Ok, I have my first delivery of dry powders arriving tomorrow, and I want to run a possible dosing regime and recipe past people for feedback.
Introduction: 250l (150cm x 40 x 40) discus tank with medium density planting (it'll grow!), 4 x 54w 120cm T5 plant gro tubes (2 on for 8 hours, 2 for a 3 hour middiay burst), FE CO2 system slowly being increased to 20 ppm (not wanting to go any higher if poss due to the discus.)
As already discussed in another thread, a 50% water change is not feasable so I shall be trying about 15% 3 times a week.
Due to this WC regime I realise I shall have to dose a slightly higher rate of ferts, due to some of the previous dose being removed every couple of days.
Using James' planted tank calculator, I carried out the following maths:
I want to prepare 1000ml solutions at a time, dosing 25 ml per dose of macro and trace solutions. (Keep both the same, keep it easy!)
All the figures below hae been slightly rounded where sensible.
Macro solution (1000ml):
Potassium Nitrate 162 g (27 teaspoons) = 3 x 10ppm doses per week
Potassium Phosphate 29 g (4.5 teaspoons) = 3 x 2ppm doses per week
The above two amounts also provide 3 x 7ppm doses of Potassium per week.
Trace Solution (1000ml):
60g provides correct amounts for 2 x 25ml doses per week.
These solutions would be used in the following regime:
Day 1 15% water change followed by 25ml macro dose.
Day 2 25ml Trace dose.
Day 3 15% water change followed by 25ml macro dose.
Day 4 25ml Trace dose.
Day 5 rest.
Day 6 15% water change followed by 25ml macro dose.
Day 7 rest.
Please can someone who really understands this let me know if this makes any sense at all?!
If it sounds like a reasonable starting point (As I understand that EI is a little bit 'trial and modify') then excellent. If in any respect, I'm not even close, please can I have suggestions! (Please! modifications to the numbers, not a 'do a 50% change' suggestion if at all possible.)
Because I use only rainwater in the tank, my GH and KH are quite low (3.3. and 1.1 degree respectively), So I'm guessing a GH booster would be a good idea. (Presumably this can be made with Magnesium Sulphate and Calcium Sulphate? If so, what are the figures involved?)
Introduction: 250l (150cm x 40 x 40) discus tank with medium density planting (it'll grow!), 4 x 54w 120cm T5 plant gro tubes (2 on for 8 hours, 2 for a 3 hour middiay burst), FE CO2 system slowly being increased to 20 ppm (not wanting to go any higher if poss due to the discus.)
As already discussed in another thread, a 50% water change is not feasable so I shall be trying about 15% 3 times a week.
Due to this WC regime I realise I shall have to dose a slightly higher rate of ferts, due to some of the previous dose being removed every couple of days.
Using James' planted tank calculator, I carried out the following maths:
I want to prepare 1000ml solutions at a time, dosing 25 ml per dose of macro and trace solutions. (Keep both the same, keep it easy!)
All the figures below hae been slightly rounded where sensible.
Macro solution (1000ml):
Potassium Nitrate 162 g (27 teaspoons) = 3 x 10ppm doses per week
Potassium Phosphate 29 g (4.5 teaspoons) = 3 x 2ppm doses per week
The above two amounts also provide 3 x 7ppm doses of Potassium per week.
Trace Solution (1000ml):
60g provides correct amounts for 2 x 25ml doses per week.
These solutions would be used in the following regime:
Day 1 15% water change followed by 25ml macro dose.
Day 2 25ml Trace dose.
Day 3 15% water change followed by 25ml macro dose.
Day 4 25ml Trace dose.
Day 5 rest.
Day 6 15% water change followed by 25ml macro dose.
Day 7 rest.
Please can someone who really understands this let me know if this makes any sense at all?!
If it sounds like a reasonable starting point (As I understand that EI is a little bit 'trial and modify') then excellent. If in any respect, I'm not even close, please can I have suggestions! (Please! modifications to the numbers, not a 'do a 50% change' suggestion if at all possible.)
Because I use only rainwater in the tank, my GH and KH are quite low (3.3. and 1.1 degree respectively), So I'm guessing a GH booster would be a good idea. (Presumably this can be made with Magnesium Sulphate and Calcium Sulphate? If so, what are the figures involved?)