Ch4Rlies First High Tech Planted Tank Atttempt!

[daizeUK]

I bought a 1.5kg bag of Epsom Salts from my local pharmacy I think for £2.99, if I recall correctly.  They also had smaller and larger bag sizes up to 3kg but like you I didn't want to store a 3kg bag!
 
Once you factor in postage costs for all that weight, it is really not cost effective to buy Magnesium Sulphate from online suppliers.
 
Pure Epsom salts are magnesium sulphate.  Check the ingredients on the bag - it should list magnesium sulphate and nothing else.  If it contains anything else like perfume then obviously you can't use it.  Technically it's hydrated magnesium sulphate, the water molecules are what give it the crystalline structure.
 
It's true I put a lot of sulphate in my tank but it is harmless and certainly doesn't smell.

 

[Mamashack]

Thanks daize - if I decide to go EI I'll certainly bear all this in mind!

 

[daizeUK]

I'm doing a quick bit of mental maths here on projected accumulated nitrate levels.
 
Let's take a generous guess and say your plants consume a full 20ppm nitrates per week and your nitrifying bacteria produce 10ppm.  Then add your 40ppm of fertiliser each week with 50% weekly water changes and you're looking at accumulating up to 60ppm nitrate over time.
 
Do you have any nitrates in your tap water?  If your tap contains 20ppm nitrates then that accumulated total in your tank becomes 80ppm.

 

[Ch4rlie]

I'm doing a quick bit of mental maths here on projected accumulated nitrate levels.
 
Let's take a generous guess and say your plants consume a full 20ppm nitrates per week and your nitrifying bacteria produce 10ppm.  Then add your 40ppm of fertiliser each week with 50% weekly water changes and you're looking at accumulating up to 60ppm nitrate over time.
 
Do you have any nitrates in your tap water?  If your tap contains 20ppm nitrates then that accumulated total in your tank becomes 80ppm.

 
Yes, there is nitrate coming form my tap water supply, usually 10 - 20 ppm of nitrate.
 
I have been trying to work out how you came to these figures earlier, and i just cant get it, using online calculators and such as well as manual calculations.
 
And it is actually interesting to note there are many variations of weights to convert to ppm, its very much a minefield for folks like me who are quite good at maths but certainly not on a scientific or academic level ( did do Boolean Algebra and advance mathematic at college but this was 20 odd years ago!!)
 
Since there is no stocking in the tank at the moment, will having nitrates at 80ppm do more harm than good?

 

[daizeUK]

Won't matter if there's no stock.  You could just see how it goes and keep an eye on your nitrate levels.  If they do rise to a level you're unhappy about then you might want to consider a recipe that includes potassium sulphate.
 
I'm considering making a post on how to calculate this stuff, if there is interest.  I dislike the online calculators that tell you to "dose X many teaspoons and don't worry about it".  They try to make it simple for everybody but I'm sure some people would prefer to know what they're putting in their tank.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Won't matter if there's no stock.  You could just see how it goes and keep an eye on your nitrate levels.  If they do rise to a level you're unhappy about then you might want to consider a recipe that includes potassium sulphate.
 
I'm considering making a post on how to calculate this stuff, if there is interest.  I dislike the online calculators that tell you to "dose X many teaspoons and don't worry about it".  They try to make it simple for everybody but I'm sure some people would prefer to know what they're putting in their tank.

 
Good suggestion about the nitrate levels and sulphate, trial and error really i think from here.
 
And yes, a post about calculations would be a godsend for me, and for others as well am sure, who are considering EI dosing and getting bamboozled by these online calculators that does not seem to make sense (well, not for me anyway!)

 

[Mamashack]

I think it would be a good idea too, daize as otherwise I'd have to rely totally on the online calculators if/when I decide to convert.

 

[Ch4rlie]

This little tank is beginning to take up more and more of my time, due to the hair algae growing rampant.
 
So me and the gf were speaking that this tank is taking too much time, and thinking of when the baby comes, am not gonna get much canhece to do half as much as am doing now.
 
The decision has been made to close down this tank and the other 5 gal tank as well and just keeping one 10 gal very low tech tank to keep me amused at least.
 
Sorry guys

 
Have failed at this attempt.
 
There WILL be another attempt at a high tech setup, but on a 90 litre tank next time.
 
Thanks to all who have given support and ideas, I have learned so much from this, so not totally wasted.
 
Much appreciated to all and will take these suggestion to the next tank when I set that up, whenever that may be!

 

[Fishmanic]

you certainly are a perfectionist and I'm sure you will eventually get it right--Keep on Truckin'
 
 

 

[Ch4rlie]

you certainly are a perfectionist and I'm sure you will eventually get it right--Keep on Truckin'

 
Thanks for that FM

 

[daizeUK]

I can understand you Charlie.  It's hard work trying to keep three tanks on the go and I'm feeling exactly the same as you.  My latest tank is the one that suffers because I only have so much time and my other tanks are higher priority.  I missed maintenance on it last week and it looks a mess.  I keep thinking that three tanks are just too much and I should just give up and take it down, but I've decided to try one last thing.  I will give it a good clean tomorrow and hopefully get some shrimp in there this week, since it's been running for ages and it was always intended to be a shrimp tank and it's got no shrimp in it yet .  I'd like to see if the shrimp breed and if they do I'm sure the passion will be reignited, otherwise it'll be back to two tanks for me.
 
Anyway I know you'll succeed eventually.  Having a baby is an exciting time and understandably changes all your priorities!  I'll look forward to your 90L when you get the buzz back!

 

[Mamashack]

Sorry to hear that Ch4rlie, but you know best what you will be able to cope with.
When is your baby due?

 

[Ch4rlie]

Anyway I know you'll succeed eventually.  Having a baby is an exciting time and understandably changes all your priorities!  I'll look forward to your 90L when you get the buzz back!

 

Sorry to hear that Ch4rlie, but you know best what you will be able to cope with.
When is your baby due?

 
Thanks to both of you
 
Baby is due 26th July

 

[Mamashack]

oh lovely!! I'll keep my eyes open for the birth announcement!!

 

[TallTree01]

Awww shame Charlie. I see where you're coming from though. Best of luck to you and the bub.