DIY ferts?

[aidensmomma2000]

After my c02 disaster years ago, Im too scared to go back. Plants need some help though, and the liquid ferts in the store are pricey.

Didnt see a article in DIY for ferts, does anyone have experience? Thanks!

[darkdep]

BD:  Write an article, quick!

[BigDaddy]

I will this weekend for sure.

PMBDD - Poor Man's BigD Drops.....

[darkphreak]

Isn't there an article on plantedtank.net for a PMDD formula?

Not that BD doesn't have his own little recipe Im sure. 

[artw]

I was going to ask the same question but not exactly for PMDD because as Big Daddy probably knows, PMDD is not sufficient itself alone to grow plants.  I use the equivalent of PMDD from Big Als (the iron plant supplement)  but I was looking to add extra N, P, and K  and yes the liquid ferts are quite expensive.

Go here http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_dosage_calc.htm  and then go to a Hydroponic Store and they can hook you up

you can download the Nutrient Calculator as a windows app too and apparently it will also calculate your CO2 and wash your dishes  http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_plant_aquacalc.htm

[BigDaddy]

PMDD actually can and does work.  It's just a pain having to get the receipe down for your N and P

Using Barr's EI and dry ferts for N P K is just sooo much easier now.

[artw]

for those of you who aren't familiar with BD's cryptography, EI means Estimative Index and is available here http://www.barrreport.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1   I didnt actually know about that, and I am reading it right now

[aidensmomma2000]

Im getting the feeling this is more complicated than I had originally imagined 

[babblefish1960]

The continual fluctuating(day/night cycle ergo pH swings), and the constant monitoring and adjustments make for an intense science experiment, there are so many variables involved in fishkeeping that there are no hard and fast rules, merely experience and a watchful eye, as when things go wrong, they can really go wrong. CO2 is a gas not to be taken lightly,(pun intended). Insofar as combining this with augmentation of specific micronutriants and again, careful observation, there are many mistakes that can be made.

Not to put you off, just to point out that this aspect of the hobby is to be tread carefully, for you don't want to be frightened off by errors and I'm sure the idea is to enhance the enjoyment of the overall setting and provide an idyllic home for the fish you love.

Mistakes will be made, and that's okay, but an ear and well placed question should make the experience worthwhile, just never forget that CO2 is a gas we try to get rid of, and while it may seem as though you're only killing your fish when not set up well, you could also be harming your family with carbon dioxide poisoning.

Enjoy, you're in the right place for help.

[artw]

I sort of skimmed that EI article and it seems like he is fertilizing just slightly over what is required and then doing big (50-75%) waterchanges every week... thats essentially what I was doing 2 years ago with my planted tank, and everytime I used test kits the results were always the same. (within range)

[Seanc]

it is dificult at first, i had some problems with it, partly because i didn't do 50% water changes, i wasn't very exact with my measurment, and i didn't fert all the time. now that that has all changed(thanks to BigD) everything is going good, i think one of my plants just put up a flower too! My first flower!! it becomes a breze once you get used to it.

[aidensmomma2000]

just never forget that CO2 is a gas we try to get rid of, and while it may seem as though you're only killing your fish when not set up well, you could also be harming your family with carbon dioxide poisoning.

You know, after losing the entire tank way back when (minus a hardy but now blind raphael) I never considered it would be bad for my family...

[dannypd]

just never forget that CO2 is a gas we try to get rid of, and while it may seem as though you're only killing your fish when not set up well, you could also be harming your family with carbon dioxide poisoning.

Carbon dioxide is technically not a poison, and if its the DIY way of using pop bottles, its generally not a major issue.  Even with "spills" and leaks, the CO2 levels are so miniscule its not an issue.  Unless you live in a overly insulated BASEMENT with high windows, then I would worry about buildup. 

Also, if you DO fit that description, a corbon MONoxide detector will NOT help you.

[artw]

I recall reading an article somewhere a long time ago in a galaxy far far away that had someone release an entire pressurized bottle of Co2 in their apartment and the result was almost undetectable.

[BigDaddy]

In a car... it would be dangerous.  In a decent sized living space its not as critical a concern.

The biggest safety hazard from having a pressurized CO2 canister in your house is having the regulator break off from a fall, resulting in a 10lb rocket shooting through the house.

That's why you are supposed to affix your CO2 with a proper restraint mechanism like a looped chain, etc... which of course we all have done   

[dannypd]

resulting in a 10lb rocket shooting through the house.

Make that 100+lb from the force of acceleration.  Drywall doesn't work as well to stop this.

[aidensmomma2000]

I think Ill pass on all this