Hi Tom!

[camicov]

well I'm new at the BR and this is my first post so I want to thank you for sharing this top quality knowledge.

I'm really sorry if this sounds too lazy but everytime I start to look for the answer I end up reading about something else as the information is extremely interesting and I don't want to miss anything so it's going to take a while before I get to it.. and my plants have been waiting for long...

I've mixed some DIY pfertz and the N, P, K are ok.. but I'm missing the M as the original Micros bottle (bought from another DIY maker) ran out sometime ago, so I bought this brexil mix:

MgO 6%
B 1,2%
Cu 0.8%
Fe 0.6%
Mo 1,0%
Zn 5,0%
Mn 0,7%

(http://www.pacgro.co.nz/ProductDetails/40-3043.html)

and it says density 0.6 g/cm3

now I just don't know how much should I add to 1L of water to get something similar to the pfertz M product. (I'm pretty sure the one who sold me the pfertz used the same brexil mix as the tag says the same % of each element, and on the directions it says " add 3.6 mL for every 100 L weekly ".

the other thing is CO2, I just have my bottle open 24/7, should I get a selenoid regulator and stop it at night? I've got new discus fish and don't want to hurt them.. is the CO2 glass drop checker useful?

thanks in advance for your help.

best regards,

Camilo

 

[Tom Barr]

Well, this is the issue, it's very high in Copper/Cu and low in Fe/iron, low in Mn and high in Zn and Mo. It's pretty weird overall. Might want to look elsewhere for something more like CMS.
I know aquariumfertilizer.com will ship anywhere pretty much

 

[Gerryd]

Hi and welcome,

No need for c02 24/7. Plants will produce c02 and use 02 in the dark just like the fish and critters so be careful here.

You may want to add some surface movement or an airstone or small powerhead when the c02 is ON to add more 02.

Watch the fish carefully for signs of stress. Darkening of colors, gasping at surface, heavy breathing, etc. It is easy to gas fish using c02 injection.

A drop checker is simply a tool that denotes an approximate level of c02 at that spot as many as 1-2 hours in the past. Move it around every few days, but don;t assume that the color of the checker means that c02 is abundant and in good/stable supply.

 

[camicov]

Well, this is the issue, it's very high in Copper/Cu and low in Fe/iron, low in Mn and high in Zn and Mo. It's pretty weird overall. Might want to look elsewhere for something more like CMS.
I know aquariumfertilizer.com will ship anywhere pretty much

damn! I've already opened the package... can I do something to "fix it"? maybe adding Fe? or should I get another mix and dispose this one?

 

[camicov]

Hi and welcome,

No need for c02 24/7. Plants will produce c02 and use 02 in the dark just like the fish and critters so be careful here.

You may want to add some surface movement or an airstone or small powerhead when the c02 is ON to add more 02.

Watch the fish carefully for signs of stress. Darkening of colors, gasping at surface, heavy breathing, etc. It is easy to gas fish using c02 injection.

A drop checker is simply a tool that denotes an approximate level of c02 at that spot as many as 1-2 hours in the past. Move it around every few days, but don;t assume that the color of the checker means that c02 is abundant and in good/stable supply.

Ok Thanks! so now I'm getting an electronic selenoid valve,,,,, and the drop checker just in case..