Yamato Green Technical Specifications

Technical Specifications

Freshwater aquarium plants require regular feeding with nutrients to maintain lush, healthy growth. Nutrients are classified as Macronutrients (plants use a lot of them), and Micronutrients (used in smaller quantities). Macronutrients include Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), Sulfur (S), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), and Potassium (K). Micronutrients include Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Molybdenum (Mo), Cobalt (Co) and Boron (B). Some of these minerals are naturally present in most water, but rarely in the quantities required by plants. Municipal water treatment plants aggressively remove Potassium, for example, and it must be replaced in the aquarium to assure an adequate supply for plants to use as they consume other nutrients. Plants cannot use Phosphorus directly, but must use it in the form of Phosphates. Most fish food contains plenty of Phosphates, so the Phosphate needs of plants are usually met by the fish's waste materials. Excess Phosphate can stimulate unwanted algae growth, so phosphates are omitted from Yamato Green. The nutrients included in Yamato Green include all the ones commonly absent or in short supply from municipal water. Within reason, plants can store away excess nutrients for "a rainy day." For example, chronically iron-starved plants may consume all the chelated iron found in Yamato Green within 1-2 days. Eventually, the plant will become sated, and its iron consumption may fall off. Generally speaking, it is a good idea to monitor your iron levels weekly. The first 3-4 weeks of regular use of Yamato Green may show large amounts of iron consumption. However, the plants may then consume less, requiring smaller doses of Yamato Green.

ALGAE EATING SHRIMP: A relatively new addition to many planted aquaria are freshwater algae eating shrimp. These shrimp are sensitive to copper levels, and can be damaged or killed by excessive copper. Yamato Green is carefully formulated to provide all the copper your plants need, yet remains safe for shrimp and other invertebrates. Some products contain as much as 4 times more copper! If you keep algae eating shrimp in your aquarium, your safest choice is Yamato Green!

The following is a weight/weight analysis of the minerals and nutrients found in Yamato Green:
Chelated Fe 0.1%, S 0.65%, Mg 0.4%, Mn 0.005%, K 0.8%, B 0.004%, Zn 0.005%, Cl 0.7%, Cu 0.0015%, Vitamins essential to plant growth, HCl (to prevent unwanted mold growth and to adjust pH), Molybdenum, and traces of minor elements which may or may not be consumed by plants, such as Selenium.

Yamato Green-K Potassium Supplement

Potassium is removed at the municipal water treatment plant, and is usually quite deficient in most planted aquariums. Potassium is essential to allow the plant to feed on other nutrients. Insufficient Potassium levels may prevent proper absorption of iron or other minerals. Yamato Green-K Potassium Supplement adds missing Potassium to aquarium water. 2 teaspoons (10ml) of Yamato Green-K will increase the Potassium level in a 25 gallon aquarium by 10 mg/L. It is not necessary to use Yamato Green-K in an aquarium where you are also regularly using Yamato Green. However, Yamato Green-K may be useful in aquariums using certain other brands of supplements where Potassium is deficient.

Yamato Green-N

Plants consume nitrogen. In fact, it is the single largest element required by plants. Most modestly planted tanks carrying modest fish loads can obtain all their nitrate needs from the ammonia waste of fish. However, heavily planted tanks (or those with abundant and rapid plant growth) may deplete their nitrogen supplies faster than it can be provided by fish. Also, some aquarists prefer to maintain fish-free planted tanks. Plants in these tanks will require supplemental nitrogen. Yamato Green-N contains all the nutrients as found in regular Yamato Green, but with the addition of Nitrogen in a readily consumable form. How do you know if you need Yamato Green-N? Test your aquarium water for nitrates. If nitrates consistently average less than 10 ppm (10 mg/L), then your plants are attempting to survive in a nitrogen-poor environment. This will usually manifest itself as green plants turning red. Nitrogen-starved plants will not grow properly, and may appear to be stalled in their growth. Yamato Green-N was designed for these heavily planted tanks that may require extra nitrogen. Nutrients are similar to Yamato Green, except for the addition of 1.5% (w/w) Nitrogen. Dosing is identical to Yamato Green, only now your stunted, reddish-brown plants should green back up and start to grow again. Yamato Green-N is not recommended for tanks with average or heavy fish loads. Let your nitrate tests be your guide.

Dosing, storage and usage

Regular weekly dosing of Yamato Green, Yamato Green-N or Yamato Green-K gives the best assurance of plant success. Dosage may vary with plant growth, and may need to be adjusted up or down as the plants grow. Initial suggested dose: 1 teaspoon (5 ml) Yamato Green or Yamato Green-N per 10 gallons of water. Then, 1/4 to 1/2 tsp per week thereafter. Suggested method: add Yamato Green or Yamato Green-N to a quart of water, then add the diluted solution to the aquarium. Due to the sudden influx of iron and minerals, a slight haze or precipitate may or may not form immediately after adding Yamato Green or Yamato Green-N. This is normal, and will dissipate quickly. It is not harmful to fish in any way. Regular monitoring of iron levels will be helpful to adjust dosing to maintain iron levels between 0.1 mg/L and 1.0 mg/L. Another method is to watch your plants: if they show signs of yellowing, increase your weekly dose of Yamato Green. If plants begin to assume an unwanted coppery or reddish tint, you may wish to test your nitrate levels and switch to Yamato Green-N. If unwanted algae begins to appear on the glass, decrease the weekly dose of Yamato Green or Yamato Green-N.

Regular water changes are strongly recommended to maintain the health of your aquarium! A weekly water change of at least 10% of the water will ensure that no waste byproducts build to unhealthy levels. A tip: waste aquarium water makes great water to use with houseplants!

Yamato Green may also be used as a wonderful houseplant fertilizer. Add 1 teaspoon of Yamato Green to 1 or 2 quarts of water, and use this solution to water your houseplants to stimulate lush, green growth and to help produce prize-winning plants!

Storage: Store in a cool place. Yamato Green products have been pH adjusted to retard growth of mold. We do not add any other chemicals to inhibit mold growth because many such chemicals (e.g., Copper Sulfate) are harmful to fish. Storage under refrigeration may lengthen storage life. A slight precipitate may form. This is not harmful in any way, and does not detract from nutrient qualities of product. Any precipitate should be dissolved in minutes after addition to aquarium. SHAKE WELL before using.

Legal stuff: As with any aquarium additive, Yamato Green products are not formulated for human consumption. Do not drink or swallow. Do not splash in your eyes, nor pour in your coffee (hey, our lawyers make us say stupid things like this), nor use for any purpose other than an ornamental aquarium plant supplement. For use with ornamental aquariums and ornamental fish only. Keep out of the reach of children. We reserve the right to change, modify or improve the formulation of our product at any time, and to modify packaging or labeling without prior notice to consumer, and without any obligation to replace older product.

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Yamato Green Yamato Green-K Yamato Green-N

Technical Specifications

Yamato Green
Yamato Green-K
Yamato Green-N