El Natural With A Twist (long 56k!) - Page 10 - El Natural

AaronT · 04-17-2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tube

I use straight RO because i wanted soft water, didnt like the amount of K that was added using Seachem Equilibrium, and havent had any issues until present. Shrimp and fish appear to be fine, however, there are nearly zero snails in the tank even with moderate feeding.

To add to the last comment, I capped my soil with Flourite Black Sand, however, began to see potassium deficiencies 5 months after initial planting (apparently).

Ive heard that micro deficiencies take up to two weeks before you see a difference, unlike macros which can be almost immediate. With this in mind, i will continue with the flourish, if nothing improves, will add K at approx 1.25 PPM (pfertz) weekly.

Is there any chance you can take pictures of the plants in question?

Unfortunately, I'm not sure there is any way to avoid adding K to any soil tank over time even if it is just a very tiny amount.

Tube · 04-17-2008, 08:46 PM

These two show it the best. The second shows more of the stunting. Thanks for your help.

AaronT · 04-18-2008, 06:39 AM

Yeah, I would definitely say that is a potassium issue. The micronutrients in the soil should pretty well never run out.

wantabe23 · 04-18-2008, 10:25 PM

Can any one confirm that micros can take up to a week to show? I would like to know

Hey this is a great thread, good idea with the mix of the hight tech and low tech, best of both worlds

CraigThor · 04-20-2008, 11:15 AM

Aaron,

I have shrimp tank that I want to try this on. How would this affect the cycle to remove all plants, shrimp and add this into the tank. I currently use Tahitian Moon Sand as my substrate. I m wanting a deeper substrate and this might be ideal as I also don't want to does the tank with nutrients also.

Craig

AaronT · 04-20-2008, 03:26 PM

Craig,

I would be very careful to keep an eye on the ammonia levels when you first change it over. It will basically require a complete teardown to get the soil in place.

Can you keep the filter running on another tank so it is still seeded once the change over is complete?

CraigThor · 04-20-2008, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AaronT

Craig,

I would be very careful to keep an eye on the ammonia levels when you first change it over. It will basically require a complete teardown to get the soil in place.

Can you keep the filter running on another tank so it is still seeded once the change over is complete?

I read I can boil the soil to speed the reduction of ammonia in the tank. I will probably keep my filter running on a rubbermaid tub with my plants.

Craig

AaronT · 04-20-2008, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigThor

I read I can boil the soil to speed the reduction of ammonia in the tank. I will probably keep my filter running on a rubbermaid tub with my plants.

Craig

That is true, but that won't mineralize the soil. Mineralizing the soil is about a lot more than just removing the ammonia. It converts the NH4 to NH3 instead of removing it and also mineralizes all of the other nutrients making them bio-available.

It's worth the extra time to use the method I've described.

Robert Hudson · 04-20-2008, 08:28 PM

Quote:

I would definitely say that is a potassium issue. The micronutrients in the soil should pretty well never run

Potassium is a macro, not a micro!

Quote:

I read I can boil the soil to speed the reduction of ammonia in the tank. I will probably keep my filter running on a rubbermaid tub with my plants.

Diana Walstad in Ecology of the Planted Aquarium advocates simply airing out the soil to release ammonia, not boiling it. Just exposing it to air will release ammonia. This can be done in a matter of hours. What Aaron is talking about by mineralization, I presume, is making oxidized minerals water soluable, such as iron. Oxidized iron is is Fe+3 where as water soluble iron is Fe+2 which plants use much easier. This happens naturally in the aquarium when oxidized minerals are broken down by organic acids and compounds. Top soil, potting soil and the like are rich in organic compounds, so this process should not tank long to happen naturally. If you want to boil your soil, go ahead, but I don't see the point.

AaronT · 04-21-2008, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert Hudson

Potassium is a macro, not a micro!

Yes, I know. That's why my statement about potassium was separate from my statement regardning micronutrients.