Trace Element PPM

A

Aries

"Umm...., what is that!!??"
Jan 19, 2003
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I know there are not tests for these trace elements (at least that I know of that are fairly cheap) but I was curious what the target PPM for the following trace elements? These are part of my TMG fertilizer and I want to know if I might overdose these. If target is say .5ppm and I am adding 1ppm, obviously I am overdosing. I am trying to avoid this situation.

Sulfur
Boron
Copper
Manganese
Molybdenum
Zinc

Second question - is it possible to overdose trace elements??

Last question - are Rubidium, Nickel and Vandium necessary to have as trace elements??? These are not part of TMG but Flourish Trace.

Thanks

:confused:
Aries
 
I'm not sure what you mean when you say you are adding "1ppm". Can you explain this?
Over-doing any element can cause problems. Some of them can build up to harmful levels if allowed. An excellent example of this is Copper.
This is why weekly water changes are highly recommended for all tanks, but especially for those of us that dose higher levels of Macros and Micros than will sometimes be used during the course of the week. When you perform a 30 - 50% water change, you in effect re-set the tank in most cases and can begin the dosing cycle for the week to follow.
I have not used TMG but did use Flourish (not Flourish Trace....there is a difference) for years and now use Plantex+B and am very happy with that product. I dose a ton of Trace all during the week, but never miss a large, weekly water change.

Len
 
What I mean by 1ppm. Say the recommended ppm for XYZ element is 0.5ppm. I then create a solution that will raise the ppm in my 30g tank to 1.0ppm. This would be bad (in my opinion unless good things happen to the plants)

I do 40-50% water changes weekly - very religiously. I use my own concoction of N-P-K so I need the trace elements - which is why I do not use Flourish, but Flourish Trace.

I am figuring out where a maximum baseline should be to make sure I never cross it.

My regiment is:

Thursday Evening Water Change - about 2 hours before nights out bc that is when I can get to it.
Friday Dose NPK + Trace in morning before lights up.
Saturday nothing
Sunday Dose Trace in morning before lights up
Monday nothing
Tuesday Dose Trace in morning before lights up
Wednesday nothing

Repeat

Throuogh out this regiment N and P amounts are within stable acceptable parameters (no test for K). Pearling is minimum - which I like so growth is not too fast - but does exist.

Does this make sense??

Aries
 
First of all Flourish Trace is a watered down version of Flourish. Check the labels.
For a good baseline starting point I suggest you go here:
www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/articles.htm
Download Chuck's desktop calculator. It will give you the starting points for your individual Macros (NPK) as well as Mg. You can tweak dosages from there.
I have found it easier and more precise to tweak dosages if I dose the elements dry.
This makes it easy to stay within the accepted guidelines for your Macros. Mixing up PMDD can become confusing because you can't add or subtract elements when you're dosing a pre-mix. This makes it more difficult to figure out what the limiting factor is.
Over time, after learning your tank's needs you can go with a PMDD type solution.
Does that make sense?

Len
 
Actually, from what I read, Flourish contains NPK while Trace does not. I need not to double add NPK (bad things will haunt me once again).

I already use Chuck calculator for my Macros - makes life MUCH easier - by a lot.

I am starting to create the PMDD type - learning what limiting factors are - but I am in the begining of this long process. I like the idea of pre-mixing though. I am confident enough to know how much ppm is in my pre-mixed solution and how much I need to add in mL to increase my 30G to XYZ ppm. However, I will make not that I premix individual components so it is like liquid PMDD. Besides, I have an Excel spreadsheet that logs and calculates my ppm in the solution and in the tank. This way I can increase|decrease mL to gain what I need.

I am guessing there are no general ppm guidlines for trace elements??? Just looking for deficiencies?

Thanks

Aries
 
In fact, I have always ignored the Macros contained in Flourish. I would not waste my money on Flourish Trace, but hey, that's just me.....:)
In any event, one can get a bit over the top when dissecting this dosing business. I have always dosed NPK as directed and mixed the traces as instructed on the bottle or bag. It's really not all that critical.
I think the relationship between the big three is the most important aspect.

Len
 
I've added about 200mls of flourish to 35 gallon tank with no negative plant nor shrimp/fish issues.

The water was brown, but the critters and plants where fine.
I've added about 50mls of TMG to the same tank etc and the same result.

I think it'd be tough to over do it.

Regards,
Tom Barr
 
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