A Question About Ei....

[Fwapp]

I read through the pinned EI article at the top, and I 'm set to undertake this routine, once I completely remodel my tank (just waiting on substrate at the moment.) I understand that I will need to dose KH2PO4 and K2SO4, but considering my tap water and tank NO3 readings (40ppm/100ppm) I'm pretty sure that I don't need to dose KNO3 at all. Am I correct?

If I am correct in this assumption will I need to dose extra K, from a different source, to make up for not dosing KNO3?

The tank levels for NO3 are going to decrease, as I am reducing stock levels and start mixing in RO water during water changes, in a bid to reduce levels. Hopefully, once the plants start gorging, the NO3 levels will start to drop, allowing me to lay off the RO.

As an aside, I've been really inspired by the tank journals that people have posted, and I'm very impressed with the extremely friendly, helpful nature of people on this forum, and TFF as a whole!

 

[Themuleous]

Glad to hear you're another planted tank enthusiast! Be warned its addictive! I would definitely get the tank NO3 down, 100ppm is very high, although its very hard to tell at those sorts of levels isn't it? But using RO to bring it down is a good idea And no you don't need to dose KNO3 at the tank levels you've got, try to bring it down to around 20ppm if you can.

And you shouldn't need to dose extra K to make it, you'll probably find there is plenty in the KH2PO4. Also, isn't that why you're dosing the K2SO4? That should add more K as well. The plants will tell you if they are not getting enough K.

Keep us updated on progress

Sam

PS - glad you like the forum, it what got me into planted tanks

 

[Fwapp]

Thanks for the reply!

I grabbed a PO4 test kit today, and after a 50% water change, the tank was showing 0.5ppm. I would hazard a guess that when I test later in the week, this will have dropped off to 0, which probably explains why my swords are the only plants that pearl, and then only after a water change!

Just need to embezzle a bit more from the joint account, and I can make a proper start!

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Your nitrates are very high, what test kit are you using and how old is it?

 

[Fwapp]

The test kit is a Hagen one, part of it's master kit. I must admit that I find the scale difficult to interpret, and would prefer one similar to the interpet GH/KH kit, where you count drops to change from one colour to the other.

The kit is 10 months old.

Do you, or anyone, have a recommendation for an easier to use, consistent Nitrate testing kit?

 

[George Farmer]

What lighting, CO2, substrate, plants and planting density do you have?

Are you sure you need regular fertilisation like EI?

 

[Fwapp]

Lighting is 45W total, (25W Hagen PowerGlo, 20W Flora-Glo) 1.8 WPG, Co2 is a Nutrafin yeast kit, Substrate is currently pea gravel, but changing to cacti compost and sand at the weekend.

Plants are Several Amazon swords, 2 Vallis. Spiralis (and increasing...), 2 Cryptocorynes sp. 2 Aponogetone sp,and 1 Ludwigia Rosaefolia. I'll be increasing the plant load and thinning out what I have, during the change this weekend.

pH 7.0, KH 5, PO4 0.5, NO3 high.

I originally moved to real plants as a way to try a combat high Nitrate levels, but having seen the beautiful tanks on this forum, I've bit by bit started converting my tank to a planted tank, proper. Next week should see another Nutrafin kit and improved lighting being installed.


My aim is to have tank that is pleasing to my eyes, creates a habitat that keeps my fish happy and keeps me happy!

The question regarding EI leaves me a little confused. EI is being proclaimed as the best way to get consistent, lush plant growth, which most people would like, I guess. I was recommended it in my first post here, and after researching it and thinking it through, why would I not?

Oh, and not to be a suck up, but your tank journal was '3 cups of coffee and a packet of chocolate digestives' absorbing. I look forward very much to the next tank!

 

[George Farmer]

Oh, and not to be a suck up, but your tank journal was '3 cups of coffee and a packet of chocolate digestives' absorbing. I look forward very much to the next tank!

Thanks.

 

[plantbrain]

Do about 1/2 EI dosing, same frequency, but 1/2 as much.
Maybe 2x a week instead of 3 also.

Your tap in Merry old England is often high in PO4 and NO3, so water changes alone weekly can add quite a bit of nutrients, many German and Dutch tap waters are also loaded.

We have some very pure water here and had to add specific things, this lead to a better understanding of what to add.

But the general advice in Euroope, add Traces, K+ and Mg and then CO2 is generally good when combined with good sized 50% etc water changes weekly.

Regards,
Tom Barr