EI journal

[George Farmer]

i have to say ever since i started EI i havent had any algae

I second that. EI is the best thing to have happened to the planted scene in a long-time.

There's even less excuses for algae now

 

[nodding_dino]

you going to give us some good news yet houndour...? (I've been hoping your parcel will turn up all day!)

 

[nodding_dino]

I've just added the first dose of KNO3 and KH2PO4 to the tank and it started me thinking...in a few hours time, the lights will turn off...and the plants will (I presume) go into a rest period overnight.

If this is the case, would it be preferential to dose first thing every morning, where the added nutrients can be used up by the plants during the day?

 

[iggy01]

If this is the case, would it be preferential to dose first thing every morning, where the added nutrients can be used up by the plants during the day?

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That's a good question!

I don't think it makes any difference what time of day you dose, as long as you stay within the ranges, but maybe gf or Zig have heard different. I usually dose first thing in the morning before lights come on. It becomes a routine that way. Get out of bed, put kettle on, dose tank etc.

Sorry to hear about your mishap Zig. Like gf said I think your plants will be fine in a few days.

 

[nodding_dino]

thanks iggy...it will be interesting to hear what everyone thinks...!

 

[houndour]

woohoo!!!! yay!!!!!!! one parcel waiting for me

I got worried when I opened it though cos I thought he'd sent the wrong order as I didn't order fertiliser for plants...I got a freebie for being a new customer Will be able to use it in my garden. Did you get that ND?

Anyway, after spilling a lot of RO water all over the floor (it wasn't easy pouring it out of the bag) I've made my solutions. Tested water:

Nitrates 5
phosphate 0.25

So I've put enough to supposedly get to 0.5 phosphate and 7.5ppm nitrate. Will test again in a bit.

good point ND about dosing in the morning. Not sure I'd get time tho already struggle to get up early enough to feed bunnies.

How's your readings going ND? are they getting higher?

 

[houndour]

OK, tested again. It's really hard to tell, but I think there's definitely been an increase in nitrate. it's def between 5 and 10, so that would be right at about 7ish.

Phosphates are harder to tell, but it's definitely darker than before.

I'm not sure what I should be doing now. Can someone help?

 

[nodding_dino]

Hi houndour...I'm so pleased your parcel arrived today!!!!

I must admit I thought they had got the order wrong too...everyone else take note...first order with gardendirect and you get a free gift

Unfortuntely I didn't get a chance to test tonight, so will try before work in the morning...or fail that it will have to be tomorrow night...

I'm not sure what I should be doing now. Can someone help?

I don't think there is much to do now but sit back and admire the lush new plant growth! That said, maybe we should post our test results over the coming days so that anyone attempting this after reading the thread will be able to know what kind of results to expect?

I'm sure some more photos will go down a treat too! I know your all busting to see how the conkers coming along

(I'm so glad we're both finally underway! )

 

[nodding_dino]

OK...time for a brief update! Two days in, so first dose of micro's today. Decided to dose in the morning, and came home from work to see the plants pearling like crazy...I didn't check but you get the impression that virtually every plant in the tank is doing it!

I had to clean a very fine layer of algea off of the front and side glasses tonight, and I notice that a couple of the wisteria leaves look as though they have some algea on them too...I wonder whether this was caused (or at least helped along) by a delay in dosing with high light and CO2. I will keep an eye on things, all being well it won't get much worse!

I took a full series of tests tonight...the height of dullness for many, but if any of you out there are doing this alongside houndour and I (or are thinking of starting this method in the not too distant future) it might be of some interest!

pH 6.9
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5.0
Phosphate 0.5 - 0.75
GH 200ppm (11.2)
KH 130ppm (7.3)
CO2 28ppm

I'm going to up the levels just a touch tomorrow, with the aim of hitting the targets by the end of this weeks cycle.

I will add some more details about how the plants are doing in my 'hand holding' thread so as not to clog this one up with too much 'non Ei' talk!

 

[smithrc]

but if any of you out there are doing this alongside houndour and I (or are thinking of starting this method in the not too distant future) it might be of some interest!

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That'd be me then

I've just had a look at my plants tonight i and I;vegot about 1" growth from most of the plants - and i'd not even EI'ing yet (hurry up postie - my plants are waiting).

 

[houndour]

I took a full series of tests tonight...the height of dullness for many, but if any of you out there are doing this alongside houndour and I (or are thinking of starting this method in the not too distant future) it might be of some interest!

As I was reading this I thought you meant doing the tests was the height of dullness and I thought you were about to say "houndour and I really love doing these tests every day". And I was thinking...noooo they are the worst part of fish keeping.

I dont have a routine. I can't think, I've been going to work early coming home late and I sit at a computer screen all day and I just can't think about how much I need to dose.

I already dosed micros on sunday, so I added macros again today.

I tested PO4 and NO3 before:
PO4: 0.25
NO3: 5

So today I added a bit more of each...
5 ml of KNO3 and
4 ml of KH2PO4

Couldnt be bothered to test PO4 sorry. But I tested NO3..it was prob about 7.

Maybe my solution is wrong?

So if tomorrow I am back at 5ppm for NO3 should I try adding 7-8 ml KNO3?

CO2 is a pain. Canister 2 is due for a change, but canister 1 had less bubbles. So I ended up cheating and putting a bit extra yeast in canister 1 and leaving canister 2. I'm going to change canister 2 tomorrow, but now I can use a proper measuring spoon to measure the yeast...so hopefully it'll be more consistent.

CO2 is testing at approx 20ppm. Not good enough, I know. But plants are still pearling.

I've just had a look at my plants tonight i and I;vegot about 1" growth from most of the plants - and i'd not even EI'ing yet (hurry up postie - my plants are waiting).

I ordered mine the same day as ND but mine arrived 2 'post' days after his.

 

[nodding_dino]

I wouldn't worry *too* much about a routine just yet...I get the impression that the whole process is a little bit like feeling your way in the dark...it's seeing what works in your tank, with your bioload, plant mass, lighting, and water conditions...and on an on!

I think as long as (initially) we continue to work towards the target levels...without going too crazy and affecting the fish, then all is OK...

 

[iggy01]

I dont have a routine. I can't think, I've been going to work early coming home late and I sit at a computer screen all day and I just can't think about how much I need to dose.

I already dosed micros on sunday, so I added macros again today.

I tested PO4 and NO3 before:
PO4: 0.25
NO3: 5

So today I added a bit more of each...
5 ml of KNO3 and
4 ml of KH2PO4

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Hi Houndour,

Ideally with the E.I. you really need to sort out a routine for dosing and stick with it. Jimboliana posted a dosing schedule earlier in the thread that would be ideal. Macros one day, micros the next. This is repeated throughout the week, finishing off with the 50% water change. It is simple to follow once you get used to it, but like I say.....you must stick to it or you will have problems.

Your nitrate appears to have gone up from 5 mg/l to 7 mg/l which is ok for now. If you dosed macros today, you could try dosing a little bit more KNO3 on Friday. You should be dosing micros tomorrow. You also have to take into account that your tank will be consuming a certain amount of NO3 and PO4.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

[nodding_dino]

I forgot to mention, I received (via email) a wealth of information about my local water supply from a Anglia Water 'Drinking Water Standards Assistant'!

There is an absolute mass of info, that I will take and read on the train into work tomorrow. It seems to list everything from aluminium to radioactivity!!!

Will report back once I've read through it all!

 

[houndour]

thanks Iggy. OK...so if I normally dose 8ml of micros (plus 2ml of Fe) a week...shall I go with this then (I'll start the proper regime on Sunday):

Sunday: Water change, add KNO3 and KHPO4

Monday: 1ml Fe, 3 ml micros

Tuesday:KNO3 and KHPO4

Wednesday: 1ml Fe, 3ml micros

Thursday:KNO3 and KHPO4

Friday: (test Fe and dose another 1ml if necessary), 2 ml micros

Saturday: KNO3 and KHPO4

Is that OK for a start? I guess I'll need to keep testing before I can find out how much of KNO3 and KHPO4 I'll be dosing on a regular basis?

ND, I got my water report today and it was exactly the same as on the web. What a complere waste of paper and time. Stupid man on the phone I told him I had already seen the one online.