Dosing Tpn+ - Suggest What Levels I Need

[ZoddyZod]

I've been reading L_Plates topic on TPN dosing with interest

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/363769-dosing-tpn/

I was quite surprised by the quantities of TPN+ that were being suggested as this is considerably more than what I though was there correct level, therefore if someone could give me similar advice for my tank, I would much appreciate it

Set Up
125L
3 foot
Lighting system: Twin T8 20w
Filter System: Fluval 305 & U3 (for extra water movement)
Substrate - inert black gravel
Fert dosing - 1.5ml TPN+ daily
Carbon - 2.5ml Easycarbo daily
Fish - 8 harlequin, 1 angel, 2 rams, 1 BN, 5 bronze cory, 5 tetra, 1 dwarf gourami
Plants - around 20 vallis, 1 java fern (few plantlets), 2 anubias, 1 ludwigia repens

Here's what the tank looked like a few months ago. Looks similar now except the repens has gone mad and takes up about 1/4 of the water surface.

What should I be dosing in terms of the EasyCarbo and TPN+?

 

[ZoddyZod]

C'mon planted people.....I know you are out there!

 

[L_Plates]

As ianho said in my thread linked above "1ml TPN+ per 20 litres, everyday."

Start with that calculation its working a treat for me. Not cheap but i managed to pickup some tpn cheap on fleabay. When that starts to run out i will be switching to the EI method.

LP

 

[ZoddyZod]

As ianho said in my thread linked above "1ml TPN+ per 20 litres, everyday."

Start with that calculation its working a treat for me. Not cheap but i managed to pickup some tpn cheap on fleabay. When that starts to run out i will be switching to the EI method.

LP

I did read that, but was wondering if it was specifically calculated due to your plant mass?

 

[L_Plates]

Not sure to be honest.

[shouts]IANHOOOOOOOO[/shouts]

hehe

 

[ZoddyZod]

Not sure to be honest.

[shouts]IANHOOOOOOOO[/shouts]

also you are using C02 and I am not, so I'm unsure if that makes a massive difference either....

 

[aaronnorth]

These are the maximum uptake rates (based on a tank with no limiting factors):
Nitrate (NO3) 20ppm per week/ 2.85ppm day
Phosphate (PO4) 3ppm per week/ 0.43ppm day
Potassium (K) 30ppm per week/ 4.29ppm day
Magnesium (Mg) 10ppm per week/ 1.43ppm day

1ml per 20litres adds this: (Taken from JamesC's analysis: http/www.theplantedtank.co.uk/allinone.htm )
0.86ppm NH4
3.0ppm NO3
0.31ppm PO4
1.0ppm K
0.39ppm Mg



Hence why 1ml per 20l daily is often advocated.

Thanks, Aaron

 

[aaronnorth]

You are using easycarbo, techincally making your tank high tech so the values would be higher like someone who is using gaseous CO2 injection.
You could start of dosing every other day and see how you get on, if any defficiencies show then start dosing daily.

However, if your plants are healthy then there isn't much need to change, you could possibly be limiting their growth but currently you are providing enough for them to grow somewhat as you have said.

Personally, I would stick to what you are dosing, unless you are wanting faster growth?

Thanks, Aaron

 

[ZoddyZod]

Personally, I would stick to what you are dosing, unless you are wanting faster growth?

Thanks, Aaron

thanks Aaron,

My plants are not in perfect health so I was looking for ways to improve them. I'll give the 1ml per 20L dose for a couple of weeks and see if it has a noticeable effect.

I assume that the EasyCarbo dosing should remain the same? Currently at 2.5ml daily (125l tank)

 

[aaronnorth]

Sounds reasonable, stick to the manafacturers guidelines on carbon dosing, as it is toxic to organisms. People do dose 2x the recomended dose without any problems though; I have dosed 5ml on a 60l with shrimp (which are said to be the most affected) and everything was fine. It was a very fast growing tank though so I wouldnt recomend it on yours.

Thanks, Aaron