Npk 20-20-20

[benleeph]

In my country, KNO3 and potassium phosphate were sold in big bags of 25kg and that would be costly to buy just to use a portion for the tank.

Could I replaced it with powder fert of NPK 20-20-20? Any different?

[Snivi]

In my country, KNO3 and potassium phosphate were sold in big bags of 25kg and that would be costly to buy just to use a portion for the tank.

Could I replaced it with powder fert of NPK 20-20-20? Any different?

Somme powder fert contain nh4+ so chose a good one

[Biollante]

Hi,

Maybe, possibly, it depends.

Can you get the label, scanned or really good photo, perhaps a company website?

Where are you?

• NPK 20-20-20 can mean many different things.
  
  • In North America for instance it means 20% N, 8.8% P and 16.6% K, in most cases.
  
  
• By telling us, where you live there may be others that have an answer already.

Next, is the problem Snivi eludes too, how is it made?

Is this some regional formulation that may by law require certain additives, metals are the worst.

How patient are you?

• Even some of the worst fertilizers can be made usable with some work as long as they do not contain pesticides or metals.

Biollante

[PapstBenediktXVI]

Hi there

if you google "ferts aquarium" the first page ships internationally for 18 $. Fortunatly the dollar is a bit weak at the moment so if you live in a country with a strong currency this might actually be a very cheap option.
As for me, in Austria, this would've actuallly been cheaper than ordering it from a german online store, since the ferts are kinda cheap too. (never ordered though)

I really hope this is not considered as advertisement, I really am in no way connected to this site; too dumb for that either

It's just an option to consider if you can't get it locally in smart quantities; though its bad for the environment

cheers
papst

edit: just came to my mind: just because they don't sell it under 25kgs doesn't mean that they won't sell it to you in smaller quantities. My former chemistry teacher used to need lots of costly chemicals in small quantities.

In cases like yours he usually just contacts the producers with unbearable consistency and visits the companie's sites in person, trying to talk the managers into giving the chemicals to him. He ALWAYS gets what he wants -even for free sometimes- though he is banned from lots of companie's properties. You could try that out and be extremely annoying. Maybe pretend to teach chemistry too

[benleeph]

I am from Malaysia.
The NPK and trace were from these companies. Pictures attached.

The NPK does not state the compound used.

Potassium nitrate could be used to make explosive but in my country it is not banned. However it was sold in 25kg as minimum order. I am not sure if I want you buy so much KNO3.

Please advise.

Sent from my HTC Android

[Tom Barr]

You can buy the KNO3, and the others also in 25Kg, then sell 500 gram amounts to other hobbyists in your country. Or make and sell liquids etc.
Look at it as business investment

[Biollante]

Hi,

I agree with Tom Barr, sell it…

Based on the photos, I cannot be sure, but it appears the metals are rather high, likely formulated for local soil conditions.

I cannot see the source derived, almost certainly urea or some such, that will result in high total ammonia.

Biollante

[benleeph]

So, I just discard this NPK 20-20-20 and get KNO3.

KH2PO4 is harder to find here. Any alternative for me?

I still can't find MgSO4 but MgS is available.

As for the trace, can my present pack can be used?

Sent from my HTC Android

[Biollante]

Hi,

Magnesium sulfate is usually available as the heptahydrate called Epsom salts, MgSO₄•7H₂O.

Epsom salt is (should be) available, at least in Kuala Lumpur at Tesco or Giant supermarkets. If not I am pretty sure you can order it online.

I would not use Magnesium sulfide, MgS, though it seems it should end up being Magnesium sulfate, I am not smart enough to understand why MgS would be available.

Magnesium sulfide is dangerous if kept in a damp environment (my recollection of Malaysia) as it gives off Hydrogen sulfide.

If you add MgS to water, you end up with Hydrogen sulfide, H₂S (rotten egg smell) and Magnesium hydroxide, Mg(OH)₂ (milk of Magnesia), which is insoluble.

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Use Fleet Enema for phosphate; it is (or should be) readily available in Malaysia.

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Based on what I can see, a better picture or a scan of picture #4 would help, but I think you should be able to use the trace. The Copper is the thing that seems high, but used carefully, it should not be a problem.

Biollante

[benleeph]

Thanks Biollante. I retake the picture for clearer view. You mentioned that I should use the trace carefully and I take it that I should not overdose, am I right?

I will hunt for epsom salt. As for phosphate, I presume that Fleet enema is the brand. Any idea where to get it?

Btw, I found another trace element of only iron 13.2%. Should I add that in for extra iron? Does it help since the trace I am using has 4% iron.

Sent from my HTC Android