Hello,
which could be a bit low in a planted tank, the plants seem to be doing ok.
I´m having between 5 to 10 and it´s more than enough. Of course this always work along the lights and the Co2 and never by itself. Balance!
I am dosing EI & injecting co2 to stable levels.
How are you so shure about it? For instance. I have a CO2 double checker with a 30 PPM reagent on it. And i was thinking that with the normal green being present in the reagent should be more than enough of CO2. But it wasn´t. I notice a pretty good development till the day i increase co2 to upper levels. My reagent is now transparent. Don´t be so shure about that. Don´t forget that Co2 is the Major Macro nutrient. Without him very well adjusted amd K plants will have more difficulty to absorb all other nutrients.
Could I increase potassium nitrate as part of my micro nutrient regime
Potassium nitrate is a Macro nutrient. Not a micro.
Tank is 24" deep 270 litres.
Lighting is 4 Ho tubes with reflectors + a Grobeam 600
Man..impressive.. i could say you want to iluminate a soccer stadium. I believe this is way to much and this is the biggest concern. So much light equal to a lot of energy being prompted to plants! And then if Co2 and nutrients are not so high there you go. Once again : Balance!
But It all also depends on how closer are lights to the water upper level and if it brokes the water at the bottom. You may have 4 times T5 bulbs plus the Grobeam but probably you´ll have to adjust how high this lights should be above the water level till you find balance.
I can suggest you what i did in My tank. I put my lights at 30 cm above the water. I did know then that it wasn´t to much just by regarding how much it iluminates the bottom of the tank.
One Sunday after maintenance (including water change), i download the lights 5 cm (more closer to the water).
And never touch in another parameter (Co2 + Fert) Just bring down the lights.
Nothing occur in the week ahead.
So next Sunday again i bring down the lights more 5 cm. I repeat this procedure till i find some notes of algae. Everyday checking and looking with very attention. The day i find the little notes of algae i knew i cross the limit so i backwards the lights 5 cm above.
And algae disappear.
This is what i did in the first weeks since i start the tank. Only ajusting light and not any other parameter. Now my lights are more closer to water since the tank as 5 months now and i can speed up a little more. (more energy as i mention before) but also as i mention i also increase Co2. Balance!
Could I increase potassium nitrate as part of my micro nutrient regime & by how much? I am currently mixing in 500 ml of water 6 tsp mag sulphate
4 tsp potassium nitrate
1 tsp potassium phosphate adding 50 ml every other day in conjunction with macro dosing 3 X weekly.????
I believe you are all messed up about macros and micros. At least i don´t understand your reasoning. Very sorry but don´t be mad at me.
Let´s see:
Macros are Nitrate Potassium, Potassium Phosphate, Potassium (k) and Mag.
One TSp is more or less 4 grams.
So you´re adding:
24 Mg of Mag.
16 mg of Nitrate Potassium
4 mg of Phosphate
What about K? You miss this one. The most needed. Of course you have parts of K in the Nitrate Potassium and Potassium Phosphate but it isn´t enough.
According to this receipe and those 150 Ml as a weekly target you´re adding to the tank only this:
Kno3 - 11
PO4 - 3.1
K - 8.2
MG - 2.6
Well.. in my point of you this doesn´t look nothing ok..
I suggest you do this receipe:
A all in one mix in a 1000 Ml bottle. Dose 15 Ml. everyday.
You´ll have to adjusted in time. Increase or decrease depending on your observation.
KNO3 - 70 g
K2SO4 - 45g
KH2PO4 - 20g
Traces - 28g
I have to say i´m to skeptical and disbeliver about "Ei", effects on aquariums, and how far it concerns benefits versus price of other nutrients. "EI" for me is a headache.
I stoped using "EI" in my last tank and start using Tropica Specialized and Premium. For the first time never have any algae..
But it´s up to you.
I´m only telling you my own experience on this matter.
Big hug friend.
