New Setup - Chemistry, CO2 and Fertilizer

[John44]

Hi

Im on the verge of filling and planting my tank and im using TMC AquaGro Nutrasoil Brown, and a Co2 System, based on research the water change regime will be as follows

50% every day for the first week then every other day the second week 3rd week a couple of changes then 50% per week from then on.

Im guessing that the water chenmistry wil be quite changeable initially and then settle down.

I was planning to use a liquid fertilizer and im not sure given the volume of water changes etc how often I should be using it ?

Regards
John

 

[ian_m]

Basically you only really need to change water frequently if you have livestock. The initial ammonia produced at the start is toxic to life stock, but not so much for plants.

The ammonia produced when tanks starts is required to be available to be converted to nitrite then nitrate. Nitrate is a plant fertiliser. So planting straight away is also recommended.

I have cycled tanks (4 week maybe) and did no water changes until I was ready to add fish.

Just keep the lighting low, if you have plants at the start.

Once settled and using CO2 you will need much more liquid fertiliser than the fertiliser manufacturer recommends as well as probably much more water changes (50% once a week) than the fertiliser manufacturer recommends.

 

[John44]

Thanks

John