sell the ferts use ag grade as well.

So.........if you want to pay 100X for some certification, that's up to you. Often the purity levels are the same between the lab and ag grades.

One clown argue with me to no end about the need for purity in the CO2 gas as well, claiming food beverage grade was not good enough and did not dissolve at the same rate

While we can always argue for better, purer, and can find fault in everything, being a reasonable skeptic is quite another matter that's missed with such folks.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[AmirM]

Hello Tom,
Thanks for the very helpful answer.
I also heard from people that mix and sell their own fertilizers that they "use only analytical grade substances" ....

When I saw the cost of 1kg of KNO3 and 1kg of KH2PO4 which translates aproximately to 200 USD....I had a feeling something is wrong

I will look for AG grade of fertilizers and start using the EI method.
My aquarium is in trouble with hair algae and hazy water....and I need to change my routine. I will post all the relevant details of the setup and will appreciate your advice
Thanks
Amir
________
AVANDIA RECALL

 

[Tom Barr]

Yes, 200$ vs 0.25$ per pound cost difference.
1000X more.

They can claim all day long, but I've never met a single hobbyists that's willing to put their money where their mouth is on this one nor the CO2 gas purity issue.

They are all hot air

I think you are aware of the Hebrew aquatic plant forum?
Hopefully you read Hebrew.

It's a good club and they should be able to help, however KNO3 is used for gunpowder etc, so in your area of the world, to a lesser degree here, it's fairly regulated.

Regards,
tom Barr

 

[AmirM]

Hello Tom,
I read Hebrew and I'm aware of a few on-line forums, but it seems that there is some lag in the level of information and the forums are relatively inactive.
So, if its ok - I'll ask and learn here and try later to spread the info.
I'll start the hunt for ferts tomorrow, I didn't know KNO3, our fertilizer, is abused as gunpowder ingredient.
Thanks again
Amir
________
Washington Dispensaries

 

[AmirM]

Copper toxicosis?

Hello Tom
Did you ever hear about cases of poisoning from the impurities in the Ag. grade chemicals?
May I have your opinion about these data sheets?
Thank you, Amir

http://www.haifachem.co.il/download/files/mkp.pdf

http://www.haifachem.co.il/download/files/potassium_nitrate_-_crystalline.pdf
________
Free whole foods gift cards

 

[Tom Barr]

I've never heard of any poisonings of aquaria due to this.
I've read a few folks bought stump remover(KNO3), that was something else, other than KNO3 and almost killed their fish, but never KNO3 from an agriculture source that was KNO3.

Gunpowder is only abused when it's used for bad purposes, not us here

Regards,
Tom Barr