Well here the math I do to see the economy side of using ADA liquid ferts comparing to other brand liquid ferts commonly available here in Malaysia.

Ferropol 250 ml = RM 29.70 (East Aqua after 10% discount)
Dosing suggested : 5ml/20 liter (weekly)

Hagen Plant Gro Iron Enriched 250 ml = RM13.00 (88Marine, etc)
Dosing suggested : 5ml/35 liter provide 0.3 mg/l iron (weekly)

ADA Brighty Step 2 250 ml = RM 56.20 (some give 5% discount)
Dosing suggested : 1ml/20 liter (suggested 3 times a week)

Each liquid ferts rich with iron and potassium.

Although Ferropol and Hagen suggested the dosing for weekly, they also suggested to increase the dosing in order to maintain enough trace (iron 0.2-0.5 mg/l) based on plants requirements.

So let assume that we dose trace elements 3 times a week (EI) for our heavily planted tank. Also lets assume the tank is 100 liter tank with hight light, heavily planted, CO2 enriched.

Ferropol = 25ml X 3 = 75ml, Cost 75/250 X RM29.70 = RM8.91 per week
Hagen = 15ml X 3 = 45ml, Cost 45/250 X RM13.00 = RM2.34 per week
ADA = 5ml X 3 = 15ml, Cost 15/250 X RM56.20 = RM3.37 per week

You may dose a bit less Ferropol or Hagen since the dosing is for weekly, but the economy side of it still show minor differences in a long run.

So make your own conclusion.

I hope my calculation is correct. Correct me if I am wrong. And I am not promoting anything here, just to show the fact. Just my 2 cents.

Thanks

Thanks for sharing. Your calculations sounds reasonable but at the moment I can get much much more discounts for JBL. There's also another latest Ferropol 24 for one drop per 50L, however, I'm not sure how many MLs are included.

All in all, your calculations seems to show that ADA Brightly Step 2 can last quite a while and cost about rm3 per week of dosage.

Kudos to you for being patient with E. Cinereum because many ppl will just cabut as soon as the plant looks ugly. Now it's rewarding you back as it looks nice on your scape.

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Moss: Singapore, Taiwan, Weeping, Spiky, Erect, Xmas.

Pellia: Coral pellia, Normal pellia, Medium pellia?, Wild mini pellia.

callisto168,
How much do you dose Brighty K daily for your 2.5 ft tank?. Why do you want to skip Step1 to Step2?. How old is your tank anyway? There is a reason why ADA makes this Step series...as for me go slow and steady...don't want any problem later, algae esp.
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Nafish,
I must admit Brighty K is expensive. My tank I put about 3ml. I just skip Step1 for now as it will only be applicable for fast growth for the initial growth stage for new plants. You do not need Step 1 once your tank is about 3-4 weeks old. This is only to speed up for the plant growth. I will be using Step 2 soon. I hope the Brighty K alone with Potassium can enable the plant to suck in more nutrients to fight algae attack. But I am preparing for algae attack sooner ot later. cannot run away. My tank is about 1 month old. Thank you for sharing nafish.

I just started using this Ferropol 24. it's 1 drop per 50L. mine's 100L=2 drops daily. the small eye-drop-size bottle lasts for 10000L (as the packaging said). so the maths is..

10000/50=200 drops per bottle.
200/2 per day=100 days (for my 100L/26G tank)
100 days would be around 3 months...

and it costs rm13+ per bottle after discount = ±rm.013 per day...

since i only just started using ferropol24 (4 days), i'm looking forward on the outcome...

ps: whooaaa... i can do math also lar...!

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-- for man is by nature an artist --

Hi everyone

Am using normal Feropol now. looking forward of the new product.
Anyone know Feropol 24 is the NPK fert or the same fert as Feropol normal?

interesting discussion. why don't you guys post this in a thread that reads Ferropol vs Iron Gro vs Brighty K

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So many aquascapes, so little time...http://www.my-mac.net/forum/

Hi,

Ferropol 24 comes in a 10ml bottle. It contains vital trace elements and other vital substances in adapted form (from www.JBL.de) It is not a macronutrients IMHO.

IMHO, the only difference between Brighty Step1 and Brigthy Step2, is Brighty Step2 have trace elements but rich in iron (extra) while Brigthty Step1 have all balance trace elements. Brighty K only to provide the macronutrient K, but how about the micronutrients (trace elements), suppose to dose this also, IMHO.


If I were you, I will do the calculation a bit difference.

1 drops = 0.075ml (10 drops=0.75ml)
10ml = 10/0.075 = approx 133 drops (although the packaging says can treat 10,000 liter, how many drops you can use is more important, IMHO)

If you were to use 2 drops daily for your 100 liter tank,
133/2 = approx 66 days

Cost per day : RM13/66 = approx RM0.20
Cost per week : (RM13/66) * 6 = RM1.20 ( assuming only 6 days a week you dose, 1 day to 'rehat')

Compare that to ADA ECA, almost the same product function, IMHO, to provide enough chelated iron and other stuff.

Here is my math :

ADA ECA (50ml) = approx RM85.40 (after 5% discount from RM89.90)
If i were to use it for 100 liter tank :-
1 drop for 20 liter (dosing suggested), for 100 liter=5 drops
5 drops X 0.075ml = 0.375ml (1 drop=0.075ml)
15 drops (5 drops X 3 times a week) = 0.375ml X 3 = 1.125ml per week
1 bottle (50ml) = 50/1.125 = approx 44 weeks

Cost per week : RM85.40/44 = approx RM1.90

Conclusion?

Have to agree with standoyo although the title will be something like :
JBL Ferropol vs Hagen Plant Gro Iron Enriched vs ADA Brighty Step 2 (since Brighty K is to provide only macro K, where else the other two is mainly for micro and some K)


Thanks

Enough about the math, here is my CO2 diffusion method for this tank. Have been using it for 3 months now. The result speaks for itself. It is ISTA external CO2 diffuser connected to outlet of canister filter.

A lot of tiny bubble floating around in the tank. Something like a CO2 mist method. Have been using that glass ceramic diffuser, but hey, if one less equipment in the tank I will surely go for it!..

Any of you guys using the same diffuser?

Best Regards

thinking of using one but one thing is it makes priming the eheim's a pain as i have to put the outlet deep into the water unless you have the top up cap add on.
also the flow deteriorates with the filter gettign blocked.

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Primming the eheim never a problem for me. I usually disconnect the outlet pipe from the spraybar (am using the new eheim installation set 2, a lot easier, just unscrew the quick disconnect) and put the end in a bucket. Then let water run through for a while, until the canister is full, then close the eheim quick disconnect valve, connect back the end pipe to the spraybar. Never need to push the primer knob (pump) either. As for the flow deteriorates, also never had any, since the external diffuser is connected to the outlet.

Thanks