EI journal

George Farmer · Jul 30, 2005

Great. You may be interested in my mixtures as we have the same water volume.

KNO3 - 100g in 500ml RO water. Every 1ml solution adds 1ppm NO3. I add 5ml solution (5ppm NO3) every other day.

KH2PO4 - 5g (level teaspoon) in 500ml RO water. Every 1ml solution add 0.06ppm PO4. I add 5ml (0.3ppm) solution every other day.

Obviously these are relevant to my lighting levels, CO2, plants etc. so you may require more or less dosing. It's a case of trial and error until you reach the desired regime. Testing regularly is important but don't put too much emphasis on exact figures, kits aren't too accurate. Once you get a "feeling" for what your plants need you won't need to test much at all.

One more point is to add the solutions gradually i.e. don't dose 20ppm nitrate in one go, you'll harm the fish. Increase levels by 1 or 2ppm per day.

nodding_dino · Jul 30, 2005

nodding_dino said:
KNO3 16tsp (100.8g) = 0.99ppm
KH2PO4 2tsp (9.6g) = 0.1ppm

So I got pretty much the same as you for KNO3 and had worked out a double strength solution of KH2PO4 when compared to your figures. Do you think a .06 solution would be safer to dose?

I guess we probably have about the same WPG and CO2 levels...?

George Farmer · Jul 30, 2005

nodding_dino said:
Do you think a .06 solution would be safer to dose?

I guess we probably have about the same WPG and CO2 levels...?

[snapback]855977[/snapback]

It depends on what solution quantity you intend dosing - a 5ml solution at your concentration will give 0.5ppm PO4. I consider that a little high in one go but it may be fine. I don't need to dose as much because my tap water is 5ppm PO4.

We have similar lighting although I have a total of 72W (4 x 18W) whereas you have 86W (2 x 18W and 2 x 25W). I imagine you have a higher plant bio-mass too so we can assume that you will need to dose higher levels than me.

houndour · Jul 30, 2005

my order from GardenDirect has just arrived!

oh

mine hasn't

I'm going to have to wait till monday

did you have to sign for it? If I have to sign I'll probably have to wait till tuesday

otherwise postie will leave it in the recycle box.

I've not got much to report today. Plants are bubbling away nicely

yet to test CO2 tonight. Tomorrow is water change day. And hopefully I'll get time to get RO water. Still havent managed to get measuring spoons

couldnt find cheapy plastic ones today, only posh stainless steel ones in Cargo. Need to wait till I'm back at work so I can get to pound shop. Did get 2 500ml bottles of water though

yay.

ND have you started dosing?

nodding_dino · Jul 30, 2005

I didn't have to sign for the parcel...in fact it was a bit odd...just some old fella in a motor turned up, dropped them off and went :blink:

Not sure if it's of any use, but I got the measuring spoons from Asda they cost about £1.50

I haven't started dosing yet...I'm going to make up the solutions tonight and start after tomorrows water change. Just out of curiosity I'm going to do a full set of tests before and after the water change to see how the levels change.

The plants have been pearling all day here too...I've taken a few quick snaps which I'll post a little later (not so much of the pearling but the tank in general, so I have something to compare it to in a few weeks time!)

houndour · Jul 30, 2005

I didn't have to sign for the parcel...in fact it was a bit odd...just some old fella in a motor turned up, dropped them off and went

That is a bit odd :lol:

Not sure if it's of any use, but I got the measuring spoons from Asda they cost about £1.50

Don't have an Asda where I live. Bracknell is my best bet...full of cheap shops. Talking of shops and stuff... I just have to bring this up and its totally off topic...I was in Slough today and they have a new Tesco that opens Monday...it's HUGE! 2 storys and an underground carpark...absolutely insane. You have to see it to believe it. It's right next door to the famous Brunel roundabout.

I haven't started dosing yet...I'm going to make up the solutions tonight and start after tomorrows water change. Just out of curiosity I'm going to do a full set of tests before and after the water change to see how the levels change.

Yeah me too. I think I might be a bit paranoid about over dosing, so I'll prob check every day for a week....as much as I hate testing. Its worse than doing water changes.

nodding_dino · Jul 30, 2005

well, the solutions are done - despite the missus making taking the mickey

(school chemistry lesson my ar*e :huh:

)

Houdour, label the bottles up *before* you put the solutions in....they both look like plain water once made up (I'm not sure what I was expecting them to look like!!! :lol:

)

So I'm all set for tomorrow...I think Zig is still away, in his absence anyone fancy helping me out with a suggested dosing regime?

houndour · Jul 30, 2005

Houdour, label the bottles up *before* you put the solutions in....they both look like plain water once made up (I'm not sure what I was expecting them to look like!!! )

ok

I've just taken some piccies. You reminded my nd...cos I wanted to take them before I do my weekly algae clean tomorrow.

First pic, full tank shot:

houndour · Jul 30, 2005

Java Moss:

houndour · Jul 30, 2005

some plants I dont know the name off, but they never do well....just get the black furry algae all the time

And look at the algae on the glass

yuk.

houndour · Jul 30, 2005

swords - this pic looks better than they actually do. They all have a fine furry coat of algae and some a bit of black brush. And you can see some holes in the photos

houndour · Jul 30, 2005

riccia

houndour · Jul 30, 2005

So I'm all set for tomorrow...I think Zig is still away, in his absence anyone fancy helping me out with a suggested dosing regime?

not really but gf said to GRADUALLY increase readings. So measure you Nitrates and phosphates. Decide where you want them to be. And work out how much to add on a daily basis so that you gradually get to what you want them to be? I think

jimboliana · Jul 30, 2005

This may help

Macros and Micros should never be dose together. Some of the nutrients react to each other and precipate out of the water, therefor making them useless.

Dont know if you knew that, i didn't anyway

Day 1: Water change
KNO3 and KH2PO4

Day 2: Mircos with daily ferts

Day 3: KNO3 and KH2PO4

Day 4: same as day 2

Day 5: same as day 3

Day 6: same as day 2

Day 7: same as day 3

I hope this helps in some way, i'm sure someone will tell you different if i'm wrong

nodding_dino · Jul 30, 2005

You have such a fantastic looking tank houndour! The pictures are great, I especially like the riccia with the Gourami!

thanks for the tips jimboliana, I'll take some measurements first thing tomorrow and everyone can help me decide the appropariate dosages!

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