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Macro fertiliser


revolutionhope

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Hi all,

I'm hoping to get some advice about what is a good product to feed my plants some potassium nitrate. I already have a powder micronutrient product I can dose but my plants are suffering from a definite lack of nitrogen. As the plants reach closer up to the lightsource the new growth becomes yellow or a white/brown kind of colour.

When I had the same plant species in a heavily stocked fishtank with a good source of nitrates and minerals they were always a lush green colour all the way to the top regardless of how intense the lighting was.

Look forward to any input thanks :-)

Love n peace

Will

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try Cal Aqua Labs Green - 500ml Nitrogen, Potassium, Trace.

Tech Den sells it.

KNO3 can also be bought in powder form. Just google "aquarium potassium nitrate 500g".

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Thanks again @jayc I greatly appreciate your advice as always. While I've got you if you don't mind can I ask how do you suggest I dose the macro-ferts? Currently I mix in minute quantities of the trace minerals (as per your DIY remineralisation guide) with my weekly or fortnightly WC.. although I'm unsure how much of it to add (how much TDS worth e.g. if i change 10% of water should i add 10ppm worth of trace elements?

Do you think I should add the macro fert in the same fashion or can i just squirt teeny-weeny amounts in randomly at the same time as shrimp-feedings and judge the amounts according to how well fed the plants look? In the end I decided to buy the cal aqua labs product as I figured one bottle is likely to last a year at least and I needed something else from TheTechDen.

Thanks in advance,

love n peace

will

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I don't know if there is a right way or wrong way. Nor can I determine what amounts is right for your tank.

Keeping in mind that Potassium Nitrate (KNO3) can potentially alter TDS drastically, so I would go slow.

If your TDS is already at the upper limits for the type of shrimp you keep, then you should use less KNO3.

However, if your TDS level is low, then you can afford to add more.

So I usually add ferts like Potassium based on TDS levels, because I prioritise the shrimp over the plants.

Just to be safe, add enough KNO3 but stay within the upper TDS limits of your shrimp. Potassium, fortunately, is one of those nutrients that has a larger tolerance for overdose. ie. even if you add too much, it doesn't have a drastic impact to fish or shrimps or plants. Just don't go crazy and dump a whole bottle in the tank. 

 

 

 

 

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Thanks man you've helped to clarify the KNO3 issue well for me.

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