The Custom Micro Mix Thread

[JayP]

I use glass graduated cylinders for my DIY fert solutions (100,250,500, and 1000mL graduated cylinders) with a stir bar and stir plate, too. Total overkill for most hobbyists, but I like being really accurate!

Dang! Why didn't I think of that. I still have my large erlenmeyer flasks and stir plates from home brewing. Good thing I've been slow at selling off my unused brewing equipment.

 

[Sepp0207]

As far as my tank goes, zinc has caused me the most troubles. Years ago I saw immediate tox symptoms after routine Flourish use, dosing per the instructions. Flourish has a lot of zinc compared to other micros. More recently I kept zinc, boron and copper in individual bottles just to see if I could isolate the problems, and it seemed zinc doses never fixed anything, and the tank did better without it (with SafeTSorb substrate). I also transitioned to a low-tech "kill tank" this year (no CO2, no ferts, lower lighting) and some dormant AR Mini came back to life. Even with 100% RO water, I can never seem to dose the levels of zinc that other people manage to do.

Can you describe the symptoms of zinc tox you saw in your tank? And what is your current dosing regime for zinc?
Thank you.