Amazon Swords

[aaronnorth]

not sure on the CO2, what type of bottle is it?

trace elemnts are like magnesium, boron, cobalt, copper, molydbenum.... quite a few more aswell.

 

[scottca]

Aaron,

Sorry for the late reply - It just looks like a standard bottle (it is the german set from ebay)

I read the EI sticky again and it advises to either dose a trace mix or an off the shelf product like TPN (as above, I have fairly high but not excessive nitrates already)

Instead of TPN, could I buy the powder Trace mix from AE and mix that up instead, would that be all I need to replace what TPN adds, or am I missing more nutrients?

Cheers,

Craig

 

[aaronnorth]

TPN does not contain nitrates (that is only TPN+).

The trace from AE will be fine.

 

[scottca]

Thanks Aaron,

If I mix up the trace ferts as per the EI sticky

Trace mix - 15g to 250ml of water will give you about the same concentration as the ‘off the shelf’ products. It is also a good idea, if you can, to add 0.5ml Normal hydrochloric acid as this helps to prevent the chelator from breaking down. Some people complain of mould growing on top of the solution - keeping it in the fridge should help prevent this and prolong it’s life.

How much should I dose, EI says 3x 5ml per week but I understand its better to do daily? so should it be 2ml a day?

Edit - Also, is there any alternatives to the hydrochloric acid, if not, then should it be 100% hydrochloric acid or the 10% strength stuff I have seen in the shops (so in that case should I add 5ml?)

Regards,

Craig

 

[aaronnorth]

you can do 2ml a day, but still have a rest day.

Unless you are mixing masses of trace up which is going to last you months, then i wouldnt bother with the HCl. You might as well just mix as much dry powder as you need to last you 1 month, then store the rest.

not sure on the strength of the HCl, but 100% is strong! so go with the 10% if you go this way.

 

[scottca]

Thanks Aaron, really appreciating your help with all this, sorry for so many questions

I wont bother with the HCI as advised (I will make it in small batches like you said, plus its easier to store).

If I mix the dry trace mix, is that everything TPN has? or will I still be missing something? Just making sure I cover all aspects.

I know my nitrates are quite high, but noticed TPN+ also adds phosphate, should I need to worry about not adding this?

Regards,

Craig

 

[aaronnorth]

TPN also contains pottasium.

PO4 is also in fish feaces, so if you have a high fish load then you may not have to add it. If you want you can add it, it wont do any harm

 

[scottca]

potassium thats the one (not phosphates!)

ok, ill start off with the trace mix at 2ml a day only and if I show signs of deficiency ill start to dose it - I dont suppose you have used the measuring bottles from AE (the types where you squeeze the bottle and it measures the ammount in the top cap)

http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/index.php?...roducts_id=1940

Wasnt sure whether the bottles were able to read small measurements such as 2ml ?? Wondering if this is going to be hard to measure so might dilute it down to add 5ml for instance

Will I need to perform a "reset" like you do with EI, or am I not overdosing the water column with nutrients by just adding 2ml a day?


Sorry also forgot to ask, is the day rest in dosing important?

 

[aaronnorth]

I do a 50% w/c every week and i dose TPN+ daily, if they are the same as tropica bottles (which i think they are)

250ml - 10ml
500ml - 25ml

If this is too hard to do, then get a syringe.

 

[scottca]

Thanks Aaron - I might give AE a quick call and ask them what scales on the side - Syringe is a good idea tho! nice and accurate!

Im still debating whether the TPN+ is the way to go, what is the ideal reading for nitrates in my tank, if mine is between 40 - 60 consistantly, is that ideal for plants?

 

[aaronnorth]

20-30 is the reccomended. Your levels wont harm your plants, but more likely to harm your fishes. What % water changes do you do, and how often?

Good nitrate busting plants are:

ambulia (limnophilia sessiflora)
caroliniana cabomba

 

[scottca]

I usually do between a 30 - 35% change every sunday, if I miss it for anyreason ill try and do a 40% midweek - Should i up the schedule / quantity

 

[aaronnorth]

yes, w/c is the best option for removing NO3. I do a 50% every week on all my tanks.

How long has it been set up for?

 

[scottca]

ok, I have actually ordered a few parts to make my DIY Easy Fill / Empty hoses, kind of a python but slightly modified, if it works ill post it up on the old DIY section! That should make doing 50% easy so ill up the routine.

Tank has been setup for about a year now, co2 added about 4 months ago - cant believe how much difference that makes! I have a red lotus, with Co2 the leaves get in excess of 6 - 8 inches in diametre. When the CO2 bottle run out, I couldnt fill it for a few weeks, they hardly hit 4 inches!

Im hoping the added Trace Ferts will help even more, not got any pearling yet (well I think i had one leaf pearl once from one spot, and it wasnt a damaged leaf lol)

 

[aaronnorth]

the reason i asked about age is because in older tanks (usually 2yrs+) more waste accumulates which is inevitable and it causes higher NO3, usually the reason why you cant introduce new fish.

Pearling is achieved when enough CO2 has been taken in and nutrients. If you want pearling then up these. You may not get it as macro's are needed.