Re: [AGA Member] Dosing plants with NPK home compounds

["Amit Brucker" <amitb@gtek.co.il>]

Steve,
Its been a while.... but the effect on my Amazons, Aponogeton rigidifolius
and Hygrophilia difformis was tremendous!!!
It seems that after all it was a lack of K that's for sure, regarding the N
and P I m not that sure. It seems that with big flora and less fauna the
tank could take up this fertz addition. I also increased my photo period in
one hour and did the same with the CO2 amounts.
I had to dump this weekend many other plants that I couldn't control
anymore...
I also think that the plants metabolism had improved as well...(In general I
can say that adding those NPK in my case just did the trick...)
Thanks for the EDTA correction.
Now I am searching for method to improve the growth of my Java ferns...(any
tips???)
What is the APD ???

Amit

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steve Pushak" <teban@powersonic.bc.ca>
To: <aga-member@thekrib.com>
Cc: "Erik Olson" <erik@thekrib.com>; "Thomas Barr" <tcbiii@earthlink.net>
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2004 12:30 PM
Subject: RE: [AGA Member] Dosing plants with NPK home compounds


>
> Amit Brucker wrote:
> > As part of my effort to save my Amazon swords, I think my tank
> > lacks some Nitrogen and Potassium.
> > After a short visit to the plant nursery I finally selected Jobe's
> > Spikes and some liquid fertilizer - Yes for home plants!
> > The Spikes made of:
> > N - 6%
> > P2O5 - 2% (trying to keep phosphate as low as I can, not that I
> > have any Algae problems...)
> > Potassium 3%
> > And Iron 1% (EDTA) Which I doubt will have any effect, Since it
> > is not chelated
> >
> > The liquid is made of:
> > NPK all 7%
> > I still need to look for KNO3 and other 'hydroponics' related compounds.
> > Does anyone have any good experience with NPK home compounds ???
>
> The iron-EDTA IS chelated; that's the function of the EDTA.
>
> You might want to check up on the dosing methods described by Tom Barr on
> the APD especially with regard to nitrogen. In my experience nitrogen
needs
> to be supplemented at least once a week to keep the plants growing well.
If
> I use KNO3, then there is more than enough potassium there for the plants.
> Sword plants are also heavy consumers of calcium so you may need to
> supplement that too unless you have hard water & exchange 25% every couple
> of weeks. Calcium can also disappear into snails & be absorbed by organic
> soil especially peat not to mention that it is used up by the plants. I
> think calcium needs to be supplemented about every two weeks or so by one
> means or another.
>
> Erik, I took a quick look in the Krib where I thought I might find Thomas'
> comments. AFAIK, I haven't read a comprehensive summary of his approach on
> the APD, although I have a few excerpts that are quite good. IMO, Thomas
has
> taken nutrient dosing a step beyond the Sears & Conlin PMDD protocol.
> Someday he'll get around to rewriting the FAQ for us but in the meantime
we
> ought to collect some of our favourite postings for the Krib.
>
> Also we've begun to talk more recently on the APD about the ratios of
> nutrients (molar ratios) and this is more meaningful & accurate but also
> much more difficult for the average user to understand not to mention
> newbies. The APD has become a much more technical forum recently; which I
> like however its also greatly reduced questions by newbies & casual
growers.
> What the heck do you call them?
>
> Steve P
>
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