ADA Green Brighty K

[BenB]

Thinking about my tank, even on vacation. A bit of a random question, but I'm thinking about the diatoms that are back home missing me while I'm away.

With the ADA Substrates/Nutrient system, if my memory is correct, the only thing you dose on a new set up is Brighty K. (Whether that is correct or not isn't the question.... However, )

Is this because aquasoils don't have K so you need to supplement, or do aquasoils initially absorb K like they do PO4 and bicarb so you need extra?

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

You're correct about the ADA method of dosing for new tanks.

My understanding is that aquasoils don't have a lot of K compared to the other nutrients, so supplementing with K is important. The way K interacts with aquatic plants, as well as in the water column with other macros/micros, seems to also be important. K is one of those nutrients that plants simply thrive with when they have it around, usually in a decent ppm concentration (in the wild as well).

 

[BenB]

So you think it is just a deficiency and they don't selectively absorb it like KH.

That's cool. I'm probably dosing enough then, but I might try a small daily supplement like ADA if I still have diatoms when I get home.

 

[Jeff Miotke]

My understanding is that Potassium will loosely bind to aquasoil just like Phosphate, iron and ammonia. Why is the ADA method dosing only Brighty K in the beginning is a good question. i bet @Dennis Wong has looked into this. maybe the more important question is what is Brighty K and why is it $20 for 300ml? And secondly, why are you concluding that the tank has a K deficiency and as a result has diatoms?

 

[BenB]

And secondly, why are you concluding that the tank has a K deficiency and as a result has diatoms?

I haven't concluded anything. I'm just trying to triage possibilities even if unlikely. Note previous post where I said, I'm probably dosing enough then.

 

[Jeff Miotke]

Hah, my bad. The correct word instead of concluding is speculating. IME woth diatoms, getting after them with manual removal is effective. They are easy to get in the water column with some agitation like scrubbing, swishing and rubbing. Then doing as big of a water change that is safe. in my case this is usually 95% because they occur typically before fish. I’ll continue large water changes daily until the diatoms are gone. This is commonly less than a week. Hope that helps.

 

[BenB]

getting after them with manual removal is effective. They are easy to get in the water column with some agitation like scrubbing, swishing and rubbing.

Yeah, when I've had them in the past, they were pretty easy to get off. These are a bit gunky. Manual removal helps though.

Then doing as big of a water change that is safe. in my case this is usually 95% because they occur typically before fish. I’ll continue large water changes daily until the diatoms are gone. This is commonly less than a week. Hope that helps.

I'm trying to, but with a bathroom remodel, water changes are tough.
I had not been doing such large water changes because it seems so disruptive, but maybe that is what I need. I'll try the 95% as soon as I'm not hauling buckets.

I think they were starting to get just a bit better before vacation, but now everything will be out of whack when I get back. We'll see. I was just trying to go through if I had missed a anything.

 

[Jeff Miotke]

Yeah, when I've had them in the past, they were pretty easy to get off. These are a bit gunky. Manual removal helps though.


I'm trying to, but with a bathroom remodel, water changes are tough.
I had not been doing such large water changes because it seems so disruptive, but maybe that is what I need. I'll try the 95% as soon as I'm not hauling buckets.

I think they were starting to get just a bit better before vacation, but now everything will be out of whack when I get back. We'll see. I was just trying to go through if I had missed a anything.

Yea as long as there isnt fish go for it. ill just keep hammering them until its cleared up. As long as you remineralize and fertilize to keep the water parameters the same it has no disruption to the plants. i find it accelerates growth and Ive used it when Im short on time to meet a contest deadline.