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Sources for PMDD
In an earlier posting, Doug Skokna listed a source for PMDD trace
elements, with 4% Fe (Thanks Doug!) :-)
MICROPLEX
Miller Chemical & Fertilzer Co.
Hanover PA 17331
(717) 632-8921
They have distributors nationwide.
I got a list of hydroponics shops off the net, and called every 800
number listed (about 20) with no luck. Finally, I found the chelated
trace mix with 7% Fe at a Canadian hydroponics shop (it seems to be a
Canadian product only; all the American shops I called carry liquid
trace elements and have never heard of the powdered form, and one in
Arizona tried to tell me that 7% Fe would be toxic). I found it at
Coastal Growers Supply Ltd., Surrey, BC (604) 599-1778. I'll bet
other Canadian shops carry it as well. I got "The List" from
http://www.growroom.com
Some of the U.S. hydroponics shops are, like, really laid back, dude!
(I think I know who their regular customers are!) ;-)
Here are the two formulas, for comparison:
MICROPLEX COASTAL
Fe 4% Fe 7%
Mg 5.4% Mg 0%
Mn 4% Mn 2%
Zn 1.5% Zn 0.4%
Cu 1.5% Cu 0.1%
B 0.5% B 1.3%
Mo 0.1% Mo 0.06%
Co 0.05% Co 0%
Microplex has Mg and Co so it is a little more attractive in that
respect, but Microplex has 4% Fe while Coastal has 7%. Coastal has
less of the other trace elements, except Boron. Increasing the
Microplex dosage to account for the lowered Fe would also increase
the dosage of the other trace elements, which are already higher. I
have no clue what effect this might have.
The other alternative I found was to purchase each trace element
separately, and mix your own. The liquid trace elements that I
commonly found were pretty diluted--the strongest I found was about
0.1% Fe, and most were a type of kelp puree. Great for hydroponics,
but not in MY aquarium ;-)