[Wet Thumb Forum]-Fertalizers & Light ?

[imported_Platy]

Are Fertalizers suppost to be kept in the dark?

The reason I ask is because I mixed up some Nitrate with 500 ml of water. Ive been dosing the 125 gal with it, and it brings the plants to pearl. However, lately it seems to take more to get he same effect. When I test that water for nitrate im getting >.03 per 5ml - this is from the nitrogen bottle, not the aquarium.

The only thing I can think of is - its in direct contact with light every so often - as I have a light fixed under the aquarium, where the fertz are.

Is this a bad thing? If so, are the dry fertz effected in the same way? ANd Are all fertz, or only a few effected by light? I just have them in those clear disposable water bottles, since they are 500ml.

Thanks!

Dustin

125 Gal - 3.07wpg - 99% flourite - Pressurized Co2 - Uv Sterilization when needed - Densly Planted

[imported_Platy]

Are Fertalizers suppost to be kept in the dark?

The reason I ask is because I mixed up some Nitrate with 500 ml of water. Ive been dosing the 125 gal with it, and it brings the plants to pearl. However, lately it seems to take more to get he same effect. When I test that water for nitrate im getting >.03 per 5ml - this is from the nitrogen bottle, not the aquarium.

The only thing I can think of is - its in direct contact with light every so often - as I have a light fixed under the aquarium, where the fertz are.

Is this a bad thing? If so, are the dry fertz effected in the same way? ANd Are all fertz, or only a few effected by light? I just have them in those clear disposable water bottles, since they are 500ml.

Thanks!

Dustin

125 Gal - 3.07wpg - 99% flourite - Pressurized Co2 - Uv Sterilization when needed - Densly Planted

[MarcinB]

Did you use a distilled water to prepare this solution? Maybe something grown inside the bottle and ate your nitrates? Only chelated micronutrients should be kept in the dark. Nitrates IMO aren't directly sensitive to light. But light can surely stimulate the algae growth in the solution. Another thing that comes to my mind is denitrification, but I wouldn't expect anaerobic conditions inside the bottle.

[This message was edited by MarcinB on Wed April 16 2003 at 08:59 AM.]

Maybe your tank has become limited in some other nutrient like PO4 or traces so adding more NO3 will not work until your correct the missing factor.

Good Luck,
Ben

www.aquatic-plants.org

40 Breeder, 5.5 watts/gal CF, Automatic CO2, 30ppm CO2, pH 6.7, KH 5, GH 15, K 20ppm, NO3 5-10ppm, PO4 0.3-0.6ppm, Flourish 15ml 2-3 x week, Flourish Fe 15ml 2-3 x week