discus

Hi GW
to put it simply.
The SS and The PF do not contain the same ingredients. The SS stands for standard solution containing nitrates phosphates and potassium (NPK). The PF solution stands for phosphate free and contains only nitrates and potassium. We use these solutions and by changing the ratio we maintain constant levels of ferts depending on what the tank needs. For example assuming you dose 10ml of SS and 10ml of PF (total 20ml) and if one day you notice your phosphates are higher than you want it to be you would dose 5ml of SS and 15ml of PF (keeping the same 20ml total ferts) or even if phosphates are too high then you would dose 0ml of SS and 20ml of PF.
Thus, maintaining the same total dosage of ferts (20ml) but changing the ratio.

G. Werner

I thought that maybe you just would use one or the other. Now I understand that you use both, and just adjust them based on the results. I think I'm getting it now.

So should we use 3 times the 100 gallon suggested dosage? Thoughts...

Thanks

GW

G. Werner

18ml SS
39ml PF
84dr Mg
84dr TE

How would you convert the (dr) I'm guessing drops to (ml)?

Otherwise your talking 168 drops total each day...plus the SS and PF doses.

Are these figures correct?

Thanks for your help in advance.

GW

G. Werner

I received the ferts today from Greg Watson. Everything came in as promised. He was also a great help, and informative.

I have a scale and some containers to hold the mixed solutions.

I just want to make sure I am using the correct amounts. Please see the previous post.

Thanks

G. Werner

Edward

Hi
Sorry for the delay, I hope everything is fine with your aquarium.

Maybe you should start with less then 3 times the 100 gallon dosage. It is a lot of fertilizer for start. Probably the levels will go up and then level at small daily additions.

We should start with:
10 ml SS
22 ml PF
2 ml Mg
2 ml TE.

There is about 20 drops in 1 ml. You can round the numbers it doesn’t have to be exact. The dosing quantity will change.


There is a new Advanced Dosing Calculator available for download that will tell you what to dose next and a Solutions Recipe Table helping with making more sizes of solutions. Very good improvements to the hobby.



Thank you
Edward

Edward

Hi banderbe
Can you go into more details why and how Osmotic Pressure can cause that?


Thank you
Edward

banderbe

I wish I could! I have just seen it mentioned by a few people who _seem_ to know their science a little better than I do, and from what I have read about osmotic pressure and from what I remember from my science courses at the university, it _seems_ to make sense.

This is just pure speculation but a larger body of water exerts a greater pressure on everything inside it.. (I think.. or maybe it's just depth that counts?) There's more pressure on the cell walls of all the plants. So maybe that means you get by with less nutrients. Everyone I talk to with a big tank says they require less ferts as a ratio of mls to gallons than a smaller tank like my 29 gallon. And maybe this increased pressure means the cells are more sensitive to environmental changes.. but who the hell knows?

Sorry, maybe someone like Tom Barr knows more about it?