Dosing Tpn+

[L_Plates]

Hello all i have just ordered some TPN+ and was wondering what would people recommend on my dosage. Would you recommend daily, every other day, weekly and how much etc etc. On the bottle it says 5ml per 50 ltres weekly after a water change. Is this a good starting point ? Or would it be better to split that down into daily doses ?

Currently my plants are looking ok but i have been noticing a lack of nutrients showing on the leaves.

Set Up
Juwel Rio 240
Size: 121 x 41 x 55 cm
Volume: 240 litres
Lighting system: Twin T5 High Lites
Filter System: Compact H
Pump: 1000 lph
Heater/stat: 200 watts
Temp: 27 degrees c.
Extra Flow: SEIO 250 Powerhead

Plants: Aponogeton crispus 'Red', Echinodorus x barthii, Taxiphyllum barbieri, Sagittaria platyphylla, Eleocharis parvula, Sagittaria subulata, Bacopa australis, Echinodorus bleheri (bleherae), Alternanthera reineckii 'Purple' (lilacina), Anubias, Java Fern, Echinodorus x barthii.

Co2: Fire Extinguisher 2kg. Diffused via my SEIO 250 Powerhead.

Tank Photo

Video


Any help would be greatly received.

Thanks,
LP

 

[ian]

A good starter is 1ml TPN+ per 20 litres, everyday. it may need to be upped as the plants mature.I would keep an eye on the plants though. They are always the best indicators. Have you looked into EI dosing? It will be much cheaper for you.

So for your tank it's going to be 12mls daily. It is always better to divide you dose daily imo. That way the plants don't miss out.

 

[L_Plates]

Ianho thanks for the reply.

I have looked at the EI dosing but until i feel comfortable with understanding ferts more i thought it best to get a good all in one. Once i feel comfortable i will give EI dosing a go as it will be ALOT cheaper for me as you say.

I will start dosing the TPN+ when it arrives with 12mls daily as you recommend and see how it goes. How long would you say it would take to notice any improvement / or not so then i know if i may have to up the dosage?

Cheers
LP

 

[ian]

If you have brown or holes in your swords you will need to remove these. You will notice with the speed of the growth on the ground level plants in you tank IMO.

ps, i'm a big advocate in all in one dosing until you get to grips with what does what and how (ish).

 

[L_Plates]

One more question

My java fern currently has around 10 smaller plants sprouting from the leaves. Would it be a good idea to remove these ?

I was planning on leaving them till they are a little bigger and then sell them on or donate them.

LP

 

[StandbySetting]

It's up to you, you can leave them to fall off or pull them off, either way the parent leaf will die.

 

[L_Plates]

Really ! Looks like my Java fern is going to look bare as 4 of the leaves are doing this. I suppose i will have to grow some of the smaller ones in its place then.

Cheers SS,

LP

 

[StandbySetting]

Mine tends to do it all at once too, really frustrating!

 

[Tizer]

Im in the same boat as L_Plates, but im using up my Easylife Profito before i get a bottle of TPN+. Without wanting to hijack the thread, can i presume adding this stuff on a daily basis would be better than weekly? At the moment i probably put in 25ml weekly after a 50% water change. Ta (it seems to be working on weekly basis, the crypts and anubias are going bananas, while the vallis, isnt doing too much)

 

[L_Plates]

No worries on jumping in Tizer good for us all to know.

From what i have read people recommend a daily dose, and overall a higher dose than is stated. On a bottle of TPN+ it says 25ml a week but as ianho stated he would recommend 12ml daily which is a lot more that they say to do but seems to be norm.

Some people have said they dose 10ml / 12 and i saw one at 15ml daily for a heavily planted tank.

LP

 

[StandbySetting]

I was dosing 1Ml per 25 Litres on my current set up until last week, Nitrates were limited, so I increased the dosing to 1Ml per 15L, but I ran out and switched to EI, I really recommend you give it a whirl once your bottle has run out, it's easy to calculate and formulate, and you could dose for pennies quite literally.

 

[L_Plates]

Oh i am sure i will give it a go. I will be reading more about EI over the next few weeks to get my head around it Using TPN will keep my plants alive while i read about it and get an understanding.

Cheers
LP

 

[L_Plates]

Is it correct that while dosing TPN+ you will get a reading of ammonia on your water test ? Im hoping so as i have just got a reading of 0.5 ammonia.

Cheers
LP

 

[StandbySetting]

The main ingredient is Ammonium nitrate, so yes it is possible if your test kit tests for Ammonium as well as Ammonia.

 

[L_Plates]

I use the API Test Kit.

Does that test for Ammonium ?

Since cycle finished over a month ago i have had 0s only started dosing TPN+ yesterday !

Cheers
LP