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Re:Vita-B, Quillwort and increasing KH




Neil Schneider wrote, March 17:
>
>The incredients are basicly the following: Alpha Napthalene Acetic Acid
>(.12%)   >Zinc, expressed as metallic - derived from sulfate (.10%)
>Iron, expressed as
>metallic - derived from sulfate (.10%),   Mangenese, expressed as metallic -
>derived from sulfate (.10%),   Ethylene Dianime Tetraacetic Acid (2.00%),
>Thiamine Hydrachloride - Viatimin B1 (.20%) (some brands don't contain
>vitamin B1).  The bottle I have in front of me is sold under the brand name
>Vita-B, [Neil Schneider]
>

I don't know what the alpha napthalene acetic acid is for, unless it is an
anitfungal or antibacterial agent.   and I don't think that the vitamin B1
is of any use to aquatic plants.  I wouldn't worry about the sulfate.
After all, plants need sulfur, usually absorbed as sulfate, as a
macronutrient.


Glenn McGregor asked about growing quillwort, March 17


I had an Isoetes species for about a year, and it seemed easy to mantain,
but propagating it is not easy.  See the article about native New Zealand
aquatic plants in the current issue of The Aquatic Gardener, Vol. 9, No. 1,
if you can get it.  It includes a discussion of several quillworts.  Erik
Olson used to have this article on the Krib, but I couldn't find it, just
now.


>------------------------------
>Didi Soichin was concerned about the gravel increasing the KH. March 17.


Hardware stores sell "muriatic acid" which is really hydrochloric acid.  It
is, of course, a lot stronger than vinegar.  I suggest that you buy some of
that and soak your suspect gravel in it.  It should remove any limestone
contaminants.  If the gravel is entirely limestone, you will find that out,
also, because it will do a lot of foaming.  There is no way gravel can
increase KH after having been soaked in an acid this strong.  Rinse well!


Paul Krombholz                  Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, MS  39174

I should be grading lab reports and exams!