Moving on from PPS Pro

[Epos7]

Hi all. First time poster, but I've been reading for a while. I have two high tech tanks - a 90L and a 90P. Both have been up and running for about 18 months.

I've been auto-dosing daily with PPS Pro, but I haven't had the greatest results. Both tanks seem to consistently suffer from black beard algae, something I haven't been able to control despite my best efforts. Both tanks have 6.5 hours of lights-on time daily. Both are CO2 injected to drop the pH from~6.2 to ~5.2. I use RO water and remineralize with APT Sky.

The tanks are fairly well stocked with fish, so I've been wondering if I need to try to take fish waste into account. I've been using the IFC Fert Calculator, and APT1 seems to reduce nitrates and phosphates compared to APT 3. One thing I noticed about the PPS Pro formula is it keeps Phosphates very low compared to APT 3 and the NilocG formulas. Is that due to PPS Pro being a bit older and from a time when excess phosphates were believed to be a primary cause of algae? I wasn't quite sure what formula would be a good starting point, so I tried to come up with something that would be in between APT 1 and APT 3.

MACROS
500mL distilled water
20g Potassium Nitrate
6.5g Monopotassium Phosphate

• Too much? PPS pro recipe much less phosphate…but APT3 more

25g Potassium Sulfate
30g Potassium Chloride
20g Magnesium Chloride
20g Magnesium Sulfate

MICROS
500mL distilled water
7.5g GLA Micromix
1mL nickel solution (0.9g NISO4, 100mL H2O - not accounted for in IFC calc)

How did I do? Does this seem like a reasonable starting point for tanks with a lot of plants and fish? Plants are a mix of fast-growing stems, slow-growing bucephalandra and anubias, and some stuff in the middle like java ferns, blyxa japonica, etc.

 

[Epos7]

I should add that I have a third tank - low-tech, with the only major difference being it doesn't have CO2 injection. It has a rather powerful light, and a similar mixture of plants. I fertilize it with APT 3 rather than PPS Pro like my high-tech tank. It has virtually no algae issues to speak of. Same RO water, same APT Sky treatment. I even do water changes far less frequently on it than my two high-tech tanks, yet it looks the best. The two main differences are lack of CO2, and different fertilizers.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Welcome to UKAPS,

I've been using the IFC Fert Calculator

I use RO water and remineralize with APT Sky.

You can use the IFC calculator for your remineraliser as well. I'm sure that "APT Sky" is fine, but its an expensive option <"2Hr Aquarist APT SKY">.

and APT1 seems to reduce nitrates and phosphates compared to APT 3. One thing I noticed about the PPS Pro formula is it keeps Phosphates very low compared to APT 3 and the NilocG formulas. Is that due to PPS Pro being a bit older and from a time when excess phosphates were believed to be a primary cause of algae?

I think there was a desire to keep PO4--- low in the original <"PPS Pro recipe"> - <"Perpetual Preservation System - PPS-Pro">.

Have a look at <"Solufeed 2:1:4 and Solufeed Sodium Free TEC or Solufeed Coir TEC Combination">.

cheers Darrel

 

[Epos7]

You can use the IFC calculator for your remineraliser as well. I'm sure that "APT Sky" is fine, but its an expensive option <"2Hr Aquarist APT SKY">.

Yeah, I'll probably take a shot at that once my APT Sky runs out. I bought the big bag, should last for another year I think. One thing I like about APT Sky vs similar products I've tried like Salty Shrimp is the APT Sky is a very fine powder so it dissolves much easier.

Have a look at <"Solufeed 2:1:4 and Solufeed Sodium Free TEC or Solufeed Coir TEC Combination">.

Is there a benefit to using Solufeed over separate salts? I'm in the US unfortunately and it doesn't look like Solufeed is available here.

Thanks!

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Is there a benefit to using Solufeed over separate salts?

Just time and money, it doesn't matter how you supply the <"fourteen essential mineral nutrients for plant growth">, as long as you supply all of them in a plant available form.

I'm in the US unfortunately and it doesn't look like Solufeed is available here.

There maybe an alternative horticultural fertiliser available to you?

cheers Darrel

 

[Epos7]

It sounds like I don't need to worry too much about ratios. Maybe I should just stick with PPS Pro? I already have all the raw salts, so I'm in no hurry to buy anything new. Something I've been doing is not working, so I thought to try different nutrient ratios. I definitely supplying all 14 though.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Maybe I should just stick with PPS Pro? I already have all the raw salts, so I'm in no hurry to buy anything new

Definitely use the salts you've got. You can use the "IFC Aquarium Fertilizer Calculator" or "Rotala Butterfly" calculators to give you any designer mix you like.

I used to make up <"specific nutrient solutions">, but buying <"a horticultural fertiliser"> is a lot less time consuming.

cheers Darrel

 

[Happi]

@Epos7 Below is a list of basic chemicals you can use to create your own mix. These chemicals can also be sourced from other suppliers or websites. When it comes to addressing your plant issues, the solution is more complex than simply eliminating PPS. Anyway, If you'd like, you can also add urea to your fertilizer list.



If you're interested, we can adjust and refine your dosing approach?