john6
Member
Can i mix trace mix with macro salts to make one solution rather than have 2 different solutions?
Hi @john6 It really depends on what specific macro components and micro components and chelates you are mixing and in what quantities. In general, it's not a good idea due to interaction and precipitation especially with respect to Fe but other traces as well - hence the general recommendation by many experts here of not dosing macros at the same time as traces/micros, but instead wait 12-24 hours in-between to avoid unwanted interaction.Can i mix trace mix with macro salts to make one solution rather than have 2 different solutions?
Yes, thats exactly what I am doing as well. Front-load all the macros for the week with weekly WC and dose the micros a couple of time per week. Thats it... Rinse-repeat!you can dose macros 7 days worth at water change, and dose micros with the dosing pump daily!
But then you are dosing two solutions, so why not do as EI was developed for, in KISS, Keep It Simple St*pid, and just dose micro and macro on alternate days, then no issues of interactions. Job done.If it is just phosphates (and I've just done a lot of hunting on UKAPS) I'm wondering if we could make an EI mix containing everything but phosphate (and then just dose phosphate as required) without interactions..
OP wants to use a single head dosing pump.But then you are dosing two solutions, so why not do as EI was developed for, in KISS, Keep It Simple St*pid, and just dose micro and macro on alternate days, then no issues of interactions. Job done.
Potassium sorbate is an antimicrobial. It is <"E202">.potassium sorbate do to stabilise the micronutrient chelates in an all-in-one mix? I'm sure they are anti-microbial
It is just to acidify the solution, it could be any acid. @X3NiTH has played about with <"solubilities and differing chelates">.What exactly does the ascorbic acid
Mainly because I work odd shifts away from home a lot for four day stretches. I have one dosing pump and my tap water already contains a reasonable amount of phosphate so I would just let the dosing pump add the rest.But then you are dosing two solutions, so why not do as EI was developed for, in KISS, Keep It Simple St*pid, and just dose micro and macro on alternate days, then no issues of interactions. Job done.
I would warn against acidifying of the chelated elements. The practical stability of the majority of chelates start from PH>4. For lower PH, the chelated metals exist in ionic form which is very fragile when added to a relatively high PH aquarium water (but it will work fine for soils though).It is just to acidify the solution, it could be any acid.