I have looked around and found the info regarding deficiency symptoms to be lacking and inconsistent. They are always too vague, and some so full of misinformation, it's downright misleading. Most of the people looking at them probably have much more basic problems including lighting and CO2.
Lots of people are big to push this or that. Specifically Iron. I have seen so many tables and people citing Iron as "the problem" it's ridiculous.
If Iron was as important as some of these people say, you couldn't get by without it. I have set up dozens of tanks for people and have NEVER dosed Iron in the water column and had plenty of success. This is not to say Iron is not important, but there are so many factors involved I don't think most people are capable of providing enough information for someone to say without a doubt what 'the problem' is. It's more of a likely suspects list at best.
Like you said, it says nothing of potassium inhibiting calcium uptake. However calcium is a HUGE problem without magnesium, and to top it off they should be in proper ratio.
I used to have to add calcium & magnesium and had lots of trouble with the distorted growth Jay mentions in the post below, but once I started with Calcite, I never had the problem again.
That's not to say this will work for everyone, but now I know my Ca & Mg is right, and I don't have to add anything. This might not work if you do large weekly water changes and grow fast growing stem plants in high CO2 and high light, it didn't for me. Now I grow crypts & lilies and it work perfectly!
I think it's more important to make sure you have a bit of everything at least somewhere in the range it should be, then to try and DIY perfect everything. I use many commercial products to make sure I get as varied an amount of nutrients as possible including SeaChem Flourish Tabs, TMG, Mono Potassium phosphate, potassium nitrate, Kents Micro & Grow as well as Vita.
Some people strictly use Plantex CSM+B & DIY Macros and have just as good results. Despite doing things totally opposite the results are the same. No deficiencies and healthy plants. The common thread is both parties know what they are doing. I think that is the most important thing. Knowledge.
I am yet to see a quarter as many people using recommended dosages of commercial ferts have the same problems DIY people do. Sometimes trying to save $ is not worth it.
I have challenged many people having ongoing problems with algae or cyano to try a full dosing regime as recommended by the commercial products, ideally Seachems line (Kent's Botanica's have worked) and never once has it failed.
Just my thoughts.
As far as the water report goes, mine was obtainable directly over the Internet. Not sure why yours wouldn't be. What exact city do you live in, lets see what we can find.
Lots of people are big to push this or that. Specifically Iron. I have seen so many tables and people citing Iron as "the problem" it's ridiculous.
If Iron was as important as some of these people say, you couldn't get by without it. I have set up dozens of tanks for people and have NEVER dosed Iron in the water column and had plenty of success. This is not to say Iron is not important, but there are so many factors involved I don't think most people are capable of providing enough information for someone to say without a doubt what 'the problem' is. It's more of a likely suspects list at best.
Like you said, it says nothing of potassium inhibiting calcium uptake. However calcium is a HUGE problem without magnesium, and to top it off they should be in proper ratio.
I used to have to add calcium & magnesium and had lots of trouble with the distorted growth Jay mentions in the post below, but once I started with Calcite, I never had the problem again.
That's not to say this will work for everyone, but now I know my Ca & Mg is right, and I don't have to add anything. This might not work if you do large weekly water changes and grow fast growing stem plants in high CO2 and high light, it didn't for me. Now I grow crypts & lilies and it work perfectly!
I think it's more important to make sure you have a bit of everything at least somewhere in the range it should be, then to try and DIY perfect everything. I use many commercial products to make sure I get as varied an amount of nutrients as possible including SeaChem Flourish Tabs, TMG, Mono Potassium phosphate, potassium nitrate, Kents Micro & Grow as well as Vita.
Some people strictly use Plantex CSM+B & DIY Macros and have just as good results. Despite doing things totally opposite the results are the same. No deficiencies and healthy plants. The common thread is both parties know what they are doing. I think that is the most important thing. Knowledge.
I am yet to see a quarter as many people using recommended dosages of commercial ferts have the same problems DIY people do. Sometimes trying to save $ is not worth it.
I have challenged many people having ongoing problems with algae or cyano to try a full dosing regime as recommended by the commercial products, ideally Seachems line (Kent's Botanica's have worked) and never once has it failed.
Just my thoughts.
As far as the water report goes, mine was obtainable directly over the Internet. Not sure why yours wouldn't be. What exact city do you live in, lets see what we can find.
4 wpg.
