This site is supported by the advertisements on it, please disable your AdBlocker so we can continue to provide you with the quality content you expect.
  1. We are after as many aquarium plant images that we can get, doing so will assist us in completing the aquarium plant database.

    https://barrreport.com/threads/aquatic-plant-images-wanted.14374/
    Dismiss Notice

Hey Tom... NPK solution...

Discussion in 'Advanced Strategies and Fertilization' started by TexasRock, Jun 3, 2006.

  1. TexasRock

    TexasRock Prolific Poster

    Joined:
    May 31, 2006
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    5:25 PM
    I know you can make a CSM+B solution by placing 1 Teaspoon in 500ml of water.

    Is there a way to make a similar solution using the dry ferts I bought from Greg?

    I have N, P, and K. I know Tom doesn't really dose extra K ... so any ideas would be appreciated.

    By the way...

    My tank is 100 gallons. For the CSM+B solution you dose 1ml per gallon per week. So.. .that would be 16.66666667 mls or 17mls per day of the trace mix. I calculated that out by dividing 100 by 6 since on the 7th day (Sunday theoretically) is your water change day.

    Also, what is a good dosing regime for this size tank? Total water volume is probably closer to 115 with my sump.

    I have 3 wpg, pressurized CO2, DIY reactor...

    THanks!

    Keith
     
    #1 TexasRock, Jun 3, 2006
  2. VaughnH

    VaughnH Lifetime Charter Member
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2005
    Messages:
    3,011
    Likes Received:
    92
    Local Time:
    5:25 PM
    Re: Hey Tom... NPK solution...

    Assuming you want to mix up 500 ml of NPK solution, and that you want it to last 20 doses, for example. You want 20 times the dose of each fertilizer mixed in with the 500 ml of water. Then you dose 1/20th of the 500 ml each time you dose. You do have to be sure that you can dissolve that much in that little water. Unless you are using an auto-doser, which doses liquids only, it is a lot easier to just dip a tiny measuring spoon into the fert and dump it in the tank.
     
    #2 VaughnH, Jun 3, 2006
  3. TexasRock

    TexasRock Prolific Poster

    Joined:
    May 31, 2006
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    5:25 PM
    Re: Hey Tom... NPK solution...

    Can I just dump it in the tank or mix it in water first? Dump it in my sump?

    Keith
     
    #3 TexasRock, Jun 3, 2006
  4. VaughnH

    VaughnH Lifetime Charter Member
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2005
    Messages:
    3,011
    Likes Received:
    92
    Local Time:
    5:25 PM
    Re: Hey Tom... NPK solution...

    Most of us just dump the ferts in the tank. We are only talking about a tsp or less of any one of them, for most sizes of tanks. And they all dissolve pretty quickly. CSM+B, a trace mix, dissolves slower, but can still be dosed that way.
     
    #4 VaughnH, Jun 3, 2006
  5. quenton

    quenton Guru Class Expert

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2006
    Messages:
    170
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    5:25 PM
    Re: Hey Tom... NPK solution...

    I mix it in water immediately prior to dosing. However, the main reason I do this is because I have 2 tanks, and one is 29g -- so the amounts are small and hard to measure. So I mix the amounts for both (65 and 29g) at once, and I have carefully marked my bottle in 1/3rd's, so I take 1/3 for th3 29g and 2/3 for the 65g. However, I find it easy to disolve the ferts, so even if I was dosing one tank I would probably mix it in tank water first -- it seems pretty simple.
     
    #5 quenton, Jun 3, 2006
  6. Wet

    Wet Lifetime Members
    Lifetime Member

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2006
    Messages:
    395
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    5:25 PM
    Re: Hey Tom... NPK solution...

    May as well dry dose into the sump. If you don't have any criters in there it won't make a difference, and is the perfect place to dissolve ferts. Even if you do have criters in the sump, you probably will not have a problem (I do not).

    FWIW, when I dose from solution I just target a nice easy dose (say, 5mL/1tsp) to reach my targets. Your plan of dividing the trace mix volume works of course, its just a pain in the ass to measure that several times a week. Also, its okay to round up under EI unless you want to be more exact about ppm. Use Chuck's calc or the Fertilator or such if that is important: http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_dosage_calc.htm

    You can go up and down on CSM+B depending on your target Fe ppm. Here is my calculator if you want to calculate to ppm or play with that recommended dosing: http://justanothertank.com/calcs.php . (Greg's 1tsp in 500mL, 5mL doses/20gals is ~.12 Fe ppm. I like .3ppm Fe. If I remember correctly, Tom Barr and Greg have both dosed to 1.0ppm Fe with no reported issues. Experiment.)

