Planted Aquarium Fertilizer Dosing!

[Qualityguppies]

I have decided to use the Estimative Index dosing Strategy. I have decided to get these premixes from Aquariumfertilizer.com. They are:
PMDD Pre-Mix
PMDD Pre-Mix 1 lb contains 1 part each of Potassium Nitrate, Potassium Sulfate, Magnesium Sulfate, Plantex CSM+B.

CSM+B Plantex
CSM+B Plantex 1 lb, a micro nutrient trace mix, with boron added.

I plan on doing the PMDD on Monday,Wednesday,Friday. Then the CSM+B on Tuesday and Thursday. Then my water change will be on Sunday.

I have a 100 gallon aquarium and a 80 gallon aquarium. How much would I use in each tank per day on its doing day. Like 1 teaspoon of PMDD for the 100 3 times a week?

Also are these added to the aquarium dry or do they have to be added to water then you measure out how much of the solution you need for that dose?

 

[Biollante]

Not Sure Why

Hi,

I use to be a PMDD kind of evil plant monster.

In the 100-gallon tank, I would dose a light ¾-teaspoon 3 days a week or a heavy 5⁄16 teaspoon every day.

I am not sure why the extra CSM+B, I don’t think it would hurt anything, especially if you are growing a lot plants that like more iron, say another ¼ teaspoon 3 or 7 days a week.

Biollante

 

[Tug]

You will need to add some phosphate (KH2PO4) to your list.

Hi all,
I guess I am sort of questioning why as well. PMDD already has CSM+B in the mix. It is one of the reasons why you wont find any phosphate (KH2PO4) in PMDD.

Iron and phosphates should not be added at the same time or they can form a precipitate and drop out of solution.

Alternatively, you can purchase CSM+B and KNO3 separately to add more or less independently, depending on your need. If more iron is what you are looking for and your water has a high KH you might want to get some Iron Chelate 10% (DTPA-Fe).

You should get plenty potassium from KNO3 and KH2PO4, but I admit to adding a little extra myself. K2SO4 is also found in most any GH booster along with calcium and magnesium. Some GH boosters also have small amounts of other trace elements provided.

This is just a suggestion, but the typical EI routine would require you to have KH2PO4, KNO3, CSM+B and some GH Booster for Ca and Mg along with some added potassium. Get a bag of potassium just to be on the safe side.
Other wise follow the sage old advise of someone who has used PMDD like Biollante. :gw

 

[Biollante]

EI

Hi,

Doing the EI thing is much easier if you go with individual components.

Simply go to http://www.aquariumfertilizer.com/index.asp? or wherever and get yourself:

* Barr’s GH Booster
* KNO3
* CaCl2
* PLantex CSM+B
* Iron Chelate 10% (if you think you will want higher iron, beyond say 2 ppm)

Go to your local WalMart, or wherever and get yourself:

* Epsom Salt
* Fleet Enema or store brand

You will be well served.

Biollante

 

[captain_bu]

PMDD and EI are two completely different dosing strategies....

Bollante is correct. If you want to dose EI style you should buy individual ferts and then dose according to the EI suggestions. PMDD leaves out the phosphate because at the time it was developed as a dosing strategy people mistakenly assumed that phosphates caused algae. We now know that phosphates do not cause algae and are necessary for plant growth.

 

[Tug]

Semantics - the study of meaning.

Using individual ferts is easier. I'm not sure if it is required. But thanks for your point. I did go back to correct the statement I made concerning CSM+B. However, PMDD never suggested adding no phosphate, only that it be limited. I might also point out that EI evolved from PMDD (much like modern birds evolved from dinosaurs). I think even Tom has pointed this out. An EI version of PMDD does exist. http://www.barrreport.com/showthread.php/3209-Want-more-accuracy-Want-daily-PMDD-style-EI-dosing
I'm not sure why I bother sometimes.

 

[Biollante]

Beause You Care

Hi All,

Tug you do it because you care. You are passionate, because it is your learning style.

PMDD is part of the continuum that revived the planted aquarium and moved us to where we are today.

I had very nice tanks for many years using PMDD, I tended to use a few other techniques thrown in, water changes, enriched substrates, pulsed phosphates and so forth, but a person can have beautiful and successful planted tanks on PMDD.

In many ways I think the hobby took a wrong turn in the late 60's and we lost something, for whatever their faults, the Horst's were a very big part of getting us back on track.

Biollante