To much or not enough

[jonathanj]

just wonted to ask if im dosing my tank enough or dosing to much
Tank was setup 3-4 weeks ago for keeping mostly fish with a few low tech plants
size 60inch 30inch 30inch about 220 gal and 48 by 18/18 sump

iv few tiger lotus that are doing good and got to top of surface already/ corner of Vallis that not really looking that good. Also few Anubias that are good. And 5 cryptocoryne petchii/undulates that had melt/rot problem

im doing The EI dry ferts and mixing the macro/micro in 500ml bottles and dosing 175ml each every 3 days and doing 40-50 percent water change on Sunday
iv also put a Root tab by each plant when planted

Am I dosing to much because looked at few write ups saying this is for Max dosing on High tech tanks and if using on low tech it could be to much ferts and could produce Algae
Also best to use with Co2 or liquid carbon Im not using ether

can I half dose say 1 or 2 times each per week and do smaller water change as have noticed it takes you No 3 nitrates up to 30-50 in my tank and im hoping my fish will be ok

And would you use a carbon liquid as don't really wont to set up a Co2 system just yet

 

[ian_m]

I assume you are dosing on alternate days macro & micro. You mustn't dose at the same time as they will react. The phosphate will react with the micro iron and precipitate out of solution and become non available for the plants. Low phosphate may cause algae, low iron cause yellowing plants.

If you are not using CO2 or liquid carbon (and light levels are suitable reduced) then there is no need for full EI dosing, maybe only 1/4 (or less) levels will be OK. Also lesser need to change so much water so frequently. My mate runs a 120l tank, one T5 tube partially covered, dose EI salts at 1/4 level once or twice a week (or when he remembers) and changes water...when ever. Tank is algae free, plants grow albeit slowly.

Excess ferts does not produce algae. I ran with 350ppm NO3 and 80ppm PO4 for a while, due to a pump timer jamming on. No fish issues, no algae, just a waste of ferts !!!

 

[jonathanj]

Yes macro on mon/wed/Friday and micro on other days So does this EI give your plants the full/complete needs all together so don't have to use extra stuff like iron/potassium and other

And could you not add the Nitrate No3 powder you get with the EI kit if you have good stock of fish in your tank

 

[ian_m]

So does this EI give your plants the full/complete needs all together so don't have to use extra stuff like iron/potassium and other

Yes, no need to dose anything else. EI gives everything a plant needs, in excess so there will be no plant nutrient deficiencies and no need to use test kits, as you know you have enough fertiliser for your plants.

Yes you must dose KNO3 as this is part of the EI requirements.

If you are not using CO2 or liquid carbon and light levels are low, you could maybe if lucky possibly get away without dosing NO3 and relying on fish poo & waste and rotting plants etc. But you will need to guarantee that you nitrate production matches the plant consumption, how you do this I don't know. Or just dose NO3 and be done with it, no worries about NO3 levels. There are no issues with dosing excess NO3.

 

[HiNtZ]

What are the light specs? Wattage, type bulb (T8 or T5, or LED)? depth of tank? photoperiod?

 

[jonathanj]

What are the light specs? Wattage, type bulb (T8 or T5, or LED)? depth of tank? photoperiod?

sorry for late reply must have mist buddy

iv got 2 54watt t5 tubes and a 46 watt fluvel 2.0 plant and fresh led unit on my tank and running for 6-8 hours Tank is 5ft 30-30inch deep