    Do not forget to include the sump's water to the total volume when calculating your ppm.

    Good luck,
    Joe
     
    #6 Wet, Jun 4, 2006
  7. Tom Barr

    Tom Barr Founder
    Staff Member Administrator

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2005
    Messages:
    18,690
    Likes Received:
    706
    Local Time:
    5:25 PM
    Re: Hey Tom... NPK solution...

    All good advice.

    Fro small tanks, it can be tougher to accurately measure, some do, this is a personal preference.

    I tend to change the water more in smaller tanks, generally 60-80%, so there's less issue if I muck things up/add more etc.

    This works very well also.

    Larger tanks=> more water to change per %, so then the accuracy is better and the volume of water to change is not as easy in some cases.

    Keith, your biggest challenge and most folks biggest issue: CO2

    DIY is very rough on any tank over 50-60 gals.
    I can be done, but seriously consider a gas tank and regulator.

    You'll need at least 4 x 2liter bottles going and dual reactors on each side of the tank.

    The ferts will not do much for you if the CO2 is off.
    That's the biggest fert there is.
    Carbon from CO2 is 40-45% of the plant's biomass.
    The next smallest? Nitrogen is only 1.5- 1 % of a plant's biomass....

    Both are essential, but the CO2 is pretty important and you can get a lot out 3w/gal with good CO2/Dosing.

    Regards,
    Tom Barr
     
    #7 Tom Barr, Jun 4, 2006
  8. quenton

    quenton Guru Class Expert

    Joined:
    Mar 14, 2006
    Messages:
    170
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    5:25 PM
    Re: Hey Tom... NPK solution...

    I agree (from experience) with the above. I have a 65g (figure 55g actual) tank. I have 5 2L bottles on it, with two reactors. I figure, from results, that my CO2 is barely adequate. I have slight algae compared to my 29g tank which has 3 2L bottles and one reactor and has no algae. Actually I figure both are marginal, the 29g being less marginal :)

    My plan is to move to pressurized CO2 on the 65g and move a bottle to the 29g.

    Changing 8 2L bottles is a pain, even though mine seem to last for 14 days.
     
    #8 quenton, Jun 4, 2006
  9. TexasRock

    TexasRock Prolific Poster

    Joined:
    May 31, 2006
    Messages:
    45
    Likes Received:
    0
    Local Time:
    5:25 PM
    Re: Hey Tom... NPK solution...

    Yeah, I have pressurized CO2, JBJ regulator, SMS122 pH controller (not really needed) and a DIY external reactor that I'm going to ditch as soon as I get one like Tom's built. I may just make a larger version of Tom's design and have it powered by its own Mag 3 pump...
     
    #9 TexasRock, Jun 4, 2006
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)
Loading...
Similar Threads - Hey Tom NPK
  1. Omegatron

    Not getting rid of the diatoms (if they are diatoms). help needed.

    Omegatron, Jun 11, 2013, in forum: Aquascaping
    Replies:
    5
    Views:
    792
    Omegatron
    Jun 14, 2013
  2. Carissa

    Symptoms of deficiency - what are they?

    Carissa, Oct 6, 2007, in forum: CO2 Enrichment
    Replies:
    7
    Views:
    122
    Carissa
    Oct 8, 2007
  3. DavidR

    Hey Tom!

    DavidR, Jan 29, 2006, in forum: Advanced Strategies and Fertilization
    Replies:
    1
    Views:
    121
    Tom Barr
    Jan 30, 2006
  4. Gordon Simmons

    Hey From Western North Carolina, Usa

    Gordon Simmons, Mar 17, 2020, in forum: Introductions
    Replies:
    0
    Views:
    150
    Gordon Simmons
    Mar 17, 2020
  5. danigerzon17

    Hey Some One Can Help Me With Decision

    danigerzon17, Mar 11, 2020, in forum: General Plant Topics
    Replies:
    2
    Views:
    88
    EdWiser
    Mar 13, 2020

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Accept Learn More...
    Dismiss Notice