Ei Fertilization Method

[SLIM]

Hi all

Im currently trying to get my head around EI fertilizaton as im soon going to be fitting a CO2 system to my tank so i want to make sure my plants are getting all that they need besides CO2.
Iv googled EI several times but im just struggling to get my head around it.

Is there anybody willing to explain this to me in detail so i can get a good understanding?
All im really getting so far is that EI is basically "overdosing" with nutrients.

Isnt this going to cost an absolute bomb as i will be flying through my ferts if im adding them all the time?
And is it really a good idea to "overdose on Nitrates and Phosphates?

What i need is someone kind enough to talk me through the whole process, how it works, how to dose, how much of what and when.
I know im probably asking alot but if anybody has the time to help me with this i would very much appreciate it.

At the moment im dosing with the Easylife products-ProFito,Ferro(Iron),Potassium,Phosphates and Nitrates Once a week after weekly water change.

Thank you for your time and advice.

 

[lljdma06]

LOLOL, this is the reason why my high tech tanks are little, so I can just dose with TPN+ and forget about it. Likewise, this is why my big tanks are low-tech, so I can just dose with TPN+ and forget about it.

I'm so lazy. Did you read the EI article in PARC?

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/104737-jamescs-estimative-index-article/

I'm sure you have, but I just wanted to confirm.

Liz

 

[SLIM]

No i didnt. I did look through PARC first but didnt see anythin on EI lol blind as a bat me. Il give a quick read now.

 

[SLIM]

Hmmm ok that does explain it alot better than what iv been reading online.
Im not sure if this is for me actually as dosing this way will cost a fortune!
Plus 50% weekly water changes on a 260 litre aint gona be fun or cheap as my water is on a meter! lol
I guess il just have to carry on dosing the way i am and see how it goes with CO2 added to the equation!
As far as i understand it, as long as i dont let phosphates or nitrates run out, i should be fine?

 

[RadaR]

EI is the most cost effective way of dosing a tank. Especially a large tank.
It's key to remember that the 50% water change actually has little to do with the EI dosing regime. It's necessary because of the CO2 injection. By adding CO2, you have increased the plants growth rate. As with any living thing, plants will produce waste (even if the plant is healthy). More growth = more metabolic waste. We don't want a build-up of this waste as it can breakdown into ammonia which causes algae, and also because this waste can block the pours in the leaves. Phosphate and nitrate are indeed the major nutrients to look out for as they are macro nutrients but that's not to say to look over the other nutrients. We don't want any nutrient to run out. If dosing mono-potassium phosphate and potassium nitrate then potassium levels should be fine. If you live in a soft water area, then you may have to dose a bit of calcium and magnesium.

 

[SLIM]

EI is the most cost effective way of dosing a tank. Especially a large tank.
It's key to remember that the 50% water change actually has little to do with the EI dosing regime. It's necessary because of the CO2 injection. By adding CO2, you have increased the plants growth rate. As with any living thing, plants will produce waste (even if the plant is healthy). More growth = more metabolic waste. We don't want a build-up of this waste as it can breakdown into ammonia which causes algae, and also because this waste can block the pours in the leaves. Phosphate and nitrate are indeed the major nutrients to look out for as they are macro nutrients but that's not to say to look over the other nutrients. We don't want any nutrient to run out. If dosing mono-potassium phosphate and potassium nitrate then potassium levels should be fine. If you live in a soft water area, then you may have to dose a bit of calcium and magnesium.

I live in a hard water area
And i thought plants absorb ammonia jus as the biofilter does?
Can plants really give off that much ammonia? And if so like i said before wouldnt the filter and plants just proccess this waste? Im sure i read somewhere that heavily planted tanks need less water changes because of this unless using the EI method, because the ferts need resetting once a week because they are being "overdosed".
Im probably wrong.
This is alot to get your head around lol
As it stands now, i do about a 30% water change a week, would this not be enough for a planted tank with CO2 then?
I mean, i do have alot of plants but i wouldnt say its REALLY heavily planted. Check out my sig or photos

The main thing im tryin to get my head around is fertilization.
I cant make up my mind wheather to does using dry ferts, Nitrate, phosphate, potassium and iron using EI
OR....
Just use TPN+ which seems to come highly recommend and seems to be ALOT more easier to supply my plants with everything they need.

 

[Rogue4Fish]

I've also been looking into this...it's mind boggling i swear lol

 

[SLIM]

I've also been looking into this...it's mind boggling i swear lol

Their is definately alot to learn when it comes to CO2 lol then again i was looking for a new challenge so i suppose i got it lol