EI journal

[iggy01]

Also, can you check your calculation for KNO3?

I get 16 tsp's to give you 0.75 ppm per ML dosed.

It's all a bit strange for me working out stock solutions. I tend to dry dose!

 

[nodding_dino]

iggy...good spot!

I'm not suite sure how I got that wrong...I thought I had checked it a few times!

Just to make doubly sure, I make it 18tsp in 500ml (for a 125l tank) provides .99ppm nitrate per 1ml solution.

 

[nodding_dino]

and 1tsp KH2PO4 in 500ml (for 125l tank) provides 0.05ppm

 

[smithrc]

Also, can you check your calculation for KNO3?

I get 16 tsp's to give you 0.75 ppm per ML dosed.

It's all a bit strange for me working out stock solutions. I tend to dry dose!

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dosen't it depend on the size of the tank?

eg 1ml will raise the tanks dose by 1ppm
but if the tank is bigger 1mm wil only raise 0.75 as there is more water...

 

[houndour]

isn't mg/l and ppm in terms of the sizes we're talking about, pretty much the same?

So 5mg/l is 5ppm, so you want to add another 5ml to 10 ml of KNO3 to get 5 to 10 ppm extra of NO3. But you dont want to dose it all in one go.

 

[iggy01]

No smithrc!

The tank size is taken into consideration when the calculation is worked out. Have you downloaded the calculator?

 

[houndour]

Nodding Dino, I've double checked for you...

If you've added 18 teaspoons KNO3 to 500 ml of water then 1ml of the solution will raise your ppm by 0.99pmm Nitrate.

You say you have a solution of KH2PO4 that gives 0.06ppm of phosphate per 1ml.

Well I get 1 teaspoon in 500ml gives 0.05ppm phosphate per 1ml.

 

[nodding_dino]

agreed on both counts...thanks houndour...! I'm still not sure where things went wrong...just shows you how useful it is to have a few extra pairs of eyes on your calculations (good job I don't mind looking like a numpty )

I'm going to re-make the KNO3 solution...good job I've got so much left in the box!!!

 

[iggy01]

When you get the solution you are happy with. Start slowly and increase nitrate by about 2 mg/l each dose. It will be ok to increase phosphate by 0.1 mg/l each time.

You will probably find you will have to dose more each time, until you get phosphate up to around 1 mg/l and nitrate around 10 mg/l.

Keep an eye on things. Increasing the phosphate level can cause an increase in nitrate uptake.

 

[iggy01]

isn't mg/l and ppm in terms of the sizes we're talking about, pretty much the same?

So 5mg/l is 5ppm, so you want to add another 5ml to 10 ml of KNO3 to get 5 to 10 ppm extra of NO3. But you dont want to dose it all in one go.

[snapback]857210[/snapback]​

Spot on houndour!

 

[smithrc]

No smithrc!

The tank size is taken into consideration when the calculation is worked out. Have you downloaded the calculator?

[snapback]857212[/snapback]​

Calm down

I was just making a suggestion....
I thought you were comparing mixes using the calculator....

 

[iggy01]

Sorry! I didn't mean to come across in an aggressive manner.

I was just wondering if you had downloaded the calculator.

 

[nodding_dino]

right, I've remade the KNO3 solution to provide 0.99ppm per 1ml.

It's late, and I'm about done in, but I think I've come up with a dosing regime...please feel free to comment!

------------------------------------------------

KNO3 Target 10ppm
KNO3 Actual (at reset) 5ppm

KH2PO4 Target 1ppm
KH2PO4 Actual (at reset) 0.5ppm

-------------------------------------------------

Day 1 (water change)
KNO3 1.25ppm (1.25ml solution)
KH2PO4 0.125ppm (2.5ml solution)

Day 2
API Leafzone 5ml

Day 3
KNO3 1.25ppm (1.25ml solution)
KH2PO4 0.125ppm (2.5ml solution)

Day 4
API Leafzone 5ml

Day 5
KNO3 1.25ppm (1.25ml solution)
KH2PO4 0.125ppm (2.5ml solution)

Day 6
API Leafzone 5ml

Day 7
KNO3 1.25ppm (1.25ml solution)
KH2PO4 0.125ppm (2.5ml solution)

-------------------------------------------

four doses per week of KNO3 1.25ppm = 5ppm
four doses per week of KH2PO4 0.125ppm = 0.5ppm

Tapwater level of KNO3 5ppm + added KNO3 5ppm = Target 10ppm
Tapwater level of KH2PO4 0.5ppm + added KH2PO4 0.5ppm = Target 1ppm

--------------------------------------------

API LeafZone suggested dosing 5ml per 40l per week.

3 x 5ml = 15ml (120l - close enough to 125l for me!)

So will dose 5ml on each of the "micro's" days.

--------------------------------------------

thanks to jimboliana for the suggested regime...after the solution hiccup of earlier, I would appreciate any feedback!

 

[iggy01]

nodding dino,

I think your dosing regime is fine.The only thing I would advise would be to increase the amount you dose slightly on each occasion.

For instance if you dosed 1.25 ml KNO3 on Sunday, try dosing 2 or 2.5 ml on Tuesday. Then increase to 3 or 3.5 ml on Thursday. You will need to do this until you are well within the suggested target range for each nutrient. You will then be able to assess how much of any given nutrient your tank is consuming. Your tank could be using 1 - 4 mg/l nitrate per day and 0.2 - 0.6 mg/l phosphate.

With CO2 around the 30 mg/l mark, your plants will be demanding the extra nutrition. It isn't wise IMO to stay below the suggested target range for too long.

Good luck!

 

[nodding_dino]

got it..so by the end of week 1 I'm hitting (there or there abouts) the target level...now I think this has been asked before, but just to clarify, by the end of the week I am now at target...I have raised the levels slowly so as not to upset the fish. On Sunday I am ready to reset...the fish are now used to these increased levels...do I now add enough of the solutions to bring me straight upto the target, and then dose lightly every day to top-up the nutrients used by the plants each day?