OVAS

Aquarist Forums => Freshwater General Discussions => Plants => Topic started by: sdivell on October 31, 2008, 09:36:22 AM

Title: Dry Ferts
Post by: sdivell on October 31, 2008, 09:36:22 AM
Ok so my 60g tank is running smoothly and looks 'ok' though my plants could look healthier and I have some green spot algae (I believe the cause of this is not enough phosphate)

I've decided I'm going to start dosing EI - I've been doing some research and I think i have my numbers figured out... but now i need the ferts...

Where in Ottawa can we buy them in a store?  I'm against paying more for shipping then the actual product costs so I've ruled out buying them online.

Title: Re: Dry Ferts
Post by: Jeff1192 on October 31, 2008, 09:42:40 AM
I got mine at B and B hydroponics.

Jeff
Title: Re: Dry Ferts
Post by: sdivell on October 31, 2008, 09:58:15 AM
That place on woodward?... i've never been in but heard good things.. maybe i'll stop in at lunch today
Title: Re: Dry Ferts
Post by: blizzack1 on October 31, 2008, 12:15:25 PM
Quote from: sdivell on October 31, 2008, 09:58:15 AM
That place on woodward?... i've never been in but heard good things.. maybe i'll stop in at lunch today

Extremely helpful staff.  Once they know you're looking for an aquarium they will tell you exactly what you need.

Title: Re: Dry Ferts
Post by: zima on October 31, 2008, 01:16:10 PM
B&B Hydroponics for sure! They are not far from Woodroffe, at 1780 Woodward Drive. Mention that you're an OVAS member and get a discount (10%, I think).
Title: Re: Dry Ferts
Post by: drew_tt on October 31, 2008, 01:23:35 PM
Hmm, a hydroponic shop... why didn't I think of that?
Thanks for the heads-up!  I will keep this place in mind when I need some more dry ferts... fortunately that won't be for a year or so with everything I just got from aquariumfertilizer.com   ;D
(btw, shipping was around $10 to canada for a few pounds of product... pretty reasonable IMO)
Title: Re: Dry Ferts
Post by: sdivell on October 31, 2008, 09:57:38 PM
Ok so i went into B&B - very helpful guy pointed me in the right direction.

Picked up

KN03
KH2P04
K2S04

he didn't have any trace in.  Anybody know where to get some?

I started Day 1 of my dosing today... hopefully I'll see some changes in the next week or 2
Title: Re: Dry Ferts
Post by: charlie on October 31, 2008, 10:54:45 PM
Quote from: sdivell on October 31, 2008, 09:57:38 PM
Ok so i went into B&B - very helpful guy pointed me in the right direction.

Picked up

KN03
KH2P04
K2S04

he didn't have any trace in.  Anybody know where to get some?

I started Day 1 of my dosing today... hopefully I'll see some changes in the next week or 2

Scott, a word of caution, the EI method of dosing is intended for a high growth tank ( High light & co2) the doses can be adapted to a low growth tank by reducing the the dose  ( probably 1x a week approx), i`m not sore if you are running high light co2 injected.Either way i would start dosing only once a week for a few weeks & monitor the response.

As for traces there was a person selling traces in the classifieds
http://ovas.ca/index.php?topic=31448.msg202618#msg202618
Title: Re: Dry Ferts
Post by: sdivell on November 01, 2008, 09:42:48 AM
Thanks 'Charlie' (if that is your real name  :D) I have tested my water to see where I was short first - my tank goes through a lot of nitrates and i had 0ppm phosphates... so I've dosed my tank to bring nitrates up to about 15ppm and phosphates around 1ppm... K2S04 - 5ppm (give or take)

I'm going to test again tomorrow to see where my levels are but if im still getting a reading for phosphates and nitrate i will leave alone.

Thanks for the heads up on trace.
Title: Re: Dry Ferts
Post by: sdivell on November 02, 2008, 04:33:31 PM
Well Day 3 today so I tested the levels

Nitrates - below 5ppm
Phosphates - somewhere between 0-1 ppm

dosed nitrates to bring them back up to about 10-15ppm

didn't dose anything else... so far no noticable change in my plants
Title: Re: Dry Ferts
Post by: Thumpya on December 11, 2008, 08:23:52 PM
If you didn't already know, cal1956  sells dry ferts for real cheap $10 I believe for all 4 bags of essential plant nutrients. Just FYI
Title: Re: Dry Ferts
Post by: presto on December 23, 2008, 02:38:27 PM
I second that, I get mine from Cal too. He also has a nice selection of plants for sale too.
Title: Re: Dry Ferts
Post by: exv152 on January 10, 2009, 03:11:48 PM
Question for those of you who have gone to B&B.  Do they actually sell dry Iron as a fert? 
Title: Re: Dry Ferts
Post by: charlie on January 10, 2009, 03:49:37 PM
Quote from: exv152 on January 10, 2009, 03:11:48 PM
Question for those of you who have gone to B&B.  Do they actually sell dry Iron as a fert? 
I don`t think he sells iron by it self , they sell a trace mix which includes iron.
Hope that helps