If Not Ei Than What?

[max1]

What's the best way to go (least expensive in my case) if you're not using the EI method. The estimative index sounds a little expensive and needs ALOT of maintenance. (You have to be around the house every day)

I have a 10G tank with about 3WPG and DIY CO2 (2x2ltr coke bottle)

Thanks.

 

[garuf]

What's the best way to go (least expensive in my case) if you're not using the EI method. The estimative index sounds a little expensive and needs ALOT of maintenance. (You have to be around the house every day)

I have a 10G tank with about 3WPG and DIY CO2 (2x2ltr coke bottle)

Thanks.

try this link its a different method, I dont know if this will help but itll be somthing interesting to read
http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/PMDD.htm

 

[reggieschuey]

What about pre mixed ferts? like seachem's range or perhaps ADA range, on calculation they are much more expensive than EI method, but a little less hassle. Seachem Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphrous twice a week and twice a week on the Flourish.

 

[BINKSY]

i use the dry trace elemnts mix from Aqua Essentials, i dose every other day if I'm around, as i can be away from home during the week due to work. Also it works out very cheap,
But i still have to prune my stems every week, the lily grows very well too, and have to take off a few leaves each week, the small amazon plant does very well too, although i do have pressurized co2. Heres the link trace mix

 

[SuperColey1]

The EI method is probably the least expensive. I don't know what you've read to make you think it is expensive but at the end of the day all you pay for is the tapwater you chnage every week and cheap substances like KN03, KH2PO4 and K2SO4 of which for example 250g of KN03 will last near enough a year on the average tank.

I premake solutions and yes you do add things everyday but compared to measuring, testing or buying premade ferts it is by far the cheapest and I make solutions up, then put each days solutions into small bottles, so that I can get up in the morning and chuck the contents of a small bottle in the tank then go to work. Takes probably 1 minute to detour to the study, open the cabinet, open the tank flap, shake then open the bottle, pour it in etc.

Andy

 

[mgamer20o0]

nothing says you have to stick by it 100%.... maybe try adding a little more ferts and skipping a day. if they are not getting anything right now just once a week is going to help.

 

[max1]

Wow, you're making me look lazy now, SuperColey! The thing is, I do my water changes with RO water because the water where I live is so hard. I don't have an RO unit so I have to purchase the water. Doing a 50% water change every week seems like alot of water over a year and I only have a poor students budget (the only money I get is my allowance/pocket money, and that's not much believe me )

Also, with EI, is there a possibility of mixing everything into 1 or 2 bottles that will last a while and just dosing a certain amount of solution from the bottle? Now that you point it out, it's true that fertilizing every day isn't that tiresome but I don't want to have to mix up solutions every other day. Pardon me if I sound like a lazy bumb but I have alot of activities (school, music, homework,...)

Personally I liked th Poor Man's Dosing Drops method (thanks garuf). Is that any good?

I'm open to all advice an criticism.

 

[DevUK]

I dose dry EI ferts and its quite straight forwards I dose about 4 times a week at the moment, and basically I measure out my powder using some funky coloured kitchen measure spoons I got cheap on ebay. 1/2 teaspoon of one, 1/8 of another into a pot with a bit of water out of the tank. Lid on, give it a shake and pour it into the tank

Alternatively there is a method which involves dosing these same ferts, but in smaller quantities, and with no CO2 involved etc. It leads to slower plant growth, but given time you get the same results.

Check Tom Barr's fantastic post over here. It might read a bit complex, but essentially its a case of less water changes, less maintenance in general and a little bit of ferts. Sounds good, but read it carefully and understand it At the end of the day, plants are all well and good, but its the fish's health that matters most

 

[JamesC]

Personally I liked th Poor Man's Dosing Drops method (thanks garuf). Is that any good?

I'm glad to hear you like the PMDD method. So far in my setup it is working extremely well with only a very small problem of Green Spot Algae. It only seems to be affecting the old Anubias leaves so it's not of too much concern at the moment. Not a trace of any other types of algae. Plant growth is excellent. I've put an update section on the web page - http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/PMDD.htm

James

 

[SuperColey1]

I don't mix the ferts every other day. lol

I also have hard tap water but I use it.

I do my water change at midnight Saturday night/sunday morning then does th first days macros (NPK) then I mix up 2 more bottles of the NPK for Tuesday and Thursday (Thats the NPK Macros done.)

On Monday, wednesday and Friday I get my bottle of Tropica PN and measure 6ml into a syringe and squirt it in then suck some tank water in and then squirt it out again. Job done

As I say I mix up the large bottle for each solution probs every few months and then once a week measure from the large solutions 2 little daily bottles. The Tropica PN is pre bought which I use for trace and to get the syring draw up 6ml squirt etc takes approx 1 minute then guess what. I rush out to work as per usual.

As a guide I do dosing every morning!

I wake up at 7-55am have a shower, get dressed, dose the tank, get some coinage and keys etc then leave the house @ 8-15am

20 minutes to do this so now you see how long it takes to dose. lol

Andy

 

[DevUK]

I wake up at 7-55am have a shower, get dressed, dose the tank, get some coinage and keys etc then leave the house @ 8-15am

20 minutes to do this so now you see how long it takes to dose. lol

Andy

Man you shower fast I'm 20 mins just in the shower

 

[SuperColey1]

I do everything quickly so the wife says.

Andy

 

[john starkey]

Hi all, i have been dosing the ei method for two weeks now and it takes me 5 mins every other day to add kno3,kh2po4,and k2so4, then i add the trace on the other days which takes seconds, saturday is rest day on sunday i change 50g straight from the tap and add seachem prime this takes 30 mins job done, regards john

 

[plantbrain]

Hard to beat non CO2 tank methods.
Simple, cheap, easy, etc.

Regards,
Tom Barr