With EI why would anyone buy bottled ferts? Does something like Flourish or Tropica plant nutrition have more then a combination of dry ferts? Do those of you who use EI also add liquid ferts such as these? They make claims that they have essential amino acids and vitamins. Does this mean if I only use dry ferts im missing something?

Thanks!

Well, people who make their own beer or grow their own tomatoes ask the same question. Many using commercial products see it as a matter of convenience, i.e. buy a bottle ready to go instead of having to mix up those scary powders.

Others are duped by advertising into thinking that their particular brand has something "special" that you just can't get by using anything else. It's the only thing that could explain why they would be willing to pay such unbelievable prices.

You are not missing anything by using the dry salts, you have complete control and you save a bundle as discussed here Welcome To The UK Aquatic Plant Society - The Estimative Index (EI)

To be fair though, in many cases the dry salts simply are not available in some locations or are difficult to find. Thanks to the Oklahoma City bomber, who I believe used KNO3 in his explosive mixture, KNO3 is now a restricted commodity in many areas of the world even though it's less explosive than gasoline., which you can get anywhere (assuming you can afford it).

Cheers,

thanks, any truth in the "amino acid" portion of the claims?

He used ammonium nitrate, not potassium nitrate, KNO3 is more for gunpowder, model rockets etc.

In small amounts, KNO3 has little issue, in larger amounts, they just take your name and info and ask the use etc, if at all. No one buys more than 50lbs either.

I'm not sure why folks buy brand names, most/many simply do not know how to make the DIY ferts or are scared/uncertain about what it all is about/means etc.

If folks are farmers etc, then it's very obvious.

Regards,
Tom Barr

Oh, OK ammonium nitrate. No worries, I don't want that stuff. My name must be all over Interpol by now though because I was buying massive amounts of KNO3. I always buy 50kg bags after stopping off at the petrol station and getting a few propane filled cylinders...


No need to worry about this. Plants will make their own amino acids using the N, H, O and C that they receive from your dosing dry salts. Good grief, the chelating agent EDTA is an amino acid so it's easy to make that claim which is meaningless.

Cheers,