Where to get ferts?

[Ormarr]

What is a good place to get all the needed ferts for a planted tank at a reasonable price?

[apuppet]

http://ovas.ca/index.php?topic=18766.0

[Ormarr]

How are ferts best added to a tank?  Scooped in directly or do I have to pre-mix it with water first then add to tank?

[BigDaddy]

I add all my ferts dry... although some suggest pre-mixing trace elements first.

The benefit to dry ferts is the cheap cost.. but it does require you to do your research on what dosages you need.

[charlie]

How are ferts best added to a tank?  Scooped in directly or do I have to pre-mix it with water first then add to tank?

Ormarr, here are some more links that will help .
http://ovas.ca/index.php?topic=17493.0
http://ovas.ca/index.php?topic=17241.0 ( This is a paid subscription , but well worth it for the nominal fee)
Regards

[Ormarr]

Great sites!  Thanks a lot!

I notice on the ferts calculator that they mention potassium, phosphate and magnesium.  How do you test for those in your water? 

[BigDaddy]

You can get a phosphate test kit

K test kits are very expensive... and typically you never really need to test for it unless you are dosing a ton

As far as Mg... if you have a calcium and a GH test kit, you can figure it out... take your calicum ppm and substract your gH ppm.. the rest is mostly Mg

[Jeff1192]

If you want liquid ferts fairly cheap go to petsandponds.com (Charlie put me onto this site). Their Seachem ferts are about 1/3 less than locally. You have to pay $7 shipping so you would probably want to wait until you needed a bunch of stuff or maybe organize a group order. If your order is over $200 there is no shipping cost.

Jeff

[Ormarr]

Theoretically, if I was to buy 500ml of Flourish Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium and Trace, would this be a sufficient line-up of ferts to maintain a healthy planted tank (with pressurized CO2 and 3-4 wpg of light).  How long would these ferts last if dosed properly in a 50g tank?

Thanks.

[charlie]

Theoretically, if I was to buy 500ml of Flourish Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium and Trace, would this be a sufficient line-up of ferts to maintain a healthy planted tank (with pressurized CO2 and 3-4 wpg of light).  How long would these ferts last if dosed properly in a 50g tank?

Thanks.

Save your money & buy the dry ferts , at the most about 30.00 for a 1 year supply.
Regards

[BigDaddy]

You would burn through those liquid ferts in a matter of a month or two with a high light CO2 injected tank.

Each of the dry ferts runs for around $10 for a container that will last at least 6 months to a year.  I've been doing CO2 high light for 2 years and still haven't used my first container of phosphate up.

[Ormarr]

Containers you bought at B & B Hydroponic Gardens?

[BigDaddy]

I have gotten some stuff at B&B and I have gotten stuff at Upper Valley Hydroponics on Antares

[Aquaviewer]

Is Upper Valley Hydroponics still around?  I went by there the other day and the store was empty.

[charlie]

Is Upper Valley Hydroponics still around?  I went by there the other day and the store was empty.

No they are out of business, i now use B&B
regards

[PaleoFishGirl]

Definitely go with the dry ferts, much cheaper, they work great, last forever.  You won't regret it

[Ormarr]

Sweet, thanks for the information everybody.

[BigDaddy]

No they are out of business, i now use B&B
regards

Crap... last time I was there, they had been bought out and under new ownership.  I guess it didn't work out.  I wonder what they did with that large salt tank behind the counter

[charlie]

Crap... last time I was there, they had been bought out and under new ownership.  I guess it didn't work out.  I wonder what they did with that large salt tank behind the counter

That tank blew & he was just replacing it ( don`t think he ever got it up & running) when he closed shop, it was him that suggested B&B.
Regards

[Aquaviewer]

B&B were giving OVAS a discount last time I was in.  One more reason to go with DIY ferts.