DIY micronutrients
I have been experimenting with do it yourself micronutrients.
I obtained some hydrochloric acid from Lowes and use it to make ferric chloride, zinc chloride, etc. I obtained some sulfuric acid from a battery company and use it to make ferric sulfate, zinc sulfate, etc. And, of course, only a minimum of acid should be used to effectively dissolve the metal(s.) After the metal is dissolved in the acid, it is important to neutralize the solution to near 7.0 ph; this can be done with calcium hydroxide (cooking lime, or a like base--in a pinch, sodium bicarbonate can be used, or baking soda.) I also have some irons which have molybdenum and cobalt/boron. Some of these have to be cut with a diamond saw; unfortunately, there is no way to determine the exact percentage of the alloys present with the iron. A good source to pick up metals for making your own micronutrients are salvage yards ... Anyone else avoiding the high cost of micros and using a similar system or have any data on homemade micros? Regards, JS |
DIY micronutrients
John Smith wrote:
... Anyone else avoiding the high cost of micros and using a similar system or have any data on homemade micros? Regards, JS Forgot to mention, a readily available source for zinc it the can off a plain carbon battery (don't use alkaline.) It is composed of zinc. You simply need to dismantle the battery and remove the can which holds the batteries materials. Cutting the battery in half, longways, then scraping out the contents and scrubbing the can clean, before dissolving in the acid ... Regards, JS |
DIY micronutrients
Hi
I'm from Singapore and we have a local lab here which formulates decent-priced macro and micro nutrients for aquariums. Their website is http://www.singaporehydroponics.com and their products are commonly found in our local aquarium stockists. I'm not sure if they ship worldwide but you could give them a try. The products I'm using now are LushGro Aqua (dosed after weekly partial water changes) and LushGro Micros (dosed daily). My plants are growing superbly and I've been using these cheap alternatives (as compared to SeaChem supplements) since 2003. Regards |
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