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Confusion over EI and Water Changes

foxfish said:
Don't we have that sort of information on this forum then?
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Yes, kind of if you search for it. Tom goes into the benefits of each methods and though we have quite a lot on high tech I would say the Barr report has much more on low tech. A lot of the stuff on this forum is still based on the Barr report.

I would say both are really good references why limit yourself to one source of information.
 
Just because I am trying to understand things.

If I fully dosed excel and ferts the tank would be classed high tank and would cause plants to grow faster?
 
EnderUK said:
Generally speaking any form of CO2 be it liquid or gas will grow plants at a faster rate and required more advance methods (high tech) to prevent algae. You'll need more ferts, you'll need more flow and you'll need to do the big water changes.
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This big water changes and ferts is fine. I forgot about the big flow needed, currently I have 1000lph pump in my filter, would I need a new filter or would a power head be enough?

Also, I have noticed Eleocharis sp Mini leaves floating in my tank. There are not many on 2 or 3. I pick them out of the tank and then a few hours later there will be some more. Is this normal? Is it meant to shed its leaves? Or is there a problem in the tank?
 
If your tank is 180litre then flow (filter + power head) needs to be at least 1800litre/hour. If you are using the Juwel internal filter, I suspect you will have flow issues in not being enough and not covering the whole width of the tank.

I have a Juwel Vision 180 with a Jbl1500e filter (1500lph), spray bar across the whole back of the tank as well as the Juwel internal 600lph filer AND a 3000lph power head. I got the power head as I was getting obvious signs of CO2 issues on the end of the tank opposite the filter. So now have power head, on a timer for a couple of hours (on at CO2 time off at 7pm as it hums a bit in the lounge) and the CO2 issue went away.
 
ian_m said:
If your tank is 180litre then flow (filter + power head) needs to be at least 1800litre/hour. If you are using the Juwel internal filter, I suspect you will have flow issues in not being enough and not covering the whole width of the tank.

I have a Juwel Vision 180 with a Jbl1500e filter (1500lph), spray bar across the whole back of the tank as well as the Juwel internal 600lph filer AND a 3000lph power head. I got the power head as I was getting obvious signs of CO2 issues on the end of the tank opposite the filter. So now have power head, on a timer for a couple of hours (on at CO2 time off at 7pm as it hums a bit in the lounge) and the CO2 issue went away.
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Wow thats a lot of flow. I do have the bog standard internal filter + uprated power head.

Don't mind adding a power head for now, rather that than an external filter, I dont really have anywhere to put. Would the power head be best placed on the the opposite side to the internal filter?
 
Kam Sandhu said:
Wow thats a lot of flow.
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That's because I wasn't getting sufficient flow in all the tank, the plants and drop checker told me so. I put a drop checker on left hand side of tank, at bottom and it hardly moved off blue (faded blue ?) compared to nice green elsewhere in the tank.

As you are running with liquid carbon and no so high tech as CO2, and hopefully done something to control light levels, such high flow might not be necessary, however some flow at least all over the tank is required or else plants will suffer. If your filter is on the right hand side like mine, you could try a power head on left hand back in conjunction with directing your filter output both pointing to the front of the tank, to see if you get a circulation pattern.

I did try experimenting making a spray bar across the back of the tank, for the Juwel filter output, using a piece of PVC tube (20/24 pvc tube I think £3, Ebay), but the flow was rubbish as I suspect the Juwel pump is designed to have an unrestricted output. Your experience with 1000lph may be better, worth an experiment.

Here is flow for my JBLe1501.
 
ian_m said:
That's because I wasn't getting sufficient flow in all the tank, the plants and drop checker told me so. I put a drop checker on left hand side of tank, at bottom and it hardly moved off blue (faded blue ?) compared to nice green elsewhere in the tank.

As you are running with liquid carbon and no so high tech as CO2, and hopefully done something to control light levels, such high flow might not be necessary, however some flow at least all over the tank is required or else plants will suffer. If your filter is on the right hand side like mine, you could try a power head on left hand back in conjunction with directing your filter output both pointing to the front of the tank, to see if you get a circulation pattern.

I did try experimenting making a spray bar across the back of the tank, for the Juwel filter output, using a piece of PVC tube (20/24 pvc tube I think £3, Ebay), but the flow was rubbish as I suspect the Juwel pump is designed to have an unrestricted output. Your experience with 1000lph may be better, worth an experiment.

Here is flow for my JBLe1501.
Click to expand...

Wow, some fantastic stuff there. I'm still learning as I go.

My concern is, I am trying to grow Eleocharis sp mini, I know this plant is a bit demanding on light and co2.

I guess a good power head cant do any damage (can it??).

I am about to buy a Hydor Koralia Evolution 3200

And with this (hopefully), if I ever decide to inject CO2, I will have good circulation.

Great info, I've learnt loads from here!! Massive thank you.
 
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