P2o5

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Tom's suggestions to up my P and N levels seem to be reducing algae loads, but I am not sure how to calculate this product.

I can get Super Phosphate and KN03 for nothing from work. I have been finishing off Seachem products and want to transition to dry ferts.

Super Phosphate is 45% by weight P2O5. Anybody used it? Thought it might be a way to not add add'l K since I already use Equilibrium and KNO3. If this doesn't make sense I will just buy some KPO4.

Dan
 

VaughnH

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Re: P2o5

One thing we all know is that KH2PO4 and KNO3 are not harmful to fish or plants. And, they are cheap from Greg Watson, sold in small enough quantities to be useful for us. So, why even try alternatives? That's like the guy married to Miss America, and who was voted Miss Congeniality and mother of the year, but keeps wondering if there isn't someone better out there for him!
 

Wet

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Re: P2o5

I have not used and do not know what Super Phosphate is, but if 45% of it by mass is P2O5, you have to take the extra step of P being 43.6% of P2O5. So, P is ~20% (19.6%) of Super Phosphate. If Super Phosphate is a solution, this calc will help you fwiw. If it is dry I'm sure someone here can show you the calcs if you post your tank size.

(Why is it called Super Phosphate if it doesn't give PO4?)

The extra K from KH2PO4 shouldn't scare you off. 1) This will end up being like 3 ppm K/wk with avg EI , 2) more K doesn't matter and 3) there's lots of handy calcs for KH2PO4.

Hope this helps.
 

Tom Barr

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Re: P2o5

VaughnH said:
Like the guy married to Miss America, and who was voted Miss Congeniality and mother of the year, but keeps wondering if there isn't someone better out there for him!

I'll gladly go out with her if he's lost his marbles. :p

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

Tom Barr

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Re: P2o5

One thing that really helps is simply getting and using the same type of stuff a group of folks is using if you plan on comparing notes.

I started using TMG a long time ago because everyone that was doing anything was as well.

I continued and tried other brands as well. But........now everyone seems to use the KNO3, KH2PO4, K2SO4, MgSO4, CaSO4, or CaCl2 etc. Does not matter if it's Apu in India, nor Roman in Poland, nor Flierge in South Africa, they all know what it is and are standarized in the use/concentration etc.

This makes giving advice and comparing notes with other folks all over the world much easier.

Folks in the USA often get stuck with the assumption everything is like it is here, that's not true at all.

But what applies all over the world with such standards for feerts, also still apllies here, not vice versa :gw :eek: :eek:

Regards,
Tom Barr
 

Wet

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Re: P2o5

When I look at stuff like PMDD being reverse enginered from Dupla, or Tropica's NPK stuff, or ADA's stuff, it's easy to imagine someone marketing "EI in two bottles" as a two-step NPK and trace regimen with a nice concentration of nutrients and easy (say 5mL/20gals) dosing. While it's clear people are becoming more comfortable with DIY fertilization, I think there's many hobbyists who feel safer and prefer with solutions simply because they *seem* safer. Pretty packaging like ADA's doesn't hurt either. Just saying.
 

VaughnH

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Re: P2o5

I'm sure Greg Watson occasionally visits this site, (heh, heh) so maybe he will want to branch out and start selling "BW Drizzles", maybe in a squeeze bottle - one squeeze per ten gallons.
 

Tom Barr

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Re: P2o5

You are right Joe........
A pretty marketing saying and picture seems to be all that a person needs to feel fuzzy inside...........

Most ferts are fairly weak in concentration since they error on the more conservative sides since folks add too much generally and this will cause the ones that need more to buy more product.

But if it says ADA vs KNO3 on the bottle, there's no difference.


Regards,

Tom Barr