Cycle Crash (Again!)

[waterdrop]

WD, the primary purpose of the weekly 50% water change when using EI is to remove organic waste. Plants in a high energy tank will export a lot of carbohydrates, lipids etc.

I believe you on that Dave, I was just trying to state the basics of EI - Here's the first two sentences of George Farmer's EI article in the PARC in our planted section:

"Estimative Index is a simple method for dosing nutrients to planted tanks without the need for monitoring nutrient levels using test kits. Basically the aquarist doses the tank with a slight excess of nutrients throughout the week to prevent anything from running out and does a large water change at the end of the week to prevent anything from building up."

Thank you for the comment that high-tech tanks will put out more organics, it makes perfect sense but I hadn't thought about it particularly before. Actually, one reads about plants putting out signaling molecules and substances for defense against insects and other things but I hadn't thought about plant putting out carbohydrates or lipids, I mostly think of what the plant does with those things internally.

WD

 

[BethK]

when you say 'a few water changes', can you please elaborate on that..........once a week.......a month